2021 November

Fabulous Food Plants

Fab Food Plant: Going to the dogs (and cats)

Petsource by Scoular partnered with Gray for the design/build of its new pet food processing facility in Nebraska

October 29, 2021

As the pet food industry has grown, so has the need for quality ingredients. Pet food brand owners seek natural foods with high protein and clean label options as owners treat their dogs and cats as family members.

Connecting warehouse data with production and business systems

Making the connection provides up-to-the-minute data on scheduling, stock-outs, ingredient substitutions, customer trends and recalls

Wayne Labs

November 8, 2021

Often one role of a shop floor or MES is to act as a relay or connection point between the ERP and WMS. In case of a non-automated shop floor where there is no MES, there is a good chance that the ERP system connects with an independent WMS or has some built-in WMS functionality.

Pet food ingredients: The good, the bad and the ugly

Rather than waste meat byproducts and misshapen produce, “ugly” foods are finding a home as nutrient-rich ingredients in pet food

Sharon Spielman

November 5, 2021

Rather than waste meat byproducts and misshapen produce, “ugly” foods are finding a home as nutrient-rich ingredients in pet food.

Progress for plant-based processors

New and established alternative protein brands tell us what’s behind their success in 2021

Michael Costa

November 3, 2021

Plant-based foods are ubiquitous in the market today, and at the core of that category is plant-based meats.

Eaton’s BECODISC BS standard stacked disc cartridges

Field Report

Filtration reduces haze-causing particles in herbal liqueur

Eaton’s stacked disc cartridges effectively helped Mast- Jägermeister SE’s herbal liqueur to be clear and undamaged

Sharon Spielman

November 10, 2021

Eaton’s stacked disc cartridges effectively helped Mast- Jägermeister SE’s herbal liqueur to be clear and undamaged.

Manufacturing News

People and Industry News: November 2021

November 10, 2021

The people, companies and facilities making headlines

Editor's Note

A Continuing Story

Michael Costa

November 9, 2021

Hello! I’m Michael Costa, the new editor-in-chief at FOOD ENGINEERING.

Food Packaging

Pregis and Henkel partner on advanced protective packaging

Kristen Kazarian

November 9, 2021

Pregis and Henkel recently joined forces to advance the development of sustainable protective packaging solutions that meet environmental goals and address future packaging requirements.

Food Packaging

Packaging design for awards for sales growth

Kristen Kazarian

November 8, 2021

Designalytics, in partnership with Dieline, announced the winners of the second-annual Designalytics Effectiveness Awards, recognizing the impact of strong packaging design and its impact on driving double-digit sales growth for some of today’s fast-moving consumer brands.

Manufacturing News

Plant Openings & Expansions: November 2021

November 8, 2021

The people, companies and facilities making headlines.

Set it and forget it? Not with food processing equipment

Several best practices involving equipment installation, as well as cleaning and maintenance, are necessary to help prioritize food safety and guard against foodborne illness from occurring on the production line

November 7, 2021

FDA reorganizes IT, data and cybersecurity

November 6, 2021

The FDA has reorganized the agency’s information technology (IT), data management and cybersecurity functions into the new Office of Digital Transformation (ODT), which has been realigned to report directly to the FDA commissioner.

SoftAI is a bundled hardware and software solution

Soft-touch robotics system becomes human-like with new AI software

Gentle grippers can pick up food items on a belt, but to do it well, there must be a fast-thinking “brain” behind their moves

Wayne Labs

November 5, 2021

Robotics systems lately have developed a soft touch to pick up delicate foods without damaging them, and there have been a lot of developments in the grippers themselves to handle these fragile products. However, these grippers can’t do it alone.

Food Packaging

New range of monomaterial flexible packaging films

Kristen Kazarian

November 5, 2021

EMSUR, Grupo Lantero's Packaging Division, has launched EM-Full RFlex, a new range of PE and PP-based flexible packaging.

Manufacturing News

Back to paper bags and cups: Old is new again

Brands are migrating to cardboard or using new plastics that decompose naturally

November 5, 2021

In the 1960s no matter the retail store, the most-often used methods of bringing goods home were paper/Kraft bags, cardboard boxes or hand-carry—no plastic bags until the 1980s in most developed countries.

Food Packaging

COVID-19 pandemic accelerates use of digital print packaging

Kristen Kazarian

November 4, 2021

Since 2020, inkjet and electrophotography printing has secured new markets in labels and packaging. A new Smithers report, The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2026, reveals total value will reach $21.1 billion in 2021.