Arrowsight, a provider of remote video auditing (RVA) systems for monitoring employee compliance in meat processing and animal-handling environments, is ramping up to deliver its video monitoring and audit services to meat processors in the wake of the nation’s largest meat recall in history.

Utilizing the American Meat Institute’s Animal Handling Guidelines as the platform for Arrowsight remote video auditing services, the company offers processors increased levels of management oversight, promotes improved employee compliance and affords plants high standards of food safety and brand integrity.

“During the period of this meat recall, we have ramped up production and operations in response to an increased public demand for improving animal handling compliance,” says Adam Aronson, chief executive officer for Arrowsight. “While recent events have validated the progressive work of our beef and poultry customers who, for many years, have sustained high standards of animal-handling compliance, many more producers are now choosing Arrowsight remote-video auditing to monitor employee performance.”

RVA takes video, both live and recorded, to new levels of functionality. Using cameras strategically placed in plants, RVA auditors can view video associated with a procedure, process or alarm event and generate electronic video audit reports containing statistical summaries and hyperlinks to examined video captured through the RVA systems and software. These reports are then sent daily, weekly and monthly, to the company, summarizing a location’s performance. Additionally, if auditors witness any animal handling infractions, alerts are sent immediately to the management of the slaughter plant to take action.

RVA uses video cameras and digital video recorders (DVRs) viewed over the Web to monitor and audit operations, allowing businesses to realize greater efficiency, better safety and higher security.

Arrowsight’s animal-handling services are bundled with food safety, operations and security applications. By combining financially beneficial process-optimization applications with brand protecting safety and security applications, Arrowsight enables its clients to transform their traditional investments in safety, security and animal welfare into a total, packaged solution that has significant overall returns. Arrowsight’s balanced solution dramatically improves operational oversight and helps ensure the safety and security of the nation’s food supply, without burdening processors with excessive, new “cost-only” expenses.

 “Alone and unmonitored, recorded data is useless. Audited and analyzed, however, findings provide enormous value for achieving improved levels of employee performance, and compliance with animal handling and food safety guidelines,” says Aronson.

Animal handling expert Dr. Temple Grandin adds: “RVA is a big step forward in animal welfare and handling practices, empowering us to manage the areas we measure. RVA gives us a continuing, real-time record of the process in motion, not just a single isolated snapshot. RVA means managers can watch the process as it happens and in the context of the other processes that exist down the line in either direction.”

Arrowsight, phone (866) 261-5656 or visit www.arrowsight.com

A new BAX-system assay from DuPont Qualicon that uses innovative technology for rapid Listeria detection has been certified as Performance Tested Method No. 030801 by the AOAC Research Institute of Gaithersburg, Md. AOAC-RI found that the automated BAX system performed significantly better than the culture method for detecting Listeria on stainless-steel surfaces. By using technology called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to jump-start the reaction, results are available just eight hours after sampling.

DuPont Qualicon, phone (302) 695-5300 or visit www.qualicon.com

Carroll Manufacturing and Sales can customize its line of Flavorseal roll stock films to meet a full range of food processing needs. Flavorseal roll stock fills more packages per minute, dramatically reducing per-unit costs versus individual bags. With gauges ranging from 2 to 14 millimeters (60 to 350 microns) and web widths ranging from 10 to 51 inches, Flavorseal can be used for form-fill and seal applications, whether horizontal or vertical. CMS provides free in-field technical support to evaluate the customer’s process, develop the correct film for a given machine and application, and provide samples and testing to ensure satisfaction.

Carroll Manufacturing and Sales, phone (866) 769-1500 or visit www.cmsflavorseal.com

The S6 Wheel Grinder from Schober USA allows customers to regrind their circular knives and lower cutting knives on site. The S6 accommodates knives from 1.6 to 7 inches in diameter to handle many customer applications. Slitting wheel sizes are from 1.6 to 4.7 inches in diameter and lower cutting knives accommodated are from 2 to 3½ inches in diameter. An adjustable grinding angle and integrated cooling system provide maximum performance. The S6 operates on 400V 50/60 Hz, with an option for 230 volt/50 Hz. This versatile machine is 23½ inches long by 25½ inches wide and stands 19 inches tall, and weighs just 220 pounds.

Schober USA, phone (513) 489-7393 or visit www.schoberusa.com

Computerway Food Systems’ Process Tracking is designed to provide accurate plant level tracking capabilities for food manufacturing and processing companies. The system is highly configurable and replaces antiquated “clipboard-based” systems with real-time data collection capabilities. The system optimizes traceability functionalities for sites already employing Computerway R5z systems. The system’s Web-based technology provides simple data access for authorized users from any location where the internet is available. Process Tracking can be integrated with ERP systems for the exchange of purchasing information.

Computerway Food Systems, phone (336) 841-7289 or visit www.mycfs.com

Zentox Corp.’s Cascade-Plus System is a proprietary wastewater treatment process that provides poultry processors with operating cost savings by allowing the reuse of large volumes of water and by adding value through harvesting wastewater treatment by-products. The system provides a complete, turnkey wastewater and water-reuse solution including all system engineering (in-plant and out). The Cascade-Plus System provides high volumes of reuse water (up to 2.5 million gallons per day) and harvests oil and solids from the wastewater treatment process.

Zentox Corp., phone (757) 369-9870 or visit www.zentox.com

Quality Management is a fully integrated feature of the business process solution of CSB-System. It is compliant with all industry standards for HACCP, ISO 9001:2000 and IFS. The QM and HACCP module is integrated into the materials management of CSB, to ensure that all tests can be recorded in process and that the proper action is initiated instantly as the results are processed. In extended options, the results can be used to adjust your recipes based on raw material potential (meat protein, butterfat, sugar content, among others).

CSB-System International, phone (800) 852-9977 or visit www.csb.com

The RA-200 Automatic Vacuum Packaging Machine from Rollstock Inc. is an 11½- foot machine for entry level packaging applications. The packaging machine has a much smaller footprint than standard rollstock machines. The Advantage RA-200 features matched forming and sealing die tooling, one flying cross cut knife system, a vacuum pump with quick disconnects, a built-in trim removal system, and full PLC control. It is available in a variety of web widths, 285 millimeters to 459 millimeters.

Rollstock Inc., phone (888) 314-2152 or visit www.rollstock.com

The DB glove and sleeve are constructed from high performance fibers and wire. The added puncture resistant material located on the thumb, index finger and forearm create an additional barrier to a harsh environment. The DB glove and sleeve protects against punctures from needles and other sharp objects, while still offering comfort to wearers.

Wells Lamont Industry Group, phone (800) 247-3295 or visit www.wellslamontindustry.com

Wire Belt has introduced CarrySmart, the company’s made-to-order line of conveyors. The CarrySmart line includes Flex-Turn, Flat-Flex Straight, Flat-Flex Shuttle Conveyors, and Spreader or Converger Specialty Conveyors. CarrySmart conveyors are custom designed to accommodate specific processing applications. Other advantages include open construction that is easy-to-clean, gentle product handling, and one of the tightest transfer and smallest turning radius available.

Wire Belt, phone (603) 644-2500 or visit www.wirebelt.com

Scientific Data LLC has announced a new high speed version of the Data Tracker Industrial analyzer that can accurately measures fat in a 2-pound sample of beef, pork, poultry and other meats in less than 12 seconds. Other components such as moisture, protein and bone are available. Sample grind size can be up to ½ inch. The model is designed for wash down areas and can be mounted on the floor or catwalk. The analyzer combines a three-year warranty, two-pound sample size and 12-second results.

Scientific Data LLC, phone (800) 798-3282 or visit

Listeria Indicator Broth (SDI-LIB) is intended to be used in the food processing environment on food contact surfaces to detect the presence of Listeria species.  Simply swab the surface, add the Listeria Indicator Broth to the sample and incubate. The new SDI-LIB provides equivalent or superior recovery and faster detection as low as 10-50 heat injured Listeria monocytogenes organisms per milliliter within 24 to 30 hours of incubation.  This testing method is 98 percent sensitive and 99 percent specific, and provides comparable results to the USDA methods.

Hardy Diagnostics, phone (800) 266-2222 x5696 or visit www.hardydiagnostics.com

NuTEC’s C-Frame Depositors provide portion weight control and clean, accurate filling placement down the line.  45,000 deposits per hour are attainable on certain models. The C-Frame design of the portioning depositors enables the equipment to fit into existing production lines to deposit fillings for stuffed sandwiches, calzones, sandwich wraps, empanadas, cordon bleu, burritos, egg rolls, hamburgers, meat pies, chicken kiev, and stuffed seafood shells. NuTEC’s feed system uses a rotating spiral that gently moves the product to the rotary vane pump.  Deposit sizes of up to 1½ inches thick can be achieved.  The hydraulic system on these Depositors also minimizes maintenance, reduces downtime, and lowers repair costs.  

NuTEC Manufacturing, phone (815) 722-2800 or visit www.nutecmfg.com

The new BOX Series of refrigerated air-screen cases from Structural Concepts features a simple, square box design. The narrower profile and unique compressor ventilation channel allow an easier fit into such areas and a better match with existing decor. The BOX Series is easier to service and maintain because it contains the innovative Breeze™ slide-out refrigeration system. The optional Clean Sweep™ Automatic Condenser Coil Cleaner feature is also available.

Structural Concepts, phone(800) 433-9489 or visit www.structuralconcepts.com

Marlen is proud to announce that Multivac Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., has added another innovative component to its service platform. Multivac service is now Smart Tech equipped. Multivac, in a partnership with Marlen Research, has added Smart Tech mobile solutions to its available services. With the Smart Tech system, Multivac can work in real time with any plant floor technician in directly assessing and solving equipment and application needs. This instant, real-time solution reduces downtime and other expenses associated with service-related issues. For more information, contact Jarrod McCarroll at Marlen at (913) 888-3333 or Jerry Hirsh at Multivac Inc. at (816) 801-3974.