< Previous20 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netTRANSPORT AND LOGISTICSretail stores fresh. While this willcertainly avoid the issue of limitedwarehouse space, the long-term costsof such an arrangement may becomeuntenable for many manufacturers.Expanding a fleet not only increasesfuel and vehicle related costs – but alsorecruitment costs for drivers, wagesand associated HR and administrationcosts. There is also the issue ofenvironmental impact and carbonwaste created by a fleet. Because theonly issue that can match consumer’sdemands for fresher food – is that foodand drink manufacturers should bedoing all they can to reduce the impacton the environment, not contributemore to it. Many companies are seeking tocombat the issue through a combinedapproach, both of improving theefficiency of their existing transportfleets – while also better utilisingexisting warehouse space. Intermodaltransport is a popular method utilisedpredominantly in the US – but also inEurope as well. The guiding principle isto mix multiple forms of freighttransport to achieve a net reduction incosts, be it energy or capital. Thetypical example would be to use rail toshift huge quantities of goods to agiven warehouse closer to the finaldestination – before then having lorriesferry the goods the last distance intourban areas. While this can obviously save manythousands of road miles there is theissue of rail availability, especially in theStar Engineers tackle ASDA’sbreakdown with minimum disruptionWhen an ammonia leak occurred overnight at a distribution centre in Rochdale,ASDA and Star Refrigeration worked together to assess the situation and get theplant up and running again as soon as possible.With ammonia being a potentially dangerous substance, it was vital that theplant was repaired by qualified engineers who knew how to make the area safeagain to continue operations. Star Refrigeration’s engineers followed the company’s specified action plan todrop the ammonia concentration in the plant room, including activation of localventilation fans, and deployment of additional extract fans and ducting to ensurethere were no ammonia levels above 25ppm.Once the plant room was safe to enter, a plan was put in place to transfer liquidbetween the surge drums and fit a replacement valve. The cold store plant was out of action for 11 hours in total which did not heavily interruptbusiness.For more information on Star Refrigeration visit www.star-ref.co.uk.18-21_Layout 1 26/03/2018 12:12 Page 3TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS© Shutterstock/Don PabloStand out from the crowdMake your displayand importantinformation stand outwith these coloureddocument pockets.The pockets whichare available in 5colours will helptransform plainnoticeboards into abold informationcentre perfect for5S and LeanManagementsystems. The pockets arealso available inhorizontal andvertical formatswith 3 differenttypes of fixings,magnetic forwhiteboards or anyother steel surface,self-adhesive for permanent general use applications and tie-on formesh cages and trolley handles, etc. (Tie-on strap secures around amaximum diameter of 60mm) The pockets are quick and easy touse, no need to remove or lift the pocket to replace the insert. For more information, visit www.beaverswood.co.uk.Hygiene and strength optimisedin new flow-through palletdesign A new plastic pallet offering optimum hygiene and strength hasjoined the range offered by Goplasticpallets.com.Manufactured from recycled high density polyethylene bySmartFlow and available exclusively in the UK throughGoplasticpallets.com, the SF 1210 M3R and M5R has a 100% flowthrough design.Managing Director Jim Hardisty said: “With demand increasing forsolutions where hygiene can’t be compromised, there is furtherpeace of mind in the open structure of this pallet, which makes iteasy to clean efficiently, and it is fully recyclable.”With no ridges, joins or wood grain to trap dirt, it is ideal for foodand pharmaceutical applications where clean handling and storing isparamount. It includes the option of reinforcing metal bars, doublingits racking capacity from 500kg to 900 – 1,000 kg. Depending onthe number of runners, the SF 1210 comes in at a weight of 13.5kg(M3R, with three runners) and 14kg (M5R, with five runners).For further information, visit www.goplasticpallets.com.Food & Drink International 21www.fdiforum.netUK. The reason why it is so prevalent in America is thanksto their abundance of flat land that is suitable for rail. UKrail systems are often not as well developed – and whilethat hasn’t stopped companies such as Tesco utilising railfor intermodal logistics, it does mean companies aresomewhat limited in location. Being forced to settlewarehouses where the rail links are strongest. Savings on warehouse space can be found in improvingefficiency to increase the amount of product that can bestored in any given amount of space. Advanced rackingsolutions, combined with more robust supply chain systemsenable companies to increase throughput while also cuttingcosts associated with lost time or product losses. Asalways, the trick is in finding out exactly how much ispossible given space limitations – and adapting what canbe used for a company’s products, be they palletised goods– or more individually stacked produce. Even beyond efficient storage however is the concept ofefficient temperature control. With the vast majority of foodproducts needing to be kept at specific temperatures thereare obviously savings that can be made in doing so. Afterall it is more expensive to reduce the temperature of astorage facility, than it is to maintain it. Any losses intemperature due to breaches, poor worker attention todetail – or just old age, will result in costs that can soonspiral out of control. Little has changed in terms of the challenges the industryfaces, but as it always has – the technology continues toadapt. Failure to keep in touch with these changes and takeadvantage of opportunities that present themselves maymean disaster for many. 18-21_Layout 1 26/03/2018 12:12 Page 422 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netWith a number of difficult tradingconditions across the world, along withthreats of tariffs and trade wars, it hasbecome clear to food and drinkmanufacturers is that they need toimprove efficiency to stay competitive.The industry is one with low margins asit is, and many fear it will be unable tokeep up or compete with Europeanrivals, not to mention those evenfurther away. Automation is set to be the solutionto this, and is something the UK hasalready fallen drastically behind on. Nota crippling blow just yet, manymanufacturers have begun to see thewriting on the wall and are investing.Automation as a whole is set to benefit,but there is also an integral industryattached to this, which is sure to shine.These are the gears, valves and drivesindustries – which, without theseimportant additions, automationequipment would not function.Despite innovations in technology,automation is not without its potentialpitfalls, most obviously when it comesto the reliability and the quality of theDrivingthe foodand drinkindustryWith the need for automation becoming clear thanever, it’s not just machinery manufacturers who areset to benefit. The gears, drives and valves industrieswill be at the forefront of the revolution.22-27_Layout 1 26/03/2018 10:55 Page 1GEARS AND DRIVESFood & Drink International 23www.fdiforum.netgears and drives used to power themachinery. In the food and drink sectorthere’s an additional challenge in termsof safety and hygiene, where thepotential for food to get caught up insmall parts can be very great. It’stherefore vitally important that effectivegears and drives are selected andmaintained.It’s likely that many manufacturerswill have reviewed their gears anddrives on a regular basis now thatelectric motors have been required tomeet the IE2 standard of energyefficiency. These efficiency ratings arebased on a European standard with IE2requiring high efficiency, similar to theold Eff1 voluntary standard which hasnow been discontinued. The latest© Shutterstock/Yakov Oskanov24 Á22-27_Layout 1 26/03/2018 10:55 Page 224 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netGEARS AND DRIVESmotors available for the food and drinkindustry all reach these standards, aswell as meeting other standards, suchas those that allow them to be used inexplosive atmospheres.High quality gears and drives canhelp to not only reduce inefficiency, butalso reduce the need for maintenanceand repair. In an industry where eventhe smallest amount of unexpecteddowntime can influence the ability tomeet orders, this is not only a preferredoutcome – but an absolute necessity. As always, the allure of low-costalternatives or sub-standard gears anddrives is one of the factors holdingback many in the food and drinkindustry, particularly given the UK’sculture of being frugal with investment.In this regard we might look to ourEuropean neighbours, who preferquality and long-term benefit overinitial expenditure, and have much morecompetitive food and drink brands as aresult. When it comes to thecomponents which run and operate themachinery that keeps our factoriesrunning, the old maxim `buy cheap, buytwice` should certainly be considered.When it comes to the valves industry,the demand for the elimination ofpreservatives from food and beveragesis set to drive demand higher than ever.Transparency Market Research hasshown that many large players in thevalves industry have taken to investingin developing regions and emergingmarkets in order to cater to the hugepotential there. The research report alsoclaims that the global hygienic andaseptic valves market is set to increasefrom $6 billion in 2015, to $9 billion in2025 – an increase of 50% in just a© Shutterstock/Zoltan Major26 Á22-27_Layout 1 26/03/2018 10:55 Page 3Sealed Surface Conversion System www.nord.com ¦ +44 (0) 1235 534404 ¦ GB-sales@nord.com Widely used and accepted by industry since 2014, our geared motors and inverters have a surface protection system that prevents corrosion even when used in the most arduous environments. The aluminium surface is actually changed by a unique process and sealed so there is no coating that can chip or flake off, even when the unit is scratched or damaged. Corrosion and scratch resistant Stainless steel shaft and hardware Wash-down protected to IP69K Smooth surfaces for easy cleaning 22-27_Layout 1 26/03/2018 10:55 Page 4GEARS AND DRIVES26 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netTel: 44 (0)1707 283131 Fax: 44 (0)1707 283132e: dsg@davall.co.uk www.davall.co.ukBecome Fluent in ItalianInox 316 = Stainless Steel 316Ingranaggi Coniche Spiroidale = Spiral Bevel GearsRiduttori = Reducer=Approved Distributor for: SDP/SI . HYDRO-MECPOGGI . GATES . CGI . QBC . QTCContact us now for your free cataloguesDavallStockProductssingle decade. Of the various types of valvesavailable, hygienic single seat valves areexpected to do the best, outperformingall other segments and acquiring afigure close to 26% of the globalmarket. This is due to the ability ofthese valves to meet the strict andvaried requirements pertaining toaseptic and hygienic process in thefood and drink industry. Much of this comes in comparison tothe rest of the food and drink industry,who often show some reluctance toface new laws and regulations on theissue of hygiene. This is perhapsunderstandable given the upsettingnature new regulation has on a well-runprocess, but the valves industryflourishes in such difficult times due toits focus and ability on controlling andimproving hygiene. What goes hand in hand with theseindustries is the maintenance andmonitoring of machinery, especially inidentifying when these componentsmight need to be replaced. Electrical, X-ray and good old regular inspectionsare always touted as the most reliableforms of monitoring, with the leastdesirable being to wait until somethinggoes wrong. A new player into themarket, however, is vibrationmonitoring. The process is relativelysimple, although more advancedtechnology and investment will allowfor closer monitoring. Essentially, itoperates on the principle of identifyinghow much vibration a machine, belt orprocess normally experiences whenrunning at peak efficiency, and thenmonitors this to alert line managerswhen the vibrations enter what mightbe considered an unusual territory.Some vibration from the operation ofgears and drives is expected, of course,but by looking for discrepancies orsudden leaps, it’s possible to isolate22-27_Layout 1 26/03/2018 10:55 Page 5GEARS AND DRIVESFood & Drink International 27www.fdiforum.net© Shutterstock/NavinTarcomponents that have begun to weardown, long before they start to causeproblems. In machines that workwithout vibration, this method is evenmore applicable, as any vibration at allmight indicate the need formaintenance or replacement. Getting on top of these problemsearly helps to ensure the processcontinues to run smoothly – and ingetting the best results from thesecomponents, a little vetting onsuppliers is always advised. The firstoffer one receives might not always bethe best, even if the price seems right.Like many esteemed and well-knownmanufacturers, it’s not unusual to findcompanies who have specialised ingears, drives and valves for manydecades, showing their extremeprowess and experience in the industry. 22-27_Layout 1 26/03/2018 10:55 Page 6MIXING AND BLENDING28 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netThe growing demand for mixing and blendingmarket has largely been attributed to the risinghunger for processes packaged food. An increase indisposable income, a widening middle class andmore favourite economic conditions in counties suchas China and India is driving this growth. Asmanufacturers target these newer lucrative markets,their requirement on reliable and efficient mixing andblending machinery is also on the up. Packaged bakery products, such as breads rollsand sweet pasties, has seen the bakery market reachnew heights. The gluten-free trend shows little signsof slowing down, with Euromonitor forecasting themarket to reach $4.7 billion by 2020. Likewise, thebakery craze in Britain and the growing hunger forheritage and artisanal products has seen a myriad ofbreads flood the market. Given the difference inflavour and texture profiles, many of these breadsneed to be processed differently which,unsurprisingly, requires different agitators, speeds orKeepingup withdemand © Shutterstock/Vereshchagin DmitryA combination of market factors, newtechnologies and an increasingemphasis on customisability isensuring a stable growth in the globalmixing and blending market. 28-31_Layout 1 26/03/2018 10:58 Page 1MIXING AND BLENDINGFood & Drink International 29www.fdiforum.netmixers. Trends also point to what’shappening in the build, sale andfunction of the machines themselves.Currently trends in the mixing andblending market point to the growinguse of multi-mixer agitators. Althoughefficiency doesn’t necessary meandoing the same process as quickly aspossible, swiftness is certainly part ofthe equation. Quality machines should allow for ahigh through-put and functionality withlittle loss in yield. Manufacturerssearching for quicker mixing times haveturned towards these multi-mixersagitators due to their ability in reducingthe time it takes to mix and combinefood ingredients. As a means ofboosting product and reducingHpE Process to increase offering ofhigh-quality process equipment to foodindustryWorking with established andreliable partners in the industry tosupply high-quality products for thesector, HpE Process has made thedecision to supply mixers to the food,chemical, cosmetics andpharmaceutical industries to bolstertheir already impressive portfolio.HpE’s partnership with PMS willallow for tailor-made solutions throughCFD, constantly improving mixingcalculation tools and consistentexperience in order to meet specific needs of customers for new equipment, or forupgrading fleets and customer service.These services include a range of horizontal, pendulum and dual movement agitators forthe food industry – each of which come with options for service and maintenance, and allbeing held to the hygienic standards demanded in such rigorous industries as food and drinkand pharmaceutical. For more information please visit www.hpeprocess.com/mixers/ Mixers for Food, Chemical,Cosmetics &Pharmaceutical Industries- No bottom bearing- Leak detection- Various product density & viscositywww.hpeprocess.comTel: +44 (0)113 252 6712VISIT US ATFOODEXSTAND Q311downtime, this can be a compellingoption. Given the diversity of ingredients thatrequire mixing, there isn’t a singleoption to suit every ingredient. Shaftmixers come with either single ormultiple options, with the latter usedmostly for viscous ingredients.Operational efficiency can also beimproved here as multi agitators helpreduce the pre-mixing or side mixing ina batch. A key trend in appealing to thecoveted millennial demographic is bymaking food customisable.Customisation has also becomeincreasingly popular for foodmanufacturers in regards to theirmachinery and equipment. Machine makers and suppliers aremore frequently working alongside foodproducers on bespoke builds and set-ups, ensuring that the end productmeets a producer’s unique needs. Whata company requires from its production© Shutterstock/Alexander Tolstykh31 Á28-31_Layout 1 26/03/2018 10:58 Page 2Next >