ITS washer stainless-steel designed for demanding food production environments delivers consistent cleaning performance while supporting sanitation requirements, reducing manual labor, and improving throughput.

ITS can tailor custom-engineered washing systems to specific products, production volumes/environments, and facility layouts, providing manufacturers with reliable solutions that enhance productivity and food safety.

ITS’ detail-oriented methodology ensures that by investing significant time and expertise upfront, we minimize potential downtime and facilitate a seamless process. This approach allows our customers to achieve immediate productivity as soon as the equipment is operational onsite.

Enhance your thermal processing capabilities today by contacting ITS to learn how our team can develop a custom solution tailored specifically to your requirements.

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Richmond, B.C. (July 23, 2026) — With many employers hiring seasonal staff during the summer months, WorkSafeBC is reminding employers that young and new workers remain at higher risk of workplace injury during their first months on the job.

In 2025, WorkSafeBC accepted more than 7,000 claims from young workers who were injured on the job in B.C. Between 2021 and 2025, 18 young workers lost their lives due to workplace incidents.

WorkSafeBC's research has consistently shown that while young workers value safety and want to do a good job, many hesitate to speak up about unsafe work. New research from WorkSafeBC identifies why: the barrier is often less about recognizing hazards and more about feeling confident and able to raise concerns in the moment, particularly when workers are concerned about job security or how they will be perceived.

“Young workers often recognize when something isn’t right, but that doesn’t always mean they feel comfortable saying so,” says Todd McDonald, Head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC. “Young workers focus on making a good impression, which can make it harder to ask questions, raise concerns, or refuse unsafe work. Creating a workplace culture where questions are welcomed and concerns are taken seriously supports young workers and is critical to preventing injuries.”

Every worker has the right to know about workplace hazards, participate in health and safety, and refuse unsafe work, Effective risk management depends on workers being encouraged to identify hazards, assess risks, and help develop controls.

WorkSafeBC has launched a new campaign, Before You Ask a Bot, Ask Your Boss, to encourage young workers to speak with a supervisor before starting an unfamiliar or potentially unsafe task. Informed by research showing many young workers turn to AI tools and chatbots for answers, the campaign reinforces that workplace safety questions should be directed to a supervisor who understands the specific job and its risks. It also reminds employers that creating a workplace where questions are encouraged and concerns are welcomed is a shared responsibility that helps prevent injuries.

Employer responsibilities

Under the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, employers must ensure all workers, including young and new workers, receive job site orientation and role-specific training before they begin work. Employers must also provide ongoing supervision to ensure workers can perform their jobs safely and effectively. Training should reflect the tasks and hazards of the role and be reinforced over time.

“Young workers bring different levels of experience and familiarity with workplace hazards. Employers should tailor orientation, training, and supervision to the individual worker rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, which can leave gaps that increase risk,” says McDonald.

Young workers who feel their concerns haven’t been addressed can contact WorkSafeBC’s Prevention Information Line at 1‑888‑621‑7233 to speak confidentially with a prevention officer.

Resources

Worksafebc.com offers a range of free resources to help young workers, parents, and employers build strong safety habits, including online tools, orientation checklists, and classroom-ready materials.

• Young & new workers
• Student WorkSafe
• Getting a Job? Ask Questions About Safety
• Support for employers: Training and orientation for young and new workers
• “Before you ask a bot, ask your boss” campaign

CALGARY, AB, July 23, 2026 /CNW/ -- Phytokana Ingredients Inc. ("Phytokana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful closing of a $25 million Unit Offering led by a strategic investor and supported by existing shareholders, employees, and directors of the Company. The terms of the financing have not been disclosed.

The financing completes the equity capital required for the Company to proceed to Final Investment Decision ("FID") for its planned 30,000 metric tonne per annum dry fractionation facility in Strathmore, Alberta.

The facility will produce high-value protein concentrates and high-protein flour ingredients for domestic and international food and beverage manufacturers serving the rapidly growing market for protein-enriched Better-for-You food products.

Chris Theal, President & Chief Executive Officer of Phytokana, commented:

"The successful completion of this financing represents a significant milestone for Phytokana and reflects the confidence our investors have in our strategy, our team, and the commercial opportunity before us. The broad participation of existing shareholders, employees, directors, and new investors demonstrates a shared commitment to our vision as we move toward Final Investment Decision and the construction of Alberta's first commercial-scale dry fractionation facility."

The financing follows the Company's recent announcement of long-term definitive offtake agreements representing approximately $450 million in contracted revenues, with cumulative sales opportunities exceeding $500 million when combined with executed Memorandums of Understanding. Together, these commercial agreements and the completion of the Company's equity financing establish a strong foundation for the next phase of project execution.

Vincent Chahley, Chairman of Phytokana, added:

"Proceeding to Final Investment Decision is the culmination of years of disciplined execution, technical development, and customer engagement. We are grateful for the continued confidence of our investors and look forward to advancing a project that will create significant value for Alberta farmers, strengthen Canada's food ingredient manufacturing sector, and supply innovative, sustainable ingredients to customers around the world."

The Company will now advance final engineering, procurement, and project execution activities in preparation for construction of the Strathmore facility.

Tailwind Ventures acted as the sole financial advisor and bookrunner to Phytokana in connection with the successful completion of the Offering.

Caldwell, Idaho – July 22, 2026: The American Food Equipment Company (AMFEC) announced it is deepening its long-standing collaboration with Maschinenfabrik Seydelmann KG (Seydelmann). As part of this strategic partnership, Seydelmann is acquiring a 50% stake in AMFEC. This investment aims to expand collaboration and joint activities in semi- and fully automated production lines for the food industry in North America. AMFEC will continue production of its cutting-edge technology and equipment in Caldwell, ID.

AMFEC and Seydelmann have maintained a close, trusting business relationship for decades, which includes intensive technical and engineering exchange across numerous successful customer projects. Seydelmann’s investment represents the next logical step in merging their respective expertise and strengthening their comprehensive customer offering.

"For years, our collaboration with Seydelmann was based on mutual trust, shared values, and a commitment to offering customers the best possible solutions. This investment lays the foundation for us to combine strengths and unlock new growth opportunities," explained Tom Weissenbuehler, President of AMFEC. “We are excited to grow our partnership with an industry leader like Seydelmann.” “The combination of AMFEC and our sixth-generation family business creates a powerful portfolio of integrated, semi-automated, and fully automated production lines from a single source,” added Andreas Seydelmann, MD of Seydelmann.

AMFEC specializes in mixing and conveying technology, and Seydelmann is a global expert in food processing, mechanical engineering, and line integration. Through this deepened collaboration, both companies will provide comprehensive support to customers – from project planning and
commissioning to long-term service. This joint venture signals a mutual commitment to technological advancement and a plan to actively shape the future of automated food production.