2018 Manufacturing Innovation Award: Dairy Farmers of America in Garden City, Kansas

The 267,000-sq-ft, world-class milk drying facility uses redundant systems and advanced automation systems to keep its processes running 24/7. Featuring the largest single whole milk dryer in North America, the plant employs high levels of hygienic design, energy-efficient mechanical systems, and a complex automation system to prevent downtime and safeguard against potentially unstable power.

Aug 9th, 2018
Sustain 6
Looking Ahead to New Packaging Material Innovation
Packaging engineers and product developers must work together to create new sustainable initiatives in packaging material innovation.
May 22nd, 2020
Tufftalk M Cnc Shop Alyssa
Technology Built for the Open Road Hits the Plant Floor
General Mills turns to Sena Technologies—known for its Bluetooth motorcycle helmets—to train machine operators while social distancing.
May 22nd, 2020
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Near-Term Technology Expansion in the Food and Beverage Industries
Remote access and robotics are two areas in the Food and Beverage industries that are poised to see some growth moving into 2021, though the industries as a whole are expected to contract.
May 20th, 2020
Kan Pak U s President Chad Buechel
Golden State Foods Names Subsidiary President
Chad Buechel tapped to lead KanPak U.S., will be responsible for all aspects of the business
May 20th, 2020
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Foremost Farms USA Ceasing Cheese Plant Operations
Wisconsin site’s doors are scheduled to close permanently this summer.
May 19th, 2020
Sun-Maid Raisins 10-oz bag AFTER the redesign
Little Red Box Gets First Redesign in Decades
A brand refresh for Sun-Maid’s raisin and other whole-fruit products includes changes that aim to appeal to millennial shoppers looking for healthy snacks for their families.
May 19th, 2020
Like almost all of Spacestation’s beverage output as a copacker, the company’s own Flybeverage brands—Nectr and Uncle Arnie’s—use a shrink sleeve labeling system that is flexible enough for a variety of different combinations of bottle dimensions/heights, substrates, container transparency levels, and closure styles.
Shrink Sleeve Fits Fine for Cannabis Seltzer & Soda Line
With varied SKUs for CM/CP business, plus a quickly growing in-house brand of its own, this cannabis-infused beverage producer found that shrink sleeve labeling is the right solution for just about any and all form factors, whether glass, PET, or cans.
May 19th, 2020
Image-based scanners are displacing standard laser scanners, providing the capability to read 2D barcodes, which can be much smaller than traditional barcodes. Photo courtesy of Cognex.
New Technologies Feed the Hunger for Information
Trying to keep up with productivity, quality, safety, sustainability, and other industry demands, food and beverage plants are turning increasingly to the innovations found in today’s sensor instrumentation.
May 19th, 2020
Leuze Io Link
IO-Link Connects the Food and Beverage Industry
The proliferation of digital protocols has made it easier for producers to get the information they need from their instrumentation. Sensor suppliers explain why IO-Link is gaining particular traction.
May 18th, 2020
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Economic Outlook: 2020 and Beyond
Discussing the current economic outlook amidst a “double black swan event,” Alex Chausovsky of ITR Economics presented “Guidance in an Uncertain Economy” last week as part of PMMI’s Executive Leadership Conference.
May 18th, 2020
Direct digital printing on aluminum cans is what made this slogan-and-rainbow campaign possible.
Direct Digital Print Brings AR Experience to Beverage Cans
By printing a QR code on the side of aluminum beverage cans, this Canadian firm and three partnering beverage producers are lifting spirits in this time of pandemic.
May 18th, 2020
Emerson Boulder Facility
Emerson Expanding Manufacturing Space and Creating New Innovation Center in Colorado
Center will enhance advanced measurement technologies for food and beverage, power and energy industries.
May 18th, 2020
Just like in this iceberg image, hidden operating costs can sink you. Total cost of ownership enables gathering better data and understanding for better informed decisions.
It’s All About the Cost, Not the Price
Just like all change management, total cost of ownership is a journey that has transformational results when successfully implemented.
May 14th, 2020
The three shippers include a 24-ct, a 12-ct, and a four-count case illustrated to resemble vintage turntables and a boombox. A booklet designed to look like a cassette tape provides an introduction to the brand and its varieties.
Boombox-Inspired Shippers Reinforce ‘Soda with Soul’ Proposition
With the COVID-19 lockdown, U.K. craft soda company Dalston’s unveils new shippers for its growing online sales that pay homage to its music roots, while introducing new consumers to the brands’ values and personality.
May 13th, 2020
Sustain 4
Machine Efficiency and the Impacts of Sustainable Packaging
Many primary packaging lines are no longer dedicated to a single product as SKUs increase, impacting line efficiency. Sustainable material changes may also create challenges.
May 13th, 2020
Abe Eshkenazi, CEO of the Association for Supply Chain Management
Supply Chains Race to Match Shifting COVID-19 Consumer Behavior
Abe Eshkenazi, CEO of the Association for Supply Chain Management, discusses what retailers can expect in terms of changing consumer behavior—namely a shift away from commercial/foodservice, and toward e-commerce and retail.
May 12th, 2020
InvisiShield uses a patented 3-Phase Activ-Polymer technology to reduce 99.9% of pathogens in sealed packaging.
Behind the Shield: InvisiShield Defends Fresh-Cut Produce from Harmful Pathogens
The anti-microbial packaging acts as a final kill step in the supply chain.
May 11th, 2020
Sustain 4
Quest for a Plastic Packaging Circular Economy
Eliminating unnecessary plastic, sustainable innovation, and circulating plastic within the economy are the three goals of more than 450 global partner companies seeking to keep plastic waste out of the environment.
May 11th, 2020
Shane Grant, Danone North America Evp And Ceo
Danone North America Names New Leader
Beverage industry veteran Shane Grant becomes executive vice president and CEO.
May 11th, 2020
Pepsi Co Logo
PepsiCo Working around Shortages
Company introduces direct-to-consumer service to deliver products and meet increased demand during pandemic.
May 9th, 2020
More in Home
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Meat Packing Companies Face Possible Federal Scrutiny
Attorneys general from several ranching states are asking the D.O.J. to launch an antitrust investigation of the beef processing industry.
May 8th, 2020
Op X Horizontal
Food Processing and Packaging Industry Turns to Remote Access and Virtual Factory Acceptance Tests
OpX Leadership network takes a key role in preparing CPGs and OEMs for life after Covid-19 with tools on Remote Access and Virtual FATs.
May 8th, 2020
Jaisen Kohmuench, Eriez Vice President International
Eriez Announces New Vice President-International
Industry veteran Jaisen Kohmuench promoted to new position
May 7th, 2020
Clif Bar Ceo
Clif Bar Names New CEO
Food industry veteran Sally Grimes takes on leadership role
May 8th, 2020
Sustain 3
Sustainable Package Reformatting on the Rise
According to a new report by PMMI Business Intelligence, over half of CPGs are changing product packaging to meet sustainability goals by moving from one format to another.
May 8th, 2020
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CBA Announces Critical Infrastructure Supply Chain Council
Unites industry groups to address short- and long-term supply chain weaknesses amid coronavirus crisis
May 7th, 2020
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Freshpet to Expand Texas Facility
Pet food processor plans to complete first round of expansions by 2022.
May 6th, 2020
NCC's Kevin Mauger refuses to let the pandemic dampen his company's mission or spirit.
OEM COVID-19 #10 - Culture Eases NCC’s COVID-19 Response
NCC's Kevin Mauger offers UnPACKED with PMMI podcast a reassuring voice in a sea of uncertainty.
May 7th, 2020
Campbell's Sustainability Graphic
Campbell Announces New Sustainable Packaging Goals
4 goals include increasing recyclability, recycled content, consumer education, and infrastructure development.
May 6th, 2020
Tyson Foods Logo
Tyson Site Has over 700 Workers Test Positive for Coronavirus
Employee test results lead company to state it expects continuing slowdowns and temporary idling of production facilities.
May 6th, 2020
By early April, online grocery ordering was continuing to surge, with 51% of shoppers placing an order in the four weeks ending April 7.
COVID-19 Spurs Wave of Changes in Consumer Shopping Behavior
Consumer survey documents quickly shifting food shopping behaviors in response to COVID-19 and explores whether these habits will continue post-pandemic.
May 5th, 2020
Triumph Foods Plant 2
Triumph Foods Reports 373 Workers Positive for Coronavirus
All the COVID-19 positive employees and contact workers at Buchanan County, Missouri pork processing plant were asymptomatic.
May 5th, 2020