To satisfy increasing production needs to consistently manufacture safe, industry-leading products, JTM Food Group in Harrison, Ohio, invests heavily in advanced technology.

For example, JTM incorporated two new Formax NovaMax500 forming systems from Provisur Technologies Inc. Deemed “The Formax Room”, the area housing this technology also includes a mixer/grinder, a pre-break grinder and conveyors.

“These forming systems were the first developed — Alpha machines — in this facility,” said Joe Maas, JTM vice president, Operations.

When JTM acquired these forming systems, the company immediately discovered that a new industry standard had been set, featuring improved food safety and sanitation, 45 percent more output, greater portion control, less giveaway and superior training plus the lowest cost of ownership. Furthermore, Maas said the plant’s new forming machines are faster, quieter and there are far fewer maintenance issues.

“These machines are purring like kittens,” he said after the machines were up and running for the first few months. “It is really refreshing and impressive to see the level of R&D and total improvement in this machine,” he said. “Formax has really gone the entire route and put together the best possible machines available on the market today — complete with an ultra-sanitary design.”

Indeed, Provisur depends heavily on valuable input from industry experts and its processor partners to design the sanitary processing technologies of the future. The Equipment Design Task Force (EDTF), established by the American Meat Institute (AMI) Listeria Task Force in 2001, has developed 10 operational and equipment sanitary design guidelines in building equipment to minimize the spread of Listeria in meat processing plants. The task force also developed a checklist tool that equipment manufacturers and processors can use to ensure their equipment meets these principles. Provisur not only applies but also goes beyond these principles in all processing equipment it designs and manufactures.

The new Formax NovaMax500 from Provisur produces superior end products with optimal operational throughput, all while consistently ensuring extraordinary hygiene. This next-generation replacement for the F-19 forming system helps processors meet stringent customer demands while improving their own costs, portion control and machine maintenance.

When searching for processing equipment, JTM’s Maas first looks for suppliers with a sterling reputation and equipment that consistently delivers shift after shift with little or no down time. Such equipment must be broken down easily to ensure effective cleaning and sanitation on a daily basis.

The NovaMax500 forming system features a unibody construction and a rigid one-piece pump box that saves time while ensuring effective washdowns. Pivoting feed-screw drives, hopper and removable feed screws enable easy, thorough cleaning and reduce maintenance time and costs.

“I’m constantly integrating all available technologies and searching the marketplace for what’s available in automated equipment with extraordinary food safety features,” Maas said.

 Read Provisur’s case study on the technologies that offer the highest level of food safety. Go to provisurwhitepapers.com/foodsafety and download the information you need to make informed decisions about your processing equipment. For more information, visit provisur.com.