Food Engineering articles from April 2008

Food Engineering archives from April 2008

Rising prices require strategic solutions.(Editorial)
April 1, 2008... Recent increases in food prices not only hurt consumers, but as those involved in food manufacturing know all too well, it hurts you professionally, too. Blame it on the government, shifting demands, unusual weather patterns or the price of a...

Calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2008... MAY 2008 5-8 International Powder & Bulk Solids, Rosemont, IL; 310-445-4200; 310-445-4200; www.canontradeshows.com. 7-9 Global Pouch Forum & Technology Exhibition, Oak Brook, IL; Packaging Strategies; 610-935-2183; www.packstrat.com....

Hormel Foods.(PLANT OPENINGS & EXPANSIONS)(Hormel Foods constructing a new production facility )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hormel Foods is beginning construction on a new production facility in Dubuque, which is expected to be operational by November 2009. The $89 million facility will occupy 327,000 sq. ft. and will create 180 new jobs....

Tyson Foods.(PLANT OPENINGS & EXPANSIONS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Tyson Foods is planning a $10 million expansion at its Springdale, AR Berry Street plant that will include a deboning process that is currently handled by an outside vendor. The new line will add about 370 jobs. Another $17.6 million expansion...

Nestle Prepared Foods Company.(PLANT OPENINGS & EXPANSIONS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Nestle Prepared Foods Company plans to invest more than $60 million to expand its frozen foods facility in Jonesboro, AR. A new production line will be installed, and a new bakery will produce pizza for the company's Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine...

Zentis GMBH & Co. KG.(PLANT OPENINGS & EXPANSIONS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Zentis GMBH & Co. KG, selected Shambaugh & Son for the conversion of a 150,000-sq.-ft. facility in Plymouth, IN to produce aseptic fruit fillings for yogurt and ice cream. Dry warehouse space was converted into freezers and coolers....

Richmond Cold Storage.(PLANT OPENINGS & EXPANSIONS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Richmond Cold Storage completed the expansion of its Richmond, VA facility. The 184,000-sq.-ft. temperature-controlled warehouse space provides storage temperatures ranging from -20[degrees]F for ice cream to 40[degrees]F for other foods.

Outsourcing requires homework.(MANUFACTURING NEWS)
April 1, 2008... Whether a processor outsources procurement, manufacturing, product innovation, IT services or business processes, there's no doubt that, if executed properly, outsourcing can save money and take the pressure off several business tasks. But many...

FSIS understaffed?(REGULATORY WATCH)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Food Safety and Inspection Service, which regulates meat, poultry and egg products, faces resource limitations that make it more difficult for the agency to ensure the safety of the food supply, according to a report by OMB Watch, a non-profit...

Foreign supplier scrutiny.(REGULATORY WATCH)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Showing growing impatience with Congress and the Bush Administration, the food industry itself is once again calling for increased inspection of the food supply. Following Congressional hearings on food safety in late February, the Grocery...

Farm Bill not so sweet.(REGULATORY WATCH)(CEOs at 17 major food companies expressing strong opposition to proposed sugar provisions in the Farm Bill)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... CEOs at 17 major food companies have signed letters to key members of the House and Senate expressing strong opposition to proposed sugar provisions in the Farm Bill. The executives took special aim at a provision that guarantees US sugar...

ConAgra Foods, Inc. acquired Kennewick, WA-based Watts Brothers, a privately held vegetable processing and agricultural company, to further grow and strengthen its core potato business operating under the Lamb Weston brand.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)
April 1, 2008... ConAgra Foods, Inc. acquired Kennewick, WA-based Watts Brothers, a privately held vegetable processing and agricultural company, to further grow and strengthen its core potato business operating under the lamb Weston brand. Lamb Weston has...

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)(J. Clinton Rivers appointed as president and chief executive officer)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Pilgrim's Pride Corporation board of directors unanimously elected J. Clinton Rivers as president and chief executive officer. Rivers previously served as chief operating officer and has held numerous management...

McCormick & Company, Inc. has purchased the shares of Billy Bee Honey Products Ltd.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)
April 1, 2008... McCormick & Company, Inc. has purchased the shares of Billy Bee Honey Products Ltd. for $75 million.

Sargento Foods.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)(2007 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Sargento Foods has been recognized as the 2007 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year. The company received top honors in the Mega category, which represents companies with more than 1,000 employees.

Campbell Soup Company.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)(Campbell Soup Company planning to expand and enhance its facilities )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Campbell Soup Company will remain in Camden, NJ and plans to invest up to $72 million to expand and enhance its facilities and to serve a s a master redeveloper of an office park in Camden's Gateway District. Camden has been home to Campbell...

The J. M. Smucker Company has entered into an agreement, through a subsidiary, to acquire Europe's Best, Inc., a privately owned company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and supplier of all natural, frozen fruit in Canada.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The J. M. Smucker Company has entered into an agreement, through a subsidiary, to acquire Europe's Best, Inc., a privately owned company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and supplier of all natural, frozen fruit in Canada. Europe's Best has...

Wildeck Inc.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)(Wildeck Inc., appointing Keith G. Pignolet as president)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wildeck Inc., manufacturer of material handling equipment, appointed Keith G. Pignolet as president. Pignolet, who joined the company in 1986, formerly served as executive vice president. Current President Ralph H....

Constellation Brands, Inc. completed the sale of the Almaden and Inglenook wine brands, and the Paul Masson winery located in Madera, CA to The Wine Group LLC for $134 million in cash.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Constellation Brands, Inc. completed the sale of the Almaden and Inglenook wine brands, and the Paul Masson winery located in Madera, CA to The Wine Group LLC for $134 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to reduce...

Smithfield Foods, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to sell Smithfield Beef Group, Inc., its beef processing and cattle feeding operation, to JBS S.A. for $565 million in cash.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Smithfield Foods, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to sell Smithfield Beef Group, Inc., its beef processing and cattle feeding operation, to JBS S.A. for $565 million in cash. The sale to JBS includes 100% of Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding...

Self-esteem in a 750ml bottle: volume alone hasn't raised spirits to almost a third of alcohol sales. Sky-high prices and dazzling packaging also factor in.(FOOD PACKAGING)
April 1, 2008... Not too many decades ago, vodka was a proletarian drink that could fuel a combustion engine in a pinch. Today, vodka is a star in the distilled spirits galaxy, with super premium and ultra premium brands crowding low-end vodkas off the shelf....

Case-ready reconsiders low-oxygen packaging.(FOOD PACKAGING)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Oxygen absorbers have been 'keeping shelf-stable foods flesh for decades, but getting the iron powder inside those sachets to oxidize in a refrigerated environment was asking too much--until recently. Multisorb Technologies used the...

Plastic's newest glass assault.(FOOD PACKAGING)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... When ConAgra Inc. collects a sustainable packaging award in May from the Institute of Packaging Professionals for the Hunt's ketchup container, developers of the lightweight PET will be saying, "One category down, many more to come." ...

Recalls are a fact of life: it's time to face reality. Many companies do not know their role if a recall occurs.(FOOD SAFETY)
April 1, 2008... Every day, it seems there is another food product recall. There are condiments recalled for potential contamination with botulism, meats that may contain Listeria monocytogenes, candies that have undeclared allergens and snacks with metal...

Optical sorter software.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designed for use in fresh, frozen and dried fruit, vegetable, berry, nut, potato/potato strip, snack food, confection, coffee and seafood applications, Key Technology's OPC-compliant network communication software is...

Ethernet switches.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Intended for use in high-bandwidth and throughput applications, Siemens' Scalance X300 compact, high-performance gigabit switches help migrate fast Ethernet to gigabit standards, providing the ability to integrate plant floor networks with...

Connection gateways.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Pepperl+Fuchs' DeviceNet gateways in K20 housing styles are available in single- and dual-channel versions, and connect AS-Interface to upper-level controllers, cUL-listed to simplify panel construction, they provide diagnostic capabilities...

Checkweigher/X-ray.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Loma's X4 inspection system includes X-weigh software that can be integrated into existing X-ray systems, enabling the unit to weigh, reject and provide product reports, in addition to performing contaminant...

Mid-range embedded PC.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... With a 500 MHz Pentium MMX-compatible processor, Beckhoff's modular, DIN rail-mounted CX1010 embedded PC offers CPU performance suitable for a range of automation and control applications. The PC comes with bundled TwinCAT PLC software and...

Ethernet connectivity.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Schneider's Web-enabled Ethernet communications card option for its compact Square D PowerLogic PM800 series power meters is designed to optimize the monitoring of electrical installations in industrial or critical power environments. The...

Bone guard shrink bags.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designed to prevent punctures with no need for patches, soaker pads or bone discs, CMS Flavorseal bone guard shrink bags can be used with bone-in fresh, cooked or processed meats, as well as heavy rub or spiced...

High-volume sorter.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Key Technology's new Manta sorter features a two-meter wide scan area that increases throughput. Manta handles up to 60,000 pounds of processed vegetables or fruit per hour and offers high resolution scanning. Designed for flexibility, the...

Auto ID integration.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Accu-Sort's Fast Link software links data from real-time automatic identification devices with enterprise IT systems, removing the barrier of integrating auto ID devices by providing information that existing IT resources can utilize. With the...

General-purpose weighing.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Suitable for applications in general-purpose environments, Mettler Toledo's PBA330 weighing platform has a solid-frame construction that protects the cell from overloads and shocks up to 150% of the scale capacity....

Wireless data logger.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... A fully reliable wireless data logger, Dickson's Wireless Wizard monitors inventory temperature and/or humidity. It can be monitored in real-time from a desktop PC or other computer workstation, eliminating delays for data downloading. It...

Servo drives.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Intended for small packaging applications, Rockwell's Allen-Bradley Kinetix 2000 servo drives are available in low power ranges for end-users with power requirements ranging from 300 watts to 3 kW. The drives integrate with Allen-Bradley Logix...

Quad-batching system.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Gainco's AccuFill quad-batching system for red meat provides high-speed collection and grouping of red meat items such as loose meats, finger meat and variety meats. Suitable for processing whole muscle meats, as well as further processed...

Belt scale.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designed for weighing and totalizing continuous flow rates of bulk solid materials up to 15,000 tons/hour, Schenck AccuRate's BEMP single idler belt scale can be used with 18-in. or 60-in. wide CEMA idlers. The belt...

Order fulfillment software.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... FKI's EASYpick order fulfillment software integrates multiple light- and voice-directed picking and putting technologies, and supports FKI Logistex EASYpick Pick-to-Light, GoKart, Voice, RF and EASYput Put-to-Light. It features reporting tools...

Master/slave modules.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... ProSoft's MVI5-PDPMV1 Profibus DP master V1 module for Control Logix can be connected over Ethernet via the 1756-ENBT EtherNet/IP module to configure the Profibus master module and network; upload and download files; and view network module...

Clarification.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Correction notice)
April 1, 2008... In Food Engineering's February issue, the Web address for Surface Solutions on page 59 was incorrect. The correct address is www.surfacesolutionsusa.com.

Rotary batch mixer.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Capable of blending batches of ingredients in parts down to one per million with 100% uniformity in less than three minutes, Munson's 700-TH-40-SS sanitary rotary batch mixer evacuates 100% of the batch and sanitizes...

Ethernet/IP routers.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... UL-listed, Omron's NE1A-EDR01 Ethernet/IP-DeviceNet routers allow the operating condition of a DeviceNet safety system to be configured and monitored from a general-purpose Ethernet device. Using an ED router allows programming of devices from...

Doughweigher.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Providing 100% weight inspection of dough pieces after the rounder, Lock's CK doughweigher has auto-zero technology to ensure dough build does not affect weight accuracy. The doughweigher provides weight data and has...

Metal conveyor belt.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Designed for cooking operations such as conveyorized fryers or ovens, Wire Belt's metal conveyor belt transfers product onto the cooling line without sweating, slipping, drooping, sagging or catching fire. Made of stainless steel, it has an...

Temperature calibrators.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Offering accuracy and radial homogeneity, Ametek's Jofra ITC dry block calibrators cover temperature ranges -23[degrees]C to 155[degrees]C, 33[degrees]C to 320[degrees]C and 33[degrees]C to 650[degrees]C. Each calibrator features a dual-zone...

Power management system.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rittal's Ri4Power modular power management system is available as a high-current power distributor, low-voltage system or distribution enclosure. The system has IEC-type testing in place; UL 508, 845 and 89]...

Pneumatic actuators.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Tolomatic's MXP rodless pneumatic actuators range in size from 35 to 2,583 lbf, with auxiliary carriers available for double their load capacities; six bore sizes and inch or metric versions are available for a variety of applications. Three...

Steel ball bearings.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Intended for rotating equipment used in processing fish, meat, pork and poultry, MRC Marathon single-row, deep groove ball bearings provide corrosion resistance even in harsh conditions. Manufactured from 400 series stainless steel, the ball...

Swirl station.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... Suitable for mixing together products such as fillings and batters, Hinds-Bock's automatic swirlers improve product appearance and quality when producing marbled or swirled cakes and sweet goods. The station mounts to an indexing conveyor...

Ribbon blenders.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ross's B-blenders blend materials up to 32 lbs. cu.ft. Available in 10-, 18- and 36-cu.-ft. working capacities, the ribbon blenders are constructed of stainless steel; exterior and interior surfaces are polished to...

Reclosable thermoform packaging.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Multivac Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Intended for use with luncheon meats and sliced cheeses, Multivac's reclosable thermoform packaging has a top web formed with a deep, angled recess that snaps into the bottom web to close the package tightly, helps...

Powder product weigher.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Heat and Control Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designed for weigh-filling powdered coffee, milk, drink mixes and other products, Ishida's model CCW-DP-210 weigher features steeply angled infeed and discharge chutes to maintain a constant flow of powders....

Weight controller.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Hardy Instruments Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hardy's HI 4050 general-purpose weight controller with Allen-Bradley remote I/O network communications eliminates the effects of surround vibration for stable weight display. Three inches deep, the controller...

Multiple-use earplugs.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Sperian Hearing Protection)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Designed to keep workers connected to their environment without compromising protection, Howard Leight's Clarity multiple-use earplugs block hazardous noise while allowing voice and signal frequencies to be heard. Available in two sizes, the...

Adhesive melter/feeder.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Nordson Corp.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Nordson's ProBlue Fulfill integrated melter and adhesive feed system maintains desired adhesive levels in the melter tank to reduce clogged adhesive nozzles and deliver consistent bonding. An integrated capacitance sensor detects low adhesive...

Flotation washing systems.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(FNTON USA, Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designed specifically for washing salads, herbs and vegetables, FTNON's flotation washing systems are available for small and large capacities. The water bath has various water injection points; air or water is blown...

Reach stacker.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Hyster Co.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Designed to fit demanding material handling jobs, Hyster's Yardmaster II reach stacker works with load capacities up to 101,000 lb. Offering a tight turning radius, the stacker has a high-strength boom for lifting 9ft. 6-in. or 8 ft. 6-in....

PET with UV protection.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Investa Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... A polyester polymer designed to protect packaged food and beverages against ultraviolet rays, Invista's Polyclear Protect PET 2201U has thermal stability for heat-set, hot-fit and pasteurized applications. It eliminates the need for...

Metric position sensors.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Macro Sensors)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Constructed entirely of stainless steel, Macro Sensors' metric HSE/HSER 750 DC-operated, 19-mm diameter position sensors are hermetically sealed and impervious to dirt, water, steam and other corrosive elements. They...

Table top lab mixer.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Readco Kurimoto)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Readco Kurimoto's RK 1 table top lab mixer comes ready to run. It has full touch screen operational control, with an optional lift table, barrel heater and material addition chute. With production rates of 20...

Panel impact door.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Suitable for pallet jack, pushcart, pedestrian and light-to-medium forklift use, Aleco's single-ply PVC panel Optima ImpacDor features top-mounted gravity hinges for 180[degrees] swing capability; no bottom hinge...

PET measurement system.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(AGR International Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Agr's PETWall Profiler material distribution measurement system provides comprehensive sidewall distribution data on a PET container at the time of production. Offering up to 32 channels of distribution measurement points over the sidewall of...

Seven-axis robot.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Nachi Robotic Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Nachi's Presto MR20 robot's arm has a seven-axis design supporting up to a 30kg payload capacity even in constricted work areas. The robot features a horizontal reach of 1,260mm, a repeatability of +/-0.1mm built on a compact base, two 6mm...

Tube air pillows.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Storopack Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Storopack's Airplus moldable, foldable tube air pillows conform to products to protect them during shipment. They can be manufactured with existing Airplus machines; a roll of 13-in. film produces 2,000 ft. of tubes...

Union ball valve.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Asahi/America Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Asahi's Halar (E-CTFE) true union ball valve operates as a manual valve or can be paired with Asahi's pneumatic or electric actuators. Its design allows flow and pressure in either direction. Made of...

Filling/portioning depositor.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designed for depositing fillings for stuffed sandwiches, multiple-layered products, stuffed seafood, appetizers and rolled or wrapped products, NuTEC's C-frame filling and portioning depositor provides portion weight...

Pour spout.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Seaquist Closures)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Seaquist's Ultra pour spout features soft, round edges, a rib pattern on the outer wall, lower profile design, ergonomic finger recess and drain hole options for hot fill applications. Light in weight, it is available in 33-400 and 38-400. ...

Vision sensor.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Cognex Corp.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Cognex's Checker 232 vision sensor inspects small features over a wide area, detecting and inspecting up to 1,500 parts/min. Using multi-image analysis to determine if a part is present without an external trigger, the sensor tracks parts in...

Robotic picker.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(ABB Robotics AB)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hygienically designed for use in packaging applications with open food, such as meat, dairy products and ready made meals, ABB's FlexPicker IRB360 has a payload up to 3kg to handle heavier objects and accommodate the...

Roll-up door.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Goff's Enterprises, Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Capable of withstanding high wind loads and harsh conditions of food processing plants, washing stations and degreasing units, Goff's HarshGuard roll-up door maintains a seal under gusts up to 70 mph on a 10'x 12'...

Power lift stacker.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A manually propelled electric lift, Jungheinrich's HC 110b power lift stacker is intended for occasional light-duty stacking operations and the loading and unloading from trailers from ground height. The stacker's...

Overhead stretch wrapper.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(LANtech Inc. )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Lantech's S-2500 overhead stretch wrapper has an 80 pallet/hour capacity in processing unstable or heavy loads found in beverage industry plants. It handles loads up to 58-in. square and 80-in. tall, providing automatic load indexing, film...

Compact conveyor.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(PIAB Material Handling)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... PIAB's C2100-64 compact conveyor hygienically conveys powder and bulk materials in spaces with very low ceilings or limited space. Featuring multistage technology, the conveyor can transport up to 1.0 to 1.5 tons/hour of powders and granules....

Slope top enclosure.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on PLCs and Weighing)(Rittal Corp.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Available in Type 304 and Type 316 stainless steel, Rittal's AE slope top enclosure is intended for use where sanitation concerns require frequent washdowns. A 20[degrees] overhanging sloped rooftop prevents water...

Ciao, New York! The Rochester area rolls out the welcome mat for its newest Italian citizen by way of the Midwest: Barilla America, 2008 Plant of the Year.(Plant of the Year)(Company overview)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nature shows and science confirms that strength comes from diversity. Whether the humblest pea plant or most complex animal, life forms thrive with crossbreeding: Wading in the shallow end of the gene pool is a dead...

Antimicrobial tools: name your poison: want to get tough on mold and bacteria? An impressive arsenal of microbe killers exists.(TECH UPDATE)
April 1, 2008... From exotic newcomers like bacteriophage to cheap and effective standbys like chlorine, food and beverage manufacturers have a growing number of arrows in their antimicrobial quivers. Bacteria and mold killers are being swabbed on surfaces,...

Time for a change: move from small paper bags to super sacks meets increased product demand.(SPECIAL SECTION: Dry Processing Technology: Focus on Powder & Bulk Operations)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ed Lukacevic, a respected breeder and biologist, spent 10 years researching canine diets and nutritional needs and, over that period, developed a recipe that replaces the enzymes cooked out of commercial dog food....

Vacuum receivers.(Eye on Equipment: IN POWDER & BULK MATERIAL HANDLING)(K-Tron America Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] K-Tron's Model Premier Pneumatics P-Series vacuum receivers handle powders, poor-flowing powders and fragile materials. The receivers meet cGMP sanitary requirements with all components constructed of stainless steel...

Diverter valves.(Eye on Equipment: IN POWDER & BULK MATERIAL HANDLING)(Cyclonaire Corp.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Cyclonaire pinch diverter valves, which are available in diameters from 2 to 12 inches, provide obstruction-free flow of dry materials conveyed under pressure in dilute, semi dense and dense phase pneumatic systems. They can direct material to...

Bag dump stations.(Eye on Equipment: IN POWDER & BULK MATERIAL HANDLING)(Airlanco)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Constructed with 304 stainless steel, Airlanco bag dump stations are compact, self-contained units built to eliminate the labor, waste and potential health hazards associated with the spillage and dust normally...

Bulk bag conditioner.(Eye on Equipment: IN POWDER & BULK MATERIAL HANDLING)(Flexicon Corp.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Flexicon's bulk bag conditioner-unloader system loosens bulk solid material that has solidified during storage and shipment, allowing the material to discharge through a bag spout. Integral configuration of the conditioner eliminates the time,...

Sanitary bulk bag discharger.(Eye on Equipment: IN POWDER & BULK MATERIAL HANDLING)(Material Transfer and Storage Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Material Transfer's sanitary Material Master bulk bag discharger features 304 stainless steel construction with round horizontal tubes, no tube penetrations, welded stand-offs and continuous TIG welds for thorough cleaning. A Flowmaster bulk...

Bulk solids wireless monitoring.(Eye on Equipment: IN POWDER & BULK MATERIAL HANDLING)(Schenck/Accurate Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Using Bluetooth wireless technology, Schenck AccuRate has the capability to change the parameters on its range of bulk solids metering controls without the need for wiring hook-ups. Engineers and technicians can service equipment up to 300 feet...