March 2009 Tech Showcase

Food safety is critical to your business. ARAMARK Uniform Services can help reduce the chances of product contamination by delivering a wide variety of hygienically clean garments, specialized disposable items and personal protective equipment. The company’s award-winning 10-step Total HACCP Solution is setting new standards for food safety and sanitation.

ARAMARK Uniform Services, phone (818) 973-2863 or visit www.ARAMARK-Uniform.com

Flour Applicator

At the International Poultry Expo 2009, CFS introduced its new generation CFS OptiFlour®, a no-nonsense flour applicator which applies coatings ranging from a thin pre-dust to seeded flour types and light to medium crumbs. It is optimized to deliver more output and longer production runs. This extra performance comes in a lean machine which is simple to operate, flexible, easy to clean and available in hydraulic and electrical execution. In combination with the CFS OptiAir, it contributes to a dust-free work environment.

CFS North America, phone (800) 388-2601 or visit www.CFS.com

Compressor Fluid

Petro-Canada has launched PURITY FG Synthetic Compressor Fluid, a new addition to its extensive line of food-grade lubricants, greases and specialty fluids. PURITY FG Synthetic Compressor Fluid is a synthetic PAO-based product, scientifically formulated with selected additives and proven to protect against wear, oxidation, rust and corrosion while also providing greater wide-temperature performance. The product meets the highest food-industry safety standards, is registered by NSF as an H1 lubricant, and fits perfectly in HACCP and GMP plans. All components comply with FDA regulation 21 CFR 178.3570 (lubricants with incidental food contact).

Petro-Canada, phone (888) 284-4572 or visit http://lubricants.petro-canada.ca

Roller Conveyor

FKI Logistex® has announced the North American launch of its Logistex NB200 Narrow-Belt Driven Roller Conveyor, a flexible system that is part of the company’s new Logistex Case Conveyor Solutions (LCCS) product family. The conveyor includes the ability to switch between slug and singulation release modes to match the flow demands of an application. The NB200 also offers a dynamic auto-slug feature, which is a built-in option that allows the NB200 accumulation zones to self-monitor product density and move groups of product downstream when space is available. This option increases accumulation throughput by 10 percent over other similar accumulation methods.

FKI Logistex, phone (877) 935-4564 or visit www.fkilogistex.com

New Software

Tharo Systems has launched a new version of its EASYLABEL® software that includes XML (Extensible Markup Language) support for Oracle enterprise management systems. EASYLABEL 5 Platinum’s XML Monitor will “watch” a file directory or TCP/IP port and automatically print RFID or bar-code labels when a compatible XML file is received. This feature provides a direct connection to Oracle or any other application capable of generating a properly formatted XML file, enabling seamless printing of RFID or bar-code labels from supply chains or manufacturing software. A complimentary trial edition is available for download from the company’s Web site.

Tharo Systems Inc., phone (330) 273-4408 or visit www.tharo.com

DeltaTRAK has introduced a new software application, FlashPDF. This PC-based application writes PDF files automatically from temperature data recorded using any of DeltaTRAK’s FlashLink CT data loggers. Supported are the FlashLink CT, FlashLink CTX, FlashLink BioLogger and FlashLink CT -80C Dry Ice models. FlashPDF is a small-footprint application that runs on a PC. Connecting any FlashLink CT data logger to the computers USB port will result in the automatic creation and display of a locked PDF file. These files are also stored on that computer for archiving and available for distribution using e-mail or any other file-delivery method. In addition to creating a PDF file, FlashPDF generates a raw-data file that can be used with DeltaTRAK’s Web-hosted and desktop-software applications.

DeltaTRAK Inc., phone (800) 962-6776 or visit www.deltatrak.com

Bag Dump Station

Compact AIRLANCO® Bag Dump Stations eliminate labor, waste and potential health hazards that may be caused by spillage or dust when handling bagged materials. The self-contained units are now available in sanitary, stainless-steel construction — ideal for food, feed, pharmaceutical, pet food, and other industries where contamination can be costly and dangerous. Systems range in size from 5 to 40 cubic feet in capacity and are USDA-accepted to collect dust generated when dumping powder and bulk solids from bags, boxes, drums and other containers.

AIRLANCO, phone (800) 500-9777 or visit www.airlanco.com

Proximity Sensor

Specially targeted for use in the food and beverage industries, Omron’s E2EH inductive proximity sensors in food-grade 316L stainless-steel housings provide reliable metal-object or machine-part detection in demanding environments. Tested and certified by Ecolab, the sensor withstands high temperatures up to 120 C and resists corrosion from detergents and disinfectants. The E2EH sensor offers increased sensing range (up to 12 millimeters) that helps avoid collision damage with passing objects. In addition to the 316L stainless-steel housing, the sensor uses a rugged PBT-sensing surface and heat-resistant PVC cable.

OMRON Electronics LLC, phone (847) 285-7176 or visit www.omron247.com

Plastic Locker

Remcon heavy-duty plastic lockers are rustproof and washable, and offer distinct advantages over metal lockers. Ideal for high-moisture environments and facilities that require frequent washdowns, Remcon lockers are easy to sanitize and provide corrosion-free performance throughout their service life. Featuring double-wall constructed doors, the lockers are maintenance free, provide quiet operation, and never require painting. Available in flat- or slope-top models in a variety of colors and sizes (single-, double-, four-, and six-tier), they are sold individually by opening and are easy to install. Different sizes can be mixed together to maximize space or meet custom requirements.

Remcon Plastics Inc., phone (800) 360-3636 or visit www.remcon.com

Supplier News

Wince recently joined CMS as national sales manager, responsible for developing the North American outside sales team; and Chef Franks joined the company’s foodservice division, bringing a wide range of expertise in food packaging, food safety, design, recipes and consulting.

Fish, new Western outside sales manager, joined with extensive regional and national sales and marketing experience selling into retail supermarkets, foodservice and retail markets; and Brown, CMS marketing manager, joined with more than ten years of marketing experience, including five years with C&K Manufacturing and Sales Inc., and will be responsible for developing CMS’s new e-commerce division.

KATHABAR DEHUMIDIFICATION SYSTEMS INC. has announced the expansion of its sales team. Due to continued growth after being acquired by Niagara Blower Co. in January 2008, the newly-formed subsidiary has hired several highly-experienced employees and opened new offices.

With over 35 years of experience in liquid desiccant dehumidification applications, Nick Honko returned to the Kathabar team in April 2008 as director of global sales.

Stan Slabinski and Dan Godfrey recently joined Kathabar as regional sales managers, and Bob McMullen has joined the company as field service technician.

Resulting from increasing demand from foreign markets, Kathabar opened new sales offices in the Netherlands and Brazil in 2008. The Netherlands office coordinates all European activities while the office in Brazil manages all Latin American sales activities. In November 2008, a new corporate office opened in New Jersey to manage the engineering and design of liquid and dry desiccant dehumidification and energy recovery systems.

FKI LOGISTEX has gained a multi-million dollar contract with broadline foodservice distributor Gordon Food Service (GFS). FKI Logistex will provide an automated material-handling system for the new GFS regional multi-temperature distribution center in Kenosha, Wis. This is the second FKI Logistex system installation for GFS since completion of the Shepherdsville, Ky., distribution center in 2003.

The new 480,000-square-foot distribution center was designed to provide enhanced service to regional customers while cutting transportation distance and costs. Marked as the largest GFS facility in the region, the distribution center will include five pick modules, multiple slapper lines, a turnkey conveyor system and a UniSort® XV sliding shoe sorter. The system, which boasts over 30,000 feet of conveyor, relies heavily on FKI Logistex software and controls to maximize throughput while maintaining segregation of temperature zones and a strict order-stop sequence for loading shipments.

Z TRIM HOLDINGS INC., manufacturer of multifunctional fiber ingredients, and WORLD TECHNOLOGY INGREDIENTS (WTI), a specialty ingredients company to the meat and poultry industries, have announced that Z Trim ingredients will be presented to the meat industry via WTI.

Based in Jefferson, Ga., where the company maintains a state-of-the-art, 46,000-square-foot manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facility, WTI has been selling food ingredients nationally and internationally since 1978 and has become a leader in marination products and technologies. WTI has assembled a strong and highly experienced group of food scientists, researchers, sales staff and executives who understand the food industry inside and out.

“A few of the attributes our meat-industry customers desire from the ingredients we offer are increased yields, alternatives to synthetically-manufactured ingredients, and marinade retention and improved water- holding capacity,” says Robert Brooks, technical specialist for WTI. “Z Trim offers all that and more in a manner that contributes to a consumer-friendly label and a greater competitive advantage for our customers.”

Z Trim is said to present a multitude of benefits across food categories because it is a taste-neutral, prebiotic, insoluble/soluble dietary fiber that improves texture, stabilizes emulsions, controls water activity and replaces fat and calories while increasing yields.

WEIGHPACK SYSTEMS INC. has recently expanded operations and opened a Midwest Systems Center in Chicago. With a successful systems center in Las Vegas, offering an elaborate showroom of equipment and systems for weighing and packaging, WeighPack says it hopes to extend that success in Chicago. Located minutes from O’Hare International airport, the new location will focus on the Midwest states bringing parts and tech support closer to its customers.