Renee R. Bassett

Deputy Editor

Bacon is basted and cooked in its own juices in a spiral oven, providing the appearance of a pan-fried product. Source: Unitherm

More and better bacon

A spiral convection oven provides compelling advantages over linear microwave ovens, mass-producing products that look and taste like they were pan-fried at home. Food processors also like the footprint and energy savings.

Brains Brewery upgraded of its yeast-handling control process to a Rockwell Automation CompactLogix system and Ethernet connectivity. Source: Prosoft Technology

Brewery gains flexibility, reduces downtime with gateway

Remote I/O-to-Ethernet gateway enables easy replacement of 27-year-old PLCs for a Wales brewery upgrading its yeast-handling control process.

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Where beer and automation come together

The Automation Conference 2014, coming May 20-21 to Chicago, will deliver insights on everything from industrial safety networks to high-efficiency motors to how companies like John Deere integrate automation technologies from different suppliers. But even non food and beverage industry attendees will most enjoy getting a taste of automated brewing operations from two different perspectives.

Sensors enable clear object detection. Source: Banner

CPG manufacturers benefit from sensor technology advances

One trend in packaging machine design is to move from tool-less changeovers to automated changeovers, reducing the complexity and downtime related to product variation. Sensors of various types enable the automation.

More from Renee R. Bassett

Banner's IVu is a vision sensor that can identify mislabeling.

Sensor trends affecting packaging automation

Non-rigid packaging handling, quality control and trace-and-trace applications are being improved by advances in sensor technology. Here’s how.

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Food safety automation extends to plant employees

Food processors are moving beyond traditional employee hygiene techniques, such as hand washing and sanitizing sinks coupled with dip mats and foaming sanitizers for footwear. The goal: to ensure 100 percent compliance through automated, hands-free hygiene stations that eliminate the potential for shortcuts, process breakdowns and contamination.

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From overmolding to water testing in record time

Experience, creativity and cooperation were essential to developing the automated production process and machinery for a unique microbiological test vial that certifies water free of E. coli in hours instead of weeks.