Equipping Food Manufacturers for Success

The IFT19 food expo highlighted traditional and novel food processing equipment for food product developers and engineers. A wide range of companies and organizations presented processing solutions for food science–related needs and challenges—from small-scale unit operations to commercial-scale equipment lines. This column provides brief descriptions of some of the processing-related discoveries found at the expo.

Armfield manufactures small-scale equipment including HTST/UHT/aseptic systems, spray-dryers and chillers, extractors and crystallizers, oil processors, ultrafiltration devices, and more.

B&P Littleford is a leading supplier of a range of equipment, including dryers, extruders, and compounders. The TriVolution next generation compounder was highlighted this year. It provides three strokes per revolution of the screw shaft, resulting in exceptional dispersion and distributive mixing, especially with shear-sensitive materials.

Baker Perkins highlighted processing equipment and services for the bread, biscuit, confectionery, snack, and breakfast cereal sectors. One of its newer technologies is the ServoForm soft confection depositor, which uses a three-dimensional mold system for high-value, starchless jelly depositing.

Cold Jet manufactures dry ice cleaning solutions. These are similar to sand blasting in that they employ media that is accelerated using a pressurized air stream to clean. Cold Jet technology is nontoxic and safe. It uses solid carbon dioxide microparticles that sublimate on impact, lifting dirt and contaminants from surfaces in a nonabrasive and nonconductive manner, leaving no secondary waste.

GEA Group is one of the largest equipment suppliers to the food processing industry. One of the processing lines highlighted was a batch formula test mixer featuring direct steam injection.

Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems manufactures equipment and systems for size reduction, classification, blending and mixing, as well as for dry particle analysis, compaction, and granulation.

A global halal certifier, the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) helps companies meet the needs of halal consumers for food and consumables. Over the past 10 years, the number of companies coming under IFANCA halal certification has increased by 14% a year while the number of halal-certified products has increased by 24% a year.

While Muslims in America make up the majority of halal consumers, non-Muslims are finding the quality as well as the attention paid to sustainability, the environment, and animal welfare, to be attractive reasons to consume halal products, according to IFANCA. Companies are also attracted to export opportunities, and IFANCA is accredited and approved by all major importing regulatory bodies. IFANCA has offices in key regions around the world.

Whether it is meat, ingredients, processed foods, foodservice, nutritional supplements, personal care products, vaccines, or any consumable, IFANCA has the expertise to guide producers through the halal certification process. Over the past 19 years at the expo, IFANCA has introduced companies to halal, provided market intelligence, and supported its certified clients.

InfraReady Products is an infrared processor and food ingredient supplier whose products and services were highlighted at this year’s expo. 

Kreyenborg showcased its Food Safety-IRD line. This equipment can be used for sterilization, roasting, coating, and drying, as well as killing insects and larvae. The processing line mists a fine spray of water onto the food products, ensuring a 5 log reduction in bacteria through surface evaporation. 

MicroThermics is a world leader in small-scale custom pasteurizers and aseptic fillers. The company’s UHT/HTST/aseptic processors were highlighted at the food expo.

Muzan Europe manufactures sanitary pumps as well as drum and bin unloading systems, all of which were displayed at the expo.

Neo-Pure highlighted a novel organic, nonthermal pasteurization technology that maintains raw food and does not involve heat, chemicals, gas, or irradiation. The technology kills spoilage organisms and pathogens, while preserving germination and sprouting characteristics. Neo-Pure’s process involves application of an organic, biodegradable liquid solution to foods through misting.

Porifera highlighted its forward osmosis processing technology. This energy-efficient technology is used to dewater and concentrate high-quality liquid foods.

Radio Frequency Co. is a leading manufacturer of advanced industrial radio frequency processing systems for the rapid heating, drying, de-infestation, and pasteurization of foods.

Wolverine Proctor featured a multistage single conveyor dryer.

Several extrusion manufacturers exhibited at the expo: Buhler Group, C.W. Brabender, Clextral, and Wenger Manufacturing.

This year’s IFT food expo highlighted the important role of food processing in developing new foods and improving food quality, healthfulness, and safety, while enhancing sustainability.