https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/rss/16641 en-us Former grocery store cashier Adam Kaat had 18 months on the grocery line. Here, he shares the COVID-19 pandemic’s widespread impact as supply chain issues continue.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99851 Fri, 03 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99851-what-is-life-like-as-a-grocery-store-employee-today Rockwell Automation Inc. and The Pyure Company have announced a 5-year strategic agreement that will allow them to work together to provide solutions to improve indoor air quality and fight the spread of COVID-19.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99771 Wed, 27 Oct 2021 17:39:43 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99771-automation-company-and-air-filtration-company-work-together-to-help-provide-cleaner-air-combat-covid-19 http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99660 Mon, 20 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99660-helping-customers-adapt-to-the-ongoing-covid-19-pandemic Laughmanc@bnpmedia.com (Casey Laughman) Over the last 18 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains from end to end around the globe. In many cases, food and beverage processors suddenly learned the hard way where weaknesses in their supply chains were. Justin Marx, CEO of Marx Foods, a supplier to restaurants and home cooks, shares insights on the ongoing supply chain challenges facing the industry.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99644 Fri, 10 Sep 2021 18:26:59 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99644-how-covid-19-is-continuing-to-disrupt-supply-chains http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99537 Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:09:56 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99537-how-transit-packaging-technology-and-materials-ensure-food-industry-safety-beyond-the-pandemic Recent trends caused mostly by the COVID-19 pandemic have put the squeeze on food processors and the supply chain to get food where it needs to go. Now as some states and cities are “opening up,” restaurants and other food service establishments are beginning to see their business increasing, which will mean a gradual shift in the supply chain—something that most processors and logistics providers will be able to handle, compared to a year ago when supply chains broke everywhere.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99470 Thu, 13 May 2021 09:56:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99470-covid-19-review-shorter-supply-chains-more-freezer-space-and-reliance-on-3d-tools-for-remote-walk-throughs RealWear technology lets engineers walk through sites even when not physically present RealWear technology can integrate into the work site, and has been used within the food and consumer products industry for years. Propelled by the pandemic, interest in and utilization of these devices increased, allowing on-site project teams to complete work remotely, including troubleshooting, maintenance, facility documenting and scoping of projects.  All photos courtesy of Burns & McDonnell Two engineers work with Matterport scan and tablet The Matterport software platform uses artificial intelligence to  create 3D models with high resolution and depth data--and enables virtual design collaboration when architects and  engineers are distanced apart.  Engineer with RealWear technology on site Engineers and architects use RealWear technology on location to document and scope projects. Engineer checks tablet to see Matterport scan. 3D is not necessarily new to the industry, but Matterport has made the process quicker and more user-friendly. Instead of taking thousands of photos and having to conduct manual measurements, this 3D model gives the perspective of virtually being in the space.  Closeup of RealWare RealWear technology delivers the option to digitize processes that the workforce traditionally has done on pen and paper, again providing the benefit of being hands-free.  Laughmanc@bnpmedia.com (Casey Laughman) A look at how supply chains have been disrupted and affected by the ongoing pandemic, and what processors need to know to adapt.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99366 Wed, 10 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99366-big-things-to-know-about-supply-chains Supply Chain 1 As a global pandemic disrupted supply chains across the world, food and beverage processors faced immense challenges ensuring ingredients and finished products were delivered on time and in the proper condition. (Getty Images/simonkr) Supply Chain 2 Restaurants shifted to a takeout model to survive, but that created multiple disruptions of the supply chain for ingredients, packaging materials and protective equipment. (Getty Images/ halbergman) Laughmanc@bnpmedia.com (Casey Laughman) http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99286 Thu, 07 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99286-pandemic-requires-new-employee-training-methods virtual training JLS Automation uses Microsoft’s HoloLens technology to conduct virtual training. The headset allows remote trainers and support personnel to see what the person on-site sees and communicate with them. Photo credit: JLS Automation virtual training Pre-pandemic training often involved groups of employees in a classroom or on a factory floor. But with COVID policies restricting that option, processors have to find new ways to conduct training effectively. Photo credit: Getty Images/andresr It took a pandemic for us to take seriously something we take for granted: We all rely on one another. 

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99278 Mon, 04 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99278-covid-19-has-provided-automation-suppliers-with-the-expertise-to-help-food-processors-survive-the-pandemic Festo DHAS flexible fingers Adaptive grippers—like these Festo DHAS flexible fingers—are of growing interest in a food industry looking for cost-effective ways to automate handling delicate items. Source: Festo Endress+Hauser's Q300 hygienic Promass Coriolis flowmeter Endress+Hauser’s Q300 hygienic Promass Coriolis flowmeter provides high measurement accuracy for mass flow, volume flow and density for custody transfer applications; it is also optimized for liquid applications where entrained gas is known to be present. Source: Endress+Hauser Fortress Technology's Raptor checkweighing series Staubli robots Stäubli robots: (left) The Model TS260HE SCARA has a reach of 620 mm and payload of 8.4 kg; (center) the Model TX90 HE six-axis industrial robot features an articulated arm and handles medium weight payloads; (right) and the Model TP80 HE FAST picker is well suited for packaging. Source: Stäubli Emerson RX3i CPL410 edge controller The Emerson RX3i CPL410 edge controller is just one example from a portfolio of products that enables end users to automate, visualize, analyze, and connect remotely with their production systems. Source: Emerson ABB Robotics' IRB 360 FlexPicker delta robot ABB Robotics’ IRB 360 FlexPicker delta robot operates at high speed, and handles primary meat packaging without the need for anyone nearby to baby sit it, leaving plenty room for social distancing. Source: ABB Robotics automated retort room Allpax automated retort rooms can be run by just two operators, providing social distancing during COVID-19. Source: Allpax HRS ethernet remote control An Ethernet connection means that all the system programs and operating parameters can be controlled remotely by HRS in Spain. Source: HRS Heat Exchangers APRIL Robotic Chef The APRIL Robotic Chef offers consistent, homemade product quality due to smaller batch sizes and enhanced robotic control. Source: APRIL Robotics A new study from Resilience360 indicates that COVID-19 has revealed weak links in the supply chain, and they may not be going away any time soon.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99262 Fri, 18 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99262-supply-chain-lessons-learned-from-covid-19 Tyson Foods announced the appointment of Dr. Claudia Coplein to the newly-created role of Chief Medical Officer.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99257 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 12:19:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99257-tyson-foods-names-dr-claudia-coplein-as-its-first-chief-medical-officer http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99246 Thu, 03 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99246-pet-food-safety-and-quality-count JBT Avure AV-10 HPP food processing machine Blue Ridge Beef installed an AV-10 HPP food processing machine, like the one pictured here, from JBT/Avure. Suitable for small- and medium-size producers, the machine handles a high quantity of output and adds a minimal cost per pound to processing costs. Photo courtesy JBT/Avure Hiperbaric 55 Steve’s Real Food uses Raw Advantage Processing, an HPP toller that uses the Hiperbaric 55 machine to process its raw pet food. Photo courtesy Hiperbaric Ross HSM-410S Sanitary Inline High Shear Mixer Selecting the right mixer to address the viscosity, density, phase changes, optimal shear, temperature and other processing requirements of a particular application is the first step to minimizing contamination and other safety risks. Photo courtesy Charles Ross & Son Company TOMRA Foods optical sorting machine TOMRA Foods offer its optical sorting technologies to renderers that turn the byproducts from animal food production into pet food ingredients. Photo courtesy TOMRA Foods WIPOTEC SC X-ray scanner X-ray inspection systems, like the WIPOTEC SC X-ray scanner, can be used for pet food product inspection. Photo courtesy WIPOTEC-OSC Laughmanc@bnpmedia.com (Casey Laughman) http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99240 Tue, 01 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99240-celebrate-your-successes-as-2020-ends Laughmanc@bnpmedia.com (Casey Laughman) Tyson Foods, Inc. has announced that it will be investigating claims in a recent lawsuit that supervisors and managers at its Waterloo, Iowa pork plant wagered on how many employees would contract COVID-19 and forced employees to come to work even when they were showing possible symptoms.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99214 Fri, 20 Nov 2020 12:52:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99214-tyson-announces-investigation-into-unsafe-work-environment-claims Winter is on our doorstep and we need to prepare for a long battle against COVID-19 while keeping businesses afloat and people safe. The imposition of lockdown measures may be required in areas experiencing high positivity rates and where health professionals predict hospitalizations will exceed capacity.  However, there is a middle path where concerns over health and safety gain priority in concert with keeping businesses open.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99204 Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99204-the-importance-of-a-covid-19-safety-officer akheradia@remcoproducts.com (Amit Kheradia) Advice for proper use, care and maintenance of food processing cleaning tools amid the pandemic.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99211 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99211-use-care-and-maintenance-of-cleaning-tools-during-the-pandemic-and-beyond The e-commerce revolution has not only changed the rules for consumer packaged goods companies, it has created a whole new game in which the new coronavirus has only cemented the need for brands to adapt.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99172 Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99172-pack-expo-preview-tips-for-thriving-in-an-e-commerce-marketplace In the COVID-19 outbreak, packaging is being recognized for its long-standing performance in upholding food and beverage product safety and offering consumer protection.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99160 Thu, 22 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99160-pack-expo-preview-easing-product-safety-concerns-in-an-uncertain-climate Frozen food processors are looking to increase security and limit the number of people who can enter plants to protect the food and help manage COVID-19.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99157 Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99157-frozen-food-processor-tightens-security-for-protection-covid-compliance video security and access control system After the state of Illinois issued stay-at-home orders to fight the spread of COVID-19, Frozen Assets Cold Storage installed a video security and access control system to ensure only authorized employees were entering its facilities.Photos courtesy of BTI Communications Group video security and access control system BTI2: Frozen Assets Cold Storage’s video system not only helps control access to the sites, but also helps provide a record of what is going on in production, shipping and staging areas. Photos courtesy of BTI Communications Group Laughmanc@bnpmedia.com (Casey Laughman) Constant changes, huge swings in demand or shifts in consumer behavior, employee safety, and a general uncertainty about what comes next are all present in the 2020 State of Food Manufacturing Survey.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99124 Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99124-2020-state-of-food-manufacturing-survey bottles on production line The COVID-19 pandemic dominates the conversation this year among food and beverage processors surveyed by Food Engineering for the 2020 State of Food Manufacturing. Photo courtesy of Getty Images Location Gross Throughput More than half of respondents expect their throughput to increase over the next year, but almost a quarter expect it to go down due to a COVID-19 driven downturn in the foodservice market. (View full-size chart.) Process Control Hardware/Software Purchase Almost two-thirds of respondents expect to purchase process control hardware or software, which is in line with responses in a normal year. (View full-size chart.) Structural Changes in the Past Year One of the most common responses to a question about structural changes was supply chain changes, as processors found out where the weak links were when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. (View full-size chart.) robotic food packing Robotics are more common in food and beverage processing every year, but a number of respondents expect them to play a bigger role as COVID-19 reshapes the industry Photo courtesy of ABB http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99086 Mon, 31 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99086-how-processors-are-adapting-to-fsma-in-its-early-years FSMA compliance Monitoring and controlling each step of the production process, from ingredient management to cooking, is a critical aspect of FSMA compliance. Photo courtesy of Getty Images WIPTOEC checkweigher WIPTOEC checkweighers such as this one and the image processing software used in X-ray scanners meet all statutory provisions for the food processing industry. Photo courtesy WIPOTEC-OSC shillingr@bnpmedia.com (Rose Shilling) Ardent Mills is growing its retail flour operations long-term, adding and upgrading lines for consumer-sized packages that are in demand as more people bake at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99083 Wed, 26 Aug 2020 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99083-with-more-home-baking-ardent-mills-adds-lines-for-retail-flour-packages Laughmanc@bnpmedia.com (Casey Laughman) The COVID-19 pandemic has kicked food and beverage production into overdrive. A lot of us are feeling more worn out than ever.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99079 Wed, 26 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99079-a-strange-year-has-processors-trying-to-figure-out-what-comes-next The FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold a webinar on Tuesday, September 1 from 2:30-3:30 pm EST to provide a COVID-19 update for food operations stakeholders.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99077 Tue, 25 Aug 2020 13:17:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99077-webinar-fda-osha-cdc-provide-food-operations-stakeholders-with-covid-19-update http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99061 Fri, 21 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99061-how-robots-help-processors-navigate-the-covid-19-pandemic robotic food packing With a soft grip, an ABB robot removes freshly baked muffins from their tins. Photo courtesy of ABB Robotics FANUC's DR-3iB series of delta robots With a 1600-mm reach, FANUC's DR-3iB series of delta robots are specifically designed to maximize speed and versatility in picking and packing applications, especially in food handling and washdown environments. Photo courtesy of FANUC USA Festo Bionic Mobile Assistant Cobots on the move. Festo is behind the design of this Bionic Mobile Assistant, aka an autonomous mobile robot, which can understand and move safely through an environment without any human assistance. Image courtesy of Festo APRIL Robotics Robot Chef Set up as a cobotic workcell, APRIL Robotics Robot Chef prepares sauces and soups while only one operator is needed to maintain ingredient supply levels. Photo courtesy of APRIL Robotics OnRobot Soft Gripper The flexible OnRobot Soft Gripper uses three interchangeable silicon-molded cups in star and four-finger configurations to pick up almost any small object under 2.2 kg (4.8 lbs.) with a delicate, precise touch. The electric Soft Gripper is food-grade certified and requires no vacuum or air. Photo courtesy of OnRobot Sidel's Cermex FlexiLoad Operators generally spend over 50% of their time, and sometimes as much as 80%, feeding the cardboard magazine of a case packing system. Extremely time consuming, this task is also a recognized cause of musculoskeletal disorders. Consisting of a 6-axis robot, a universal gripping tooling, and PC–based software, Sidel’s Cermex FlexiLoad handles magazine loading automatically for any high-speed case packing system. Photo courtesy of Sidel Omron parallel robots New gripper technologies make it easy for Omron’s IP69K-rated, USDA-accepted parallel robots to pick and place delicate produce without fracturing the skin. Photo courtesy of Omron OSHA and FDA have developed a checklist for human and animal food manufacturers to consider when continuing, resuming or reevaluating operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99075 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:04:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99075-osha-fda-develop-checklist-to-protect-food-industry-employees-amid-pandemic The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed an alliance with the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) to provide information, guidance and access to training resources for protecting workers in the meatpacking and processing industry from exposures to the coronavirus.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99062 Fri, 14 Aug 2020 13:17:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99062-osha-nami-form-alliance-to-protect-meatpacking-workers http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99060 Thu, 13 Aug 2020 19:14:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99060-pandemic-prompts-temporary-policy-changes fspca_logo.jpg FDA-logo.png COVID-19 Virus by CDC This COVID-19 illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. No doubt about it, COVID-19 has changed the way most—if not all—businesses operate. While food and beverage processors have had to struggle with supply chain issues, robotics and system suppliers have had to face similar supply chain problems, plus come up with solid methods of service and maintenance support during the pandemic.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99016 Wed, 29 Jul 2020 13:19:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99016-how-robotics-suppliers-handle-service-and-maintenance-in-a-covid-19-environment http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99013 Wed, 29 Jul 2020 09:20:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/99013-covid-19-hits-meat-and-beverage-hard