PROCESS EXPO peeks at $53bn equipment market

The event—collocated with the International Dairy Show and the North American Meat Association’s Outlook Conference—includes suppliers of processing equipment, cooling machinery, inspection technology and other relevant products. Below are some of the items on display at the event, scheduled November 3-6 in Chicago.

Freezing systems​

GEA Refrigeration North America (Booth 5331) is exhibiting a range of freezing and chilling systems, including spiral, carton and tunnel configurations. The company offers systems that come in standard, quickly installed versions as well as customized equipment.

The I-VRT tunnel freezer for cartons offers variable retention time, which lets users process different product types and sizes, with different chilling/freezing profiles. Product throughput ranges from 4,500 kg to 41,000 kg per hour.

The HVF high-velocity freezer is suitable for freezing hamburger patties and other flat products; it also handles crust freezing of other items. The company reports that the high-velocity air nozzles permit quick penetration of the border layers and rapid reduction of temperatures at the outer layer.

X-ray inspection​

Peco Controls and InspX (Booth 4356) are showcasing a variety of inspection systems designed to ensure the safety of food and food packaging.

The InspX ScanTrac Solo rigid-container x-ray is a single-beam machine for inspecting plastic and metal containers up to 7 in. wide and 12 in. high. It reportedly can process at speeds up to 700 ft. (linear) per minute.

Also on display: the ScanTrac Adagio dual-energy xy-ray system, suitable for products with no uniform thickness, such as tuna loins. Additionally, the ScanTrac Fermata pipeline x-ray system inspects liquid product flowing through a 4-in. diameter pipeline at up to 600 ft. (linear), or 300 gal., per minute.

Meat oxidation​

RGF Environmental Group (Booth 3218) will demonstrate Photohydroionization (or PHI), its chemical-free oxidation technology. The system uses broad-spectrum UV rays to control pathogens on a range of products, including meat, poultry, fish, vegetables and other items.

According to the manufacturer, the technique offers processors a low-cost, environmentally friendly to decontaminate products. The company reports the technology has been approved for controlling Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli and other pathogens.

RGF plans to launch its PHI Treatment Tunnel-PLUS equipment at PROCESS EXPO. The tunnel is designed to be placed at the end of a processing line, just before packaging.

Automation control​

Festo (Booth 2572) is showcasing a number of products and components intended to help processors manage and control their automated equipment. Its offerings include pneumatic and electric actuation and control technologies.

The company’s products are intended for food and beverage companies and equipment manufacturers looking to decrease design time, reduce installation costs, and introduce productivity and flexibility. The booth will display fittings, automated valves, valve manifolds, pneumatic and electric actuators, air preparation systems, safety systems, and control architectures compliant with all major fieldbus networks.

Booth staff will demonstrate automation technology for pigging systems in clean-in-place applications. The system is said to accommodate the needs of nearly any plant environment, is rapid and easy to install, and enables customers to get up and running quickly.