Processing Instrumentation

How A Unified Framework Can Help in Evaluating TCO

Food producers should establish a framework for calculating a new machine’s total cost of ownership and align teams from project managers to operators to provide the data that framework requires, says Greg Flickinger, CEO of American Botanicals and Aloha Medicinals.

July 11, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

Processing Instrumentation

Quick Takes on TCO: Low-Cost Imports, Lifetime Cloud Support, and More

Greg Flickinger, CEO of Aloha Medicinals and American Botanicals, breaks down what brings lasting value, and what could cost you, in this quickfire round on common TCO buzzwords.

June 20, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

A Costly Case Study of TCO Mismanagement

Low-cost machines can have a high price in the long run, according to Greg Flickinger, CEO of Aloha Medicinals and American Botanicals. Listen to his firsthand account of budget machinery bringing unexpected expenses in maintenance, downtime, and even team morale.

June 13, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

Heat and Control Acquires Fabcon Food Systems Ltd

Acquisition of the UK-based specialist in custom processing and handling equipment aims to expand Heat and Control's solutions and expand its global presence.

June 12, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

Evaluating Total Cost of Ownership for Food Processing Machinery

Greg Flickinger, CEO of Aloha Medicinals and American Botanicals, pulls from 25 years of CPG manufacturing experience as he explains the importance of digging beyond the upfront cost to understand the true value of food processing machinery.

May 30, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

Heat and Control Acquires Tek-Dry Systems Ltd. and Hunt Heat Exchangers

Heat and Control, Inc.

Acquisitions aim to expand Heat and Control's offerings in thermal processing and heat transfer solutions.

April 18, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

Understanding Electromagnetic Flow Meters

Electromagnetic flow meters have no moving parts, which can result in lower maintenance costs and a longer service life than mechanical flow meters.

April 18, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

How Virtual Technology Can Modernize FAT Processes

Virtual FAT tools like camera systems proved essential when travel was restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, they continue to streamline FAT processes, says James Couch, FSO Institute Coach.

April 10, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

What to Do When Machinery Breaks on Opening Day

No matter how much planning goes into the acceptance testing stage, there's always the chance things won't go right on opening day. James Couch, FSO Institute Coach, suggests to assume the worst and plan for the best when starting up new machinery.

April 3, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

A Backstage Look at Acceptance Testing in Food Production

James Couch, an FSO Institute Coach with 43 years' experience in the CPG protein industry, offers a behind-the-scenes look at factory and site acceptance testing, including how the emergence of virtual FATs has augmented the process.

March 27, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

What's Working - and What's Not - in OEM Asset Reliability Support

OEMs are enhancing asset reliability in food production by adopting strategies from the automotive industry, says Shawn French, Director of Innovation and Packaging Engineering at Danone North America. However, there's still room for improvement.

March 11, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

Rebellyous Foods Mock 2 Production System Addresses Plant-Based Meat Challenges

Rebellyous Foods installed its Mock 2 Production System at RMS Foods' New Mexico manufacturing plant, helping it achieve price parity with traditional chicken.

March 10, 2025

Processing Instrumentation

Ross Industries Inc. Partners with Modernpack Hoppe GmbH to Distribute SEPAmatic Soft Belt Separators in the United States

Ross Industries

Ross Industries secures exclusive U.S. distribution of SEPAmatic Soft Belt Separators, which gently separate food components of different textures, maximizing efficiency and yield.

February 27, 2025