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American Plant Maintenance (APM Steam), a leading provider of steam systems maintenance services, highlights its heat exchanger assessment and testing service, which ensures a comprehensive examination of heat exchangers. By confirming operational effectiveness, assessing structural integrity through pressure testing, providing detailed reports, estimating costs for necessary actions, and evaluating potential energy savings to optimize efficiency, APM’s Heat Exchanger Assessment and Testing Service enhances energy efficiency, operational integrity, and safety in facility steam systems. APM Steam helps food manufacturing facilities reduce downtime on production lines, which translates into significant production cost savings.

Regular testing and maintenance of heat exchangers are crucial to ensuring efficient operations in facilities. Heat exchangers facilitate energy transfer between different liquid or steam sources, making effective heat transfer essential. However, these vital components are highly susceptible to scale build-up from treated or untreated water, leading to issues such as energy losses, increased heating time, and leaking tube bundles. Most importantly, undetected leaks in heat exchangers can lead to significant problems such as water hammer, increased failures of traps and valves, or pressure/temperature fluctuations. These issues can be prevented through a proactive approach, including regularly scheduled inspection, testing, and descaling programs.

APM Steam's Heat Exchanger Assessment and Testing Service includes documentation of heat exchangers, including tag numbers, locations, types, manufacturers, models, and applications. It also encompasses identification and verification of isolation valves and ports for cleaning, pressure testing to verify the integrity of the bundle, provision of a final report with comprehensive assessment details, quotations for cleaning each heat exchanger and/or necessary repair costs, and energy savings calculations with return-on-investment data to evaluate the business case for cleaning.

APM’s Heat Exchanger Assessment and Testing Service is designed to enhance energy efficiency, operational integrity, and safety in facility steam systems. Understanding the significance of proactive maintenance is crucial in preventing expensive disruptions and ensuring peak performance.

For more information visit https://apmsteam.com/servicesparts/heat-exchanger-assessments-testing-and-maintenance/.

 
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Mexico City, September 2024.- Forma Foods, a startup company incubated at Tecnologico de Monterrey, the top Mexican university in engineering and technology according to the QS World Ranking 2024, is leveraging cutting-edge 3D printing technologies to produce plant-based meat that not only looks and tastes like real meat, but also promotes a more sustainable and ethical approach to future food.

Forma Foods' plant-based meat printing could revolutionize the future production of meat products, especially in remote communities, democratizing access to high-quality protein.

At the same time, in addition to developing cutting-edge technologies, Forma Foods is committed to the vision of a more sustainable future: In contrast with high costs, complexity and demand for space required by traditional livestock farming, plant-based meat production is much more efficient and environmentally friendly, being able to produce 1.8 kilograms of meat per hour, more than 100 times the production of a cow.

Lab-developed meat from Forma Foods emulates the texture, consistency, and flavor of traditional “carne asada”, offering a viable and attractive alternative for meat lovers and vegan consumers.

To this end, Grissel Trujillo de Santiago and Mario Moises Alvarez, researchers and academics from the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tec de Monterrey, experts in tissue engineering, and co-founders of the company, are applying a technique that both have invented and perfected: chaotic printing.

“These chaotic flows have nothing to do with disorder or turbulence, they produce microstructures in a fast and mathematically predictable way; they generate very fine thin layers that mimic the architecture of animal tissues,” explains Trujillo, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at Forma Foods.

100% plant-based

Supported by Tec de Monterrey, Trujillo and Alvarez completed a research stay at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University where they specialized in tissue engineering. In 2017, upon returning to Mexico, they began to combine the technique that they both had invented with the knowledge derived from the research carried out in Tec de Monterey and abroad, to manufacture living tissues for medical and food purposes. Initially, they only explored the production of animal cell-based meat, but the high cost of the process led them to innovate also with 3D printed vegetable pastes.

Forma Foods not only mimics skeletal muscle tissue, but also fat and connective tissue, using pea protein to simulate muscle tissue, an oriental prebiotic fiber for connective tissue, and coconut oil for fat tissue.

 

The team has created products very similar to arrachera and carne al pastor, staples in dishes representative of Mexican culture. “Eating an arrachera taco is not the same as eating a sausage or ground beef taco,” Trujillo says, emphasizing how their product authentically integrates into Mexican cuisine.

Fully Mexican integration

With financial support from Tec Ventures and Saya Bio, an investment fund focused on biotechnology and health, Forma Foods has made significant advances in its technology and research. They overcame the challenge of adapting 3D printing technology to produce meat, transforming viscous pastes into a product that achieves the consistency of real meat, thanks to the development of a specialized printhead patented since 2019.

“We integrate technological elements that have been previously used (for other purposes), using them in an innovative way that creates a drastically different and proudly Mexican technology,” says Mario Moises Alvarez, Chief Technology Officer, who adds: “With a growing demand for food and limited resources, innovative solutions such as printing plant-based meat are essential for the future.”

Gaining Market Confidence

Forma Foods focuses on three pillars: gaining consumer trust, establishing strategic alliances with key collaborators to position its products in the market, and offering innovative and unique products.

Tec de Monterrey was the first to support and trust Forma Foods’ research and products, which are currently being served at special events offered at the Monterrey Campus.

Recently, the meat produced by the company attracted attention from the restaurant industry. Chef Rodrigo Rivera Rio of Koli in Monterrey, which recently was awarded with a Michelin star, expressed interest in this plant-based meat and requested a version printed in the shape of a beet. “The customization capacity offered by 3D printing allows for the creation of unique shapes and textures, opening up a range of culinary possibilities,” Alvarez said.

Forma Foods' target market is not limited to vegan consumers. Their plant-based meat is also designed for people looking to reduce their meat consumption for health, ethical or environmental reasons. Global demand for meat continues to rise, and traditional solutions will not be able to satisfy such demand in a sustainable way.

A New, More Productive and Sustainable Food Perspective

The future of food will depend on our ability to innovate and develop new ways of producing highly nutritious protein. Forma Foods’ work could be key to feeding the world sustainably for decades to come. “We must think about future needs and develop new products that are already necessary today and will be even more so in the years to come,” Trujillo emphasizes.

The scope of the Forma Foods project could also have a positive impact on people's health by offering a healthier alternative, on the environment by generating less methane gas, considered a greenhouse gas, and on sustainability by reducing water consumption and the space needed to raise livestock.

 
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Wolfertschwenden/Buchenau, 9 September 2024 – Last Friday MULTIVAC officially opened its new Center of Excellence for slicing solutions in Buchenau (Dautphetal) after a construction period of around two years. The investment amounted to approx. 15 million euros. Group presidents, Bernd Höpner (CTO) and Dr Tobias Richter (CSO), together with Jochen Ertl, Senior Director Slicing and Buchenau Site Director, greeted the guests at the inauguration ceremony.

The MULTIVAC Group has been developing and designing high-performance slicers for the food industry at its Buchenau site since 2017. Following strong growth since then in its Slicing Business Unit, the new building will now expand the current capacity. Built over a surface area of around 4,700 square metres, the new building complex comprises a Customer and Application Center, as well as production areas and warehouse facilities. The new building creates a second Application Center, in addition to that at the company's headquarters in Wolfertschwenden, and this new facility offers even greater opportunities for customer tests and demonstrations at the Buchenau site. As part of the building's sustainable infrastructure, a number of measures have been taken to reduce greenhouse gases: The heating for the building is provided by air-heat exchangers combined with a photovoltaic system, and this is assisted by the waste heat from the air compressors, so that no fossil-fuel energy is used.

“We have built up a range of MULTIVAC slicing equipment in record time, and this comprehensive range includes all output categories. Thanks to the new Buchenau site, we can now react even more flexibly to our customers' requirements, as well as providing yet more complete lines as tailored solutions for food processing and packaging,” said Dr Tobias Richter, Director and CSO of the MULTIVAC Group. “And with the additional Application Center in particular, we can now offer our customers an even better and more accessible consultancy service in that wider region.”

Bernd Höpner, Director and CTO of the MULTIVAC Group, added: “The investment is an important milestone in our growth strategy, and it is a clear recognition by the company's owners of their long-term commitment to the Marburg-Biedenkopf area. Thanks to the expanded development and production capacity, we now have the best conditions for continuing to develop the Slicing Business Unit successfully and sustainably. “

Attractive workplaces

The new building also creates additional jobs at the Buchenau site. “With this first expansion phase up to 150 staff members will be working in the state-of-the-art building complex,” said Jochen Ertl, Site Director at Buchenau. “We are offering interesting and future-proof jobs – and we are a highly attractive employer in the region. A further increase in the number of staff is planned for the coming years.”

 
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Pyramex®, the trusted leader in advanced personal protective equipment, is excited to announce the newest addition to its line of quality and affordable safety glasses, the PMXSPEC. This new eyewear is engineered to provide unparalleled comfort plus superior protection all in a sleek, stylish design workers will want to wear while on the job. Whether you’re working long hours on the jobsite or managing critical tasks in the most challenging conditions, the PMXSPEC glasses will keep your eyes well protected without compromising comfort or good looks.

The new PMXSPEC safety glasses are designed with ultimate comfort in mind, making them perfect for extended wear on the job. The glasses are extremely lightweight, plus they offer wearers a customizable fit, incorporating an adjustable soft rubber nose piece and non-slip temple grips that helps them stay securely in place even in the harshest conditions. Its panoramic wraparound lens enhances the field of vision, which is vital in busy work environments where peripheral awareness is key to staying safe.

Protection is paramount at Pyramex, and the PMXSPEC glasses deliver. The oversized lenses shield eyes from wind, dust and debris and are treated with anti-fog properties, ensuring clear, fog-free visibility even in extreme conditions. Built tough to meet ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 standards and SEI certified to CAN/CSA Z94.3-20 high impact standards, the PMXSPEC safety glasses provide robust protection against impacts and harmful UV rays, making them a dependable choice for professionals across various industries. Of course, these glasses aren’t just functional eye protection, they also deliver on looks with stylish mirrored and beveled lenses which reduce glare while adding a sleek look.

“The new PMXSPEC safety glasses are more than just protective eyewear; they are a commitment to ensuring that workers are equipped with gear that meets the highest safety standards while also offering the comfort and style needed for continuous wear while on the job,” said Stephanie Aldrich, Product Category Manager for Pyramex.

The new PMXSPEC glasses are available in three lens/frame color variations including a Matte Black-Blue frame with Blue Mirror lens; a Shiny Black frame with Spectrum Mirror frame; and a Matte Black-Green frame with Green Mirror lens. For more information about the PMXSPEC glasses, visit pyramex.com.

Pyramex Safety delivers high-quality safety products through its innovative and stylish product lines. The company designs and manufactures a variety of personal protective equipment from eye, head, hand, welding, cooling, and hearing protection to hi-vis work wear, respirators, and ergonomic gear. Founded in 1991, the company has more than 3,000 distributors in over 65 countries and is committed to investing countless hours to research, design and testing to ensure Pyramex products meet the highest industry safety standards. To learn more about Pyramex Safety, go to pyramexsafety.com.

 
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September 2024 - In the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries, there is often an invisible danger in the air. Gases and dusts are constant companions which, in combination with a single ignition spark, can trigger a catastrophe. Find out in this technical article how the Ex weighing solutions from Minebea Intec, a leading manufacturer of weighing and inspection technologies, ensure safe and at the same time highly efficient work in this hazardous atmosphere.

In industrial production facilities where chemicals are used, conditions often prevail where flammable gases such as methane, propane or hydrogen are present in the air. These gases can be ignited by a tiny spark and lead to a catastrophic explosion that can endanger human life and production structures. Dust particles that can accumulate in the air are also extremely dangerous. Powdery substances in particular, such as flour, sugar or wood dust, can spread in the air and react explosively on contact with an ignition source.

Potentially explosive atmospheres are divided into zones depending on the probability of an explosive atmosphere occurring and the explosive substances present. In zone 0 or 20, there is a constant danger due to high concentrations of gases, dusts, vapors or mists. Zone 1 or 21 has a probable but not constant hazard in the vicinity of zone 0. In zone 2 or 22, there is a rare and short-term hazard at a greater distance from the source. This classification is based on international standards such as the ATEX directive for Europe and IECEx certification for the rest of the world. Zones 0, 1 and 2 refer to gases and, in contrast, zones 20, 21 and 22 apply to dust. "Given these potentially lethal hazards, it is vital that all equipment and instruments used in these potentially explosive environments meet the strictest safety standards," says Lena-Marie Fornika, Global Product Manager at Minebea Intec. "We offer weighing technologies that are certified for each of these areas."

Certified Ex weighing solutions without compromising on precision and efficiency

Minebea Intec offers a wide range of load cells, industrial scales and weighing indicators that have been specially developed for use in hazardous areas. These products not only offer the highest levels of safety, but also precision and efficiency, which are essential for industrial applications. "In hazardous environments, choosing the right weighing and control technology is crucial to ensure maximum productivity and accuracy," says Lena-Marie Fornika. "We support our customers throughout the entire planning process and offer them tailor-made solutions that meet their Ex requirements."

Industrial scales in focus: Ensuring ATEX compliance for a leading aerospace company

The floor and bench scales Combics® and Midrics® as well as the IF floor scale from Minebea Intec offer many advantages for hazardous areas. The industrial scales in the Combics® series are robust and versatile. Certified to ATEX, IECEx and FM, these scales ensure compliance with Ex requirements. They offer high accuracy, a user-friendly interface and various weighing units. The industrial scales in the Midrics® series offer similar benefits, but in a more compact design. They are also approved for use in hazardous areas and offer high accuracy and reliability. The IF floor scales are ideal for applications with heavy loads and are even suitable for use in Zone 2/22. Overall, these scales offer the ideal combination of safety, precision and user-friendliness for use in hazardous areas.

The example of Avio, a leading Italian manufacturer of aerospace fuels, illustrates exactly how customers can benefit from these Ex-certified industrial scales. The company needed to adapt its equipment to the ATEX directives after internal audits revealed that the current instruments no longer complied with the updated regulations. Avio sought quotes from various suppliers and then chose an ATEX Zone 1 weighing solution from Minebea Intec. The company provided a complete solution, including ATEX-certified equipment and customised software. The solution comprised two Combics® weighing platforms with resolutions of 15,000 d and 30,000 d and weighing ranges of 3,000 kg/200 g and 60 kg/2 g, a Maxxis 5 programmable weighing controller and PR 5110 remote displays. Minebea Intec's engineering support team developed a software solution for recipe management and also installed a control cabinet with intrinsically safe interfaces for secure data transmission. The solution not only complied with health and safety guidelines, but also optimized the efficiency of Avio's dosing system.

Weighing indicator Midrics® 1 Ex is the latest addition to the Ex portfolio

Minebea Intec is constantly expanding its range of Ex solutions. For example, the company recently launched the Midrics® 1 Ex weighing indicator. "With the Midrics® 1 Ex weighing indicator, we offer a state-of-the-art solution for visualizing weighing results in hazardous areas," says Lena-Marie Fornika. "Users benefit not only from the affordable price, but above all from the reliability and intuitive operation of the product."
The intrinsically safe weighing indicator Midrics® 1 Ex is suitable for a wide range of applications such as counting, inspection or pre-packaging control. Thanks to the use of high-quality materials, it is the ideal choice for quality managers, machine builders and technical engineers looking for a durable indicator solution for hazardous areas.

Best practice: SABIC and Ex-certified compression load cells

Another customer example demonstrates the performance of Minebea Intec's Ex-certified load cells. SABIC, a leading Saudi Arabian petrochemical company, was looking for reliable weighing systems for dosing hoppers and the replacement of defective components in granulate hoppers. Minebea Intec was chosen for its experience, accuracy and adherence to strict safety standards. Minebea Intec installed three S PR 6241 compression load cells for outdoor use in accordance with the ATEX directive. The load cells enabled a transmission range of 500 m. Minebea Intec supplied also four PR 6201 precision compression load cells and PR 6143 compact kits, all ATEX-certified, for the defective granulate containers. This successful partnership established Minebea Intec as an official supplier to SABIC and demonstrates the company's ability to provide customized solutions that meet the highest safety standards.

Ex solutions when danger is in the air

All Minebea Intec products for potentially explosive atmospheres comply with the strictest international standards such as ATEX, IECEx and FM. In a world where the risk of explosion is in the air, choosing the right technology is crucial. Minebea Intec offers holistic weighing solutions that not only ensure the highest levels of safety, but also precision and efficiency. Lena-Marie Fornika: "Our products are more than just devices - they are partners for safety and success in hazardous areas."

 

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