< Previous40 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net MIXING AND BLENDING specific kind of mixing, it’s no surprise that there are different kinds of agitators. From low shear to high shear, agitators can be used to mix, disperse and emulsify making them common on production lines. As we’ve already explored, ensuring the correct mixer or blender is in place can result in huge efficiency and process optimisation gains. This can be taken further still. With continuous mixing and blending, a manufacturer can meet the demand for ever more efficient processes and increase batch throughput. This can be accomplished by using several mixing receptacles arranged in such a way that a batch is always being worked on at any given time. However, opting for multiple off- the-shelf options might have the opposite effect and compromise efficiency rather than enabling it. For that reason, manufacturers might be © Shutterstock /New Africa 38-42.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:53 Page 3Food & Drink International 41 www.fdiforum.net MIXING AND BLENDING Tel: +44(0) 1260 272894 Email: sales@jrboone.com www.jrboone.com Boon Mixers Giving optimum solutions to your mixing requirements John R Boone Ltd Industrial mixing machine manufacturer MIXING SOLUTIONS WORLDWIDE POWDERS n GRANULES n PASTES n BATCH n CONTINUOUS better off opting for a bespoke approach. This equipment is built to exacting customer standards and optimise specific individual processes. With the growing number of food and drink manufacturers moving towards more specialised optimised processes to maximise quality and minimise cost – or diversifying their offering – no doubt these bespoke options will become more popular still. Whatever the processing capabilities of a mixing and blending equipment, one issue remains – hygiene. Without a thorough washdown and sanitation routine in place between batches, mixers and blenders become a major health risk. When high viscosity food ingredients are mixed together, ingredients closest the vessel walls tend to move slower which affects the overall efficiency of the mixing process. Scrapers are purposefully designed to come into contact with the vessel walls to scrape away sticky ingredients and incorporate them back into the mix. But some particles can become embedded in the scraper itself, creating abrasion on the vessel walls which leads to wear. Ingredients can also collect on the scraper arm, where they can contaminate the next batch. This is just one example, highlighting the wider need for mixing and blenders to be regularly and thoroughly cleaned between batches. This does result in periods of downtime, which can be avoided if a company embraced continuous mixing operations, as outlined previously. Innovation never sleeps for food processing, and updates in mixing and blending technologies offer food manufacturers the chance to regularly evaluate and update their processes which, in turn, helps boost efficiency, process optimisation and improve product consistency. Finding the right mix with Axium Process Axium Process specialises in all aspects of liquid processing, including the development and design of hygienic mixing vessels and processing skids, from a simple blending skid up to a full-scale automatic PLC controlled mixing system. In-house operations include welding, fabrication, mechanical and electro- polishing, with quality control at all stages in compliance with EHEDG and ASME BPE guidelines. Operating in industries where qualification, traceability and full documentation is paramount, Axium provides full traceability dossiers which can include materials certification, borescope direct view and video record, welder qualifications, weld maps, logs, dye penetrant, pressure testing, ferroxyl testing, TSE certification and Approvals. As a leading UK based Hygienic Engineering company, Axium Process specialises in hygienic process systems and precision fabrications, offering a complete engineering service that encompasses Stainless Steel, Hastelloy, and Aluminium alloys. The company’s reputation for delivering innovative solutions has been built on, responsiveness, reliability, and engineering excellence. To find out more, visit www.axiumprocess.com. © Shutterstock /Surasak_Photo 38-42.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:53 Page 442 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net MIXING AND BLENDING - SILVERSON For more information, visit www.silverson.co.uk, email sales@silverson.co.uk, or call +44(0) 1494 786331. With advances in design and manufacturing technology, Silverson Machines can offer three new Laboratory Mixers. The most exciting of the new developments in the range is the FMX5, a laboratory scale version of Silverson’s production scale Flashmix powder/liquid mixers. The FMX5 provides a simple, effective and hygienic means of powder/liquid mixing on a Laboratory scale and is able to process higher viscosity mixes. The FMX5 is suitable for small scale manufacturing and R&D work and offers an accurate means of predicting the performance of the production scale Flashmix, making the scale-up process a simple task. The mixer recirculates the liquid from the vessel and powder is loaded into the stainless steel hopper. Once the powder feed valve is opened the powder is drawn into the high velocity liquid stream, with the ingredients coming into contact with each other just prior to the mixer’s high shear rotor/stator workhead. A brief period of recirculation results in an agglomerate-free, homogeneous dispersion in a matter of minutes. Different designs of powder feed hopper are available to assist with the flow of more cohesive powders. Offering proven performance on a wide range of powders including Gelatine, Guar Gum, Pectin, and Xanthan gum, as well as Sugars, flours, milk powder etc. the introduction of this new Powder/Liquid mixer to the Silverson product range opens up the possibility of many more applications than were previously possible at laboratory scale. For higher viscosity mixing at a laboratory scale Silverson has developed the Verso-HV, a pilot scale In-Line mixer which matches the capabilities of the production scale Silverson HV In-Line mixers. The Verso-HV incorporates a unique and innovative “pumping rotor” design that substantially increases its self-pumping capacity, ideal for processing higher viscosity products. High flow rates are maintained as viscosity rises, often eliminating the need for an additional feed pump when processing many higher viscosity products in the food industry including gums and thickening agents and Mayonnaise. Ideal for R&D and small scale production, the Verso-HV facilitates easy scale up to Silverson’s production scale UHS-HV Series In-Line mixers as it is built to the same fine tolerances. For applications with more stringent and demanding hygiene requirements, Silverson has developed the new Verso UHS. The Verso UHS is an Ultra-Hygienic version of the standard machine and is manufactured with Silverson-designed hygienic single mechanical shaft seals, which can be converted to hygienic double mechanical shaft seals. It has a crevice-free construction and is designed for Cleaning-In-Place (CIP) and Sterilise-In-Place (SIP) operation. UHS-specification versions of the FMX5 and the Verso-HV are also available. All three new mixer options can be supplied with a Vessel Package, comprising of a vessel, stand, valve and pipework, and conversion kits are available allowing the standard Verso to be upgraded to a Verso-HV and an FMX5, allowing further flexibility within this new series of mixers. Silverson Machines launch three new laboratory scale mixers 38-42.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:53 Page 5Food & Drink International 43 www.fdiforum.net HEALTH, SAFETY AND HYGIENE © Shutterstock /winnievinzence The health and safety industry has been dominated with news on COVID and for good measure, but with vaccination on way and the prospect of a lifted lockdown on the future, things may soon change. They could just as easily change back, however, unless all businesses keep their health, safety and hygiene in mind. As always, the food and drink industry will be the most stringently kept on this. It goes without saying that while Governments across the world are keen to lift lockdown, they will also be desperate not to appear slow on the draw if signs of the pandemic were to return. Lockdown can and will come back if it means controlling the disease, and if a company or its workers were to experience an outbreak of COVID-19 again, it’s entirely possible they would be placed under mandatory quarantine. For many, this might be the final nail in the coffin, especially if it comes at a time when the industry should be recovering. Manufacturers will be expected to lockdown Coming out of 44 Á As the world slowly comes out of lockdown, it would be easy to forget the lessons of the past and make old mistakes afresh. When it comes to health and safety, this cannot be accepted. 43-45.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:56 Page 144 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net HEALTH, SAFETY AND HYGIENE maintain high levels of hygiene in the coming years, and it’s likely that any failures – especially if those cause a localised outbreak of coronavirus – will be highly publicised and quite possibly fatal to a company’s chances of survival, especially if the public concern is that a brand’s products might carry the risk. Given how many have died to coronavirus, it’s unlikely a brand can fight off such criticism with a simple press release or Twitter apology. So, hygiene has always been important but is now two or three times more important today. Leaving aside the risk to brand, reputation and employees, an outbreak will assuredly close a factory – maybe even cause mass recalls. It’s something to be avoided, and that’s going to mean adapting the working conditions of manufacturing facilities to the realities of a post-COVID industry. One of the biggest hurdles is going to be social distancing. Even if the risk of a new outbreak is relatively low, reducing the number of persons in any work area to comply with the 2-metre (6.5 foot) gap recommended by the Public Health Agency, will help keep factories running smoothly. Consider moving workstations to provide at least two metres distance, and the same distance should be kept in mind during meetings. Staff should be reminded daily of the importance of social distancing, and managers are encouraged to highlight where appropriate any instances of failure to adhere to this, on the part of employees. It’s important to keep visitors in mind too. Tape on the floor to mark where people should stand when coming to inspect a facility, or friendly reminders to keep social distance are worth investing in, while chairs in any waiting rooms might want to be subtly moved to promote distance. Delivery drivers may fall into the same category and may now have their own restrictions preventing them from entering a building. This may not be a problem where automated systems are in place, but it’s impossible to know if logistics companies are being as stringent as food and drink manufacturers. It is best to impress on employees the importance of keeping drivers outside the premises if possible or taking precautions as reasonably can be. It’s important not to forget traditional health and safety, however. COVID has by no means been good for the country, but the measures taken to combat it, namely social distancing and working from home, have masked some of our other © Shutterstock /Dusan Petkovic 43-45.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:56 Page 2Food & Drink International 45 www.fdiforum.net HEALTH, SAFETY AND HYGIENE problems. With less workplace accidents happening because there are less people in the workplace, it’s easy to forget these issues were so big. Then, when new staff come back, some businesses may find themselves falling foul of health and safety regulations. The message is simple – COVID is not an excuse to abandon or neglect traditional health and safety measures, nor will it be acceptable for companies to do so. This is also an area where criminality is taking its toll – namely in fraud and falsification of health and safety certificates, processes, or accreditations. Health and safety is a serious issue, especially in our region where construction and manufacturing are so common, and the HSE has always been clear that the act is a criminal one and that consequences will include not only fines, but potentially a custodial sentence. It is imperative, therefore, that all businesses in the food and drink industry take the time to re-assess their health and safety procedures when lockdown ends, and not to sleepwalk into a crisis that could have otherwise been avoided. Bringing in outside health and safety agencies to look into a company may be a high cost at a time where many are already struggling, but it may well be a case of better safe than sorry. Similarly, staff should be reminded of health and safety protocols they may have forgotten, either with team briefings to refresh their memories, or clearly marked and defined signage around the factory. This may not be necessary for all companies, as most in the food and drink industry have keep their companies running only with limited staff and new procedures, but if more staff return from furlough, it is still worth considering. One final consideration is that of the vaccine itself. As of yet, it is illegal in the UK to force or hinge an employee’s contract on them having had the vaccine. With false information and fears about “government surveillance” or “microchips” causing panic among some communities, this may well lead to fears that unvaccinated staff could harm the rest of the workforce. Laws will differ by country on this, but do not make the mistake of assuming it is acceptable to demand, question or make mandatory the taking of the COVID vaccine. That can and will lead to trouble, and it’s best to enquire with a solicitor first. In the UK, it can lead to discrimination claims, though this may change if the Government decides to introduce some laws surrounding it. © Shutterstock /Dusan Petkovic 43-45.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:56 Page 3manufacturers, and the plant-based influencer community, attend this expo to network with professionals who have embarked on both personal and professional plant-based journeys, many creating some of the world’s most revolutionary plant-based products and foods. Plant Based World Europe’s mission is to get the latest plant-based products in front of decision makers, educating them on how these foods will improve the wealth of their business and the health of the people they serve. For more information, visit www.plantbasedworldeurope.com. Food & Drink Expo 5-7 July NEC Birmingham The UK Food & Drink Shows offer a full portfolio of events covering food development, grocery, manufacturing, specialist retail, wholesale and foodservice. Food & Drink Expo will run alongside The Ingredients Show, Foodex, National Convenience Show, Farm Shop & Deli Show and The Forecourt Show. To find out more, visit www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk. Alimentaria 17-20 May Online As a leading trade show, Alimentaria anticipates trends and predicts business opportunities. For this reason, this edition of Alimentaria presents a new concept which multiplies its offer to boost the business of each sector and facilitates transversal synergies. In addition to a commercial platform, Alimentaria shows its close relationship with the tourism sector and the food industry, putting value on gastronomy, innovation and trends through a wide range of activities. To find out more, visit www.alimentaria.com/en. Plant Based World Conference & Expo Europe 24-25 June Business Design Centre, London, UK A 100% plant-based event for foodservice, retail, and healthcare professionals, distributors, investors, 46 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net Events Food & Drink © Shutterstock /Oksana Mizina © Shutterstock / K321 UK Soft Drinks Conference 11 May Online Zenith Global’s UK Soft Drinks Conference is the industry’s main annual forum to hear about the latest market developments, debate key issues and network with other business leaders. The 2021 event will be hosted virtually, featuring a full day of presentations, interactive panels, interviews and discussions, alongside extensive networking opportunities. For more information, visit www.zenithglobal.com/events/uksd2021. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, readers should be aware that events may have been cancelled or postponed. All dates correct as of publishing, but please check beforehand. Seafood Expo North America 11 – 13 July Boston Convention and Exhibition Centre, USA Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America is a leading trade event for seafood buyers in every market category including retail, restaurant, catering, foodservice and 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:57 Page 1processing. Meet with suppliers from around the world and source the seafood, new products, equipment and services to meet your business needs. To find out more, visit www.seafoodexpo.com/north-america. The NAFEM Show 26 – 28 August Orange County Convention Centre, Orlando, Fl The NAFEM Show is the world’s leading showcase dedicated exclusively to foodservice equipment and supplies. Here’s where attendees will discover the very latest in equipment and the industry’s top supplies. Applications to exhibit are being accepted now. To find out more, visit www.thenafemshow.org. Vertical Farming World Congress 20-24 September London & Online Bringing together vertical farming operators, investors, suppliers and customers, the 2nd annual Vertical Farming World Congress is designed to help develop and advance the sector’s future. The 2021 event will feature two days of online conference sessions and networking opportunities, with additional elements for those attending in person, including vertical farm tours, produce tasting, policy forums and training courses. For new entrants as well as industry leaders. To book, please visit the registration tab. For more information, visit www.zenithglobal.com/events/vfwc2021. The Sweets & Snacks Expo 23 – 25 June Indiana Convention Centre, USA The Sweets & Snacks Expo is a can’t-miss event for thousands of confectionery and snack retailers, manufacturers and suppliers for a reason – here you’ll find all the product innovations, insights and industry connections you need to build a world-class in-store or online experience that will delight your shoppers. To find out more, visit www.sweetsandsnacks.com. Food & Drink International 47 www.fdiforum.net ANUFOOD China 21 – 23 April Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Centre, Shenzhen, China ANUFOOD China will celebrate its debut at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Shenzhen, China from 21 – 23 April 2021. The exhibition is poised to establish a comprehensive platform covering the food and beverage market in Southern China. Over 700 exhibitors and more than 15,000 visitors are expected within 20,000 square meters for this grand industrial event. To find out more, visit www.anufoodchina.com. © Shutterstock / askarim 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:57 Page 2FEATURES Supply Chain Spotlight Caps & Closures Slicing, Dicing & Cutting Functional Ingredients Cleaning & Maintenance Frozen & Chilled Foods Import & Export Next month in May 2021 - Deadline 14th April INTERNATIONAL Food&Drink Food &Drink Visit us at www.fdiforum.net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox, in between printed issues? 48.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:58 Page 1Classified Often imitated… …never equalled You can feature your company in our hugely popular Online Directory with a description, contact details and a hyperlink If you would like further information please contact Sam Trott on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk or visit www.fdiforum.net/directory From field to fork, Food & Drink International is the voice of the industry. Food & Drink International 49 www.fdiforum.net Depositors Tel: 01282 440040 enquiries@riggsautopack.co.uk www.riggsautopack.co.uk Manufacturers of depositors & filling machines for the food production industry Labels Tel: 01482 506560 sales@datamarkuk.com www.datamarkuk.com • Self adhesive Labels • Lasersheets • Fanfolded Labels • Thermal Transfer Ribbons • Barcode Labels INDEX Online Directory Depositors Labels To Let w w w . fd if o ru m .n et • Superb Location - Close to the ports of Grimsby & Immingham - Great motorway links - Close to the town centre • Secure off street parking • High speed internet availability • Easy in/out terms • A range of affordable office sizes Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Ground floor offices to let - prime location in Grimsby To Let Online Directory To advertise your services on the Classified pages contact us on 01472 310302 49.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2021 09:59 Page 1Next >