See new food packaging & processing solutions at PACK EXPO in Chicago
Discover new food packaging and processing innovations from 2,500+ suppliers, all under one roof at PACK EXPO International in Chicago.

Grant Gerke

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RFID-enabled pallets track lucrative whey powder products
A German dairy and whey producer continues its modernization drive with a plastic pallet RFID solution that connects to the company’s SCADA platform.
July 26, 2019
The reader, with its integrated antenna, reads the RFID tag information and forwards it via the ASM 456 communication module to the controllers that manage the subsequent processes. Photo courtesy of Siemens.
Software
Sensing technology measures liquid temperatures inside the pipe from the outside
One of the most elemental pieces in the changing digital landscape for food and beverage manufacturers is the need for robust sensing.
June 6, 2019
A primary sensor is located as close as possible to the pipe surface and a secondary sensor is at a distance from the pipe surface and serves as a reference sensor. Source: ABB.
Robotics
Indoor farming benefits from robotics
Automation reduces traditional labor at indoor farms where produce grows in large warehouses near retail chains.
June 6, 2019
A mobile transport system, called Angus, moves produce to robotic production area for seeding, monitoring or harvesting.
Software
Deschutes Brewery’s new ERP creates one source of truth
Besides the manufacturing/production software options, Deschutes currently uses the food safety compliance, warehouse/inventory, purchasing and reporting analytics within the ERP platform.
April 22, 2019
With the craft beer industry becoming more mature, Deschutes’ process optimization efforts should help create better margins. Image courtesy of Deschutes Brewery.
Software
New plant cooks up manufacturing flexibility with automation
JTM Food Group’s greenfield plant in Ohio features advanced automation to optimize its batch processing applications and meet changing consumer demands.
April 22, 2019
System integrator ECS Solutions created a procedural and equipment view for JTM Food Group’s operators, based on ISA-88 standards. Image courtesy of ESC Solutions.
Processing Equipment
How a sugar producer found more capacity utilization
Striving to find more operational flexibility and utilization, South Africa-based Illovo Sugar implemented advanced analytics for its form/fill/seal packaging machines across five plants.
March 8, 2019
With the integration of PI Vision, Illovo Sugar was able to provide real-time information for operators, promoting a healthy competition between operators. Photo courtesy of OSIsoft.
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Ice cream producer finds sweet solution for increased operational efficiencies
Norwegian manufacturer modernizes its plant with an ISA-95 manufacturing execution system to increase production volume and capacity utilization.
January 18, 2019
Hennig-Olsen has a 48 percent market share with consumers, but the company also has 55 percent of the foodservice segment in Norway and exports to Russia.
Robotics
2 automation trends for 2019
Life-like gripper robotic technology and artificial intelligence/machine modeling solutions are becoming a reality in food processing applications.
December 19, 2018
The dough production line employs four robots and relies on 3-D vision sensing at the start of the conveyor system to aid the robotic pick- and placing- of various pizza dough sizes.
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Rugged tablet helps digitize pizza production
In line with its continuous improvement initiatives and drive for digital workflows, Nestlé Wagner enlisted a rugged tablet to standardize data processes for production management at its pizza plant in Germany.
November 28, 2018
Nestle Wagner now uses Getac's A140 Rugged Tablet to standardize data processes for production management at its pizza plant in Germany.
Software
Nut oil producer unveils automation platform in its greenfield facility
Caloy Inc. creates a new business model for the refining of tree nuts to lucrative oils at its California plant, achieving tighter monitoring of its products in the supply chain.
November 21, 2018
The distributed control system provides visibility into the tank farm for Caloy. The nut-oil producer has eight tanks, with four to offload finished product to trucks and the other for final mixing.
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