Exclusives Stories

The State of Food Manufacturing in 2023

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Survey results show an increase in demand for products, but supply chain and labor issues are preventing food manufacturers from a corresponding increase in revenue.

Remote attacks on process/automation systems can wreak havoc

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 14:02:00 -0500

Once a hacker connects via RDP to any computing system, unless operators take immediate action, the hacker can use this connection to log in at any time in the future, extort money, install ransomware on the computer, and/or sell the connection login/password and other data on the dark web, making an unprotected system available to anyone who wants to purchase the information.

Measuring the color of drinks, juices and other liquids

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Studies show that color is a critical factor in a consumer's purchasing decision and taste perception. Getting consistent color in juices, dairy, sports drinks, beer, spirits and other liquids is an essential part of food production. However, it is difficult to control during production.

Better Juice, GEA team up to make OJ sugar-reduction invention available globally

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 09:27:00 -0500

Better Juice, Ltd., the sugar-reduction food-tech start-up, has announced a collaboration with GEA Group AG, Germany in a push to scale up and expand Better Juice's global footprint. This move comes as part of the company's commitment to transform the global juice industry through advancing its technology for reducing all sugars in orange and other juices.

Creating healthful products from spent brewers' barley

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 14:39:00 -0500

It used to be that spent brewers' grain was often fed directly to the animals. But, now there's an in-between.

Inline viscosity sensing provides better batter control

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 10:53:00 -0500

Batter is widely used as a coating for deep-fried foods as well as many other products such as cakes, waffles, biscuits, and pancakes. Depending on the type of food product, the processing objectives and challenges may be different but one thing is certain—food companies strive to meet their requirements of consistent quality and freshness by developing innovative products, while lowering production costs and easing maintenance.

Creating a track-and-trace system for the rest of us

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 14:30:00 -0500

Even in the U.S. an exhaustive track and trace system, which is available to all participants—including small producers and farms—and additional members in the supply chain, right up to the consumer, has been elusive. The FDA, in its recent proposed rule, "Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods," is a good starting point in defining what kind of data needs to be kept and where new data should originate, but it doesn't get to specifics in implementation.

How packaging can inform and support plant-based meat consumers

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 10:00:00 -0500

As the plant-based meat category continues to grow, brands must understand that packaging is an important factor in keeping people coming back for more. Choosing flexible packaging can help align products with consumer preferences and brand initiatives.

Internet Engineering Task Force recognizes Endress+Hauser security protocol for field instruments

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 13:15:00 -0500

The cryptography working group within the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards organization has chosen the Endress+Hauser-developed CPace protocol as a recommended method for use in internet standards.

Old pumps, new parts keep applications up and running

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 14:15:00 -0500

While not every pumping application in the food and beverage industry may equate in value to critical process points in a petroleum refinery, failure of a key pump, however, can still have a catastrophic impact on production. And, probably for many facilities, pumps may not be top of mind for most managers. However, pumps handling water recirculation in aquaculture facilities, maintaining flow in CIP systems, bringing in fresh water for use as an ingredient or handling wastewater can represent a critical stop to production should they break down.

Use automation to help achieve green packaging goals

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 10:43:00 -0400

Today, two major factors are driving the packaging industry towards greater sustainability: prospective legislation and consumer demand. Though there is little participation in the U.S. in plastic recycling (estimated under 10%), the green packaging market registered a value of $237.74 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow to 313.93 billion by 2025, according to research from Mordor Intelligence.

PACK EXPO preview: Tips for thriving in an e-commerce marketplace

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400

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.

Solving the labeling crisis: The case for a cloud-based approach

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 14:27:00 -0400

Centralizing and digitizing labeling in a cloud-based platform can drastically reduce recalls, make supply chains more transparent and ensure companies meet compliance.

When humanitarian food aid makes people sick

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 09:08:00 -0400

In 2019, the World Food Programme (WPF), a United Nations humanitarian organization, distributed food to very needy people in Uganda. In March 2019, a major food-poisoning incident occurred in one region of the country, followed by a second outbreak, which occurred in a refugee camp in a completely different area in Uganda. In the first outbreak five people died and hundreds were hospitalized.

Prevent ransomware attacks and save your business from financial ruin

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 09:25:00 -0400

Ransomware and malware don't have to put you out of business, so be prepared for the inevitable.

Food Engineering exclusive: Gray acquires Anderson Dahlen

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Gray, a global leader in engineering, design, construction, and automation, has purchased Anderson Dahlen, a major manufacturer and fabricator of specialty and stainless steel equipment for the food and beverage, pharma, and vacuum technology industries.

Keeping machines, OT networks and IT safe from cyberattacks

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 09:35:00 -0400

Even when you think you've taken all precautions on cybersecurity, there's always a "gotcha."

Industrial control systems risk shutdowns and other dangerous outcomes due to cybersecurity attacks

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 13:53:00 -0400

Of late, several companies have taken hits on their worldwide IT and Web based systems. Perhaps the most recent, Canon, suffered a global ransomware attack, taking down many Canon websites and systems - also with a threat of making their private business data public. But can these IT/enterprise attacks threaten and/or damage OT systems? And what can they do to food and beverage products? Make them unsafe by altering a critical kill step or omitting preservatives? What else? I asked Barak Pereleman, VP of OT Security at Tenable, what attack vectors may pose danger to OT-based systems.

Diageo aims to go carbon-free with new whiskey distillery

shillingr@bnpmedia.com (Rose Shilling) — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400

Diageo will try to make its new Bulleit whiskey distillery in Kentucky carbon neutral, electrifying the boilers with renewable power as a step toward the company’s climate change goals.

Quality management software supplier updates IT system just in time for COVID-19

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:40:00 -0400

While it’s often been said that the shoemaker has no shoes for his own children, sometimes a similar thing can happen with a software company. Only in this case, InfinityQS, a supplier of data-driven enterprise quality management software, had an aging on-premises IT system, all crammed in together in the traditional “server room.”

What the COVID-19 pandemic can teach us about the internet

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 09:30:00 -0400

When I was an electrical engineer building emergency wireless communications networks, I learned about the importance of having backups—sometimes the hard way, with a 3 a.m. phone call reporting a system is down and the backup system didn’t kick in.

Artisanal bourbon distillery supports its growth with top quality grain handling system

Thu, 28 May 2020 14:00:00 -0400

In 2018, Garrison Brothers contacted Coperion K-Tron’s local representative and resident grain handling expert, Shamrock Systems Inc., to help upgrade its current grain handling system. The system experts at Coperion K-Tron to help design a completely automated system that would enable Garrison Brothers to quadruple its production.

No spiral freezer should be an island of automation

Arkfeld@vacomtech.com (Ivy Arkfeld) — Wed, 27 May 2020 13:19:00 -0400

Spiral freezers are often run "full-throttle" but they don't have to be.

Colorado distiller converts to hand sanitizer to help with COVID-19 pandemic

Wed, 20 May 2020 10:05:00 -0400

Converting distilled ethanol to FDA-regulated hand cleaner is a very exact process

Study reveals manufacturers face new competition as biggest growth obstacle in 2020

Tue, 19 May 2020 21:09:00 -0400

The results are in for PLEX’s State of Manufacturing Report 2020, and they show the food and beverage industry is in many ways out in front of other industries in terms of adopting new technologies to maximize efficiency, competitiveness and profits.

How processors are handling demand surges caused by COVID-19

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 17:20:00 -0400

An unprecedented surge in demand has processors working to meet needs while protecting workers and their supply chains.

Blockchain determines provenance, not purity

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 13:22:00 -0400

Blockchain technology allows retailers, suppliers and anyone who has access to the software, to have real-time information on a product’s origination and the stops it made along the way before it reaches its destination. However, when it comes to olive oil, blockchain can be useful in determining provenance and delivery path, but not the purity or freshness of the product.

Use the right instrumentation to improve batch manufacturing

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 11:39:00 -0400

Ensure the consistency of each batch with on-line instrumentation.

Need a spec/datasheet?

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 11:01:00 -0500

Allied Electronics has been accumulating a treasure trove of datasheets. The company just announced there are now more than 1.1 million of them, and the number keeps growing.

How manufacturers are finding innovative ways to support a circular economy

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 15:00:00 -0500

Now, more than ever, manufacturers must work tirelessly to reduce the amount of waste that makes its way to landfills or oceans.