The Global Miller: November 2017

November 30, 2017

01/12/2017: AB Vista expands technical service team with new feed applications engineer

AB Vista’s Technical Services Team has recently been expanded, as part of the company’s strategy to strengthen feed mill support to customers in the Americas

Joel McAtee
Image credit: AB Vista

Joel McAtee has joined AB Vista as Feed Applications Engineer for the Americas, having spent several years working in Operation and Regulatory roles in commercial feed facilities and premix plants.

Dieter Suida, AB Vista’s Americas Director, says a key part of Joel’s role will be providing feed engineering support and advice to customers in the Americas region.

“With his broad experience across feed mill equipment and processing, Mr McAtee will play a key role in supporting AB Vista customers in the Americas with feed mill equipment design, operation and effectiveness including enzyme dosing technology and pelleting equipment.”

Mr McAtee graduated from Kansas State University in Feed Science and Management and subsequently managed the KSU Research feed mill, helping build and commission the new feed mill for animal science research.

For more information visit the AB Vista website, HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

For additional daily news from milling around the world: global-milling.com

01/12/2017: European Commissioner for health & food safety visits former foodstuff processing facility

On 28 November 2017, EFFPA (the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association) organised a factory visit for European Commissioner of Health & Food Safety, Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis, to Agrifirm in Veghel (The Netherlands) to provide a first-hand introduction to former foodstuff processing

Former foodstuff processors transform foodstuffs no longer suitable for commercial human consumption into high-quality animal feed. Examples are broken biscuits, incorrectly shaped chocolates or incorrectly flavoured crisps.

Image credit: EFFPA

After the visit, Commissioner Andriukaitis said, 'I am very satisfied with the visit. It is always useful to see how things are done on the ground. The notion of 'circular economy' becomes very tangible. Indeed, thanks to the top technology you have it in action - a broken biscuit is transformed into safe feed for animals. This is one way of how circular economy works and how food waste is prevented'.

For EFFPA the visit was another milestone in its existence as a sector-representing organisation.

EFFPA President Paul Featherstone said, “The possibility to showcase the role of former foodstuff processing in the circular economy to European Commissioner Andriukaitis further establishes us as part of safe and sustainable feed production. At the same time we have clearly demonstrated former foodstuff processing is not in competition with food banks”.

The visit illustrated that former foodstuff processing is an intrinsic part of the food-to-feed chain.

EFFPA currently awaits the outcome of the ‘trilogue’ negotiations on the Circular Economy Package which is expected to confirm that former foodstuffs placed on the market as feed are clearly exempted from the Waste Framework Directive.

Visit the EFFPA website, HERE.

01/12/2017: Fulfilling, frontline and the first: Livestock and Aquaculture Taiwan

by Laura Clark and Rhiannon White, Milling and Grain

Joining forces to surpass expectations and delight with innovation

On September 28, 2017, for the first time the Livestock and Aquaculture Taiwan Expo and Forum 2017 opened its doors to a ‘mass of people’. The event was held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre (September 28-30).

Organisers Christopher Eve, Senior Vice President of UBM and Sabine Liu, (GM, Asia Ltd Taiwan Branch) were delighted with the turn out, Mr Eve said, “We are all so excited about this show because it has surpassed our expectations and all the exhibitors are very pleased with the first day’s performance.”

“At this show, exhibitors are representing the agriculture, livestock and aquaculture sectors with a heavy focus on innovative and eco-friendly technology,” expanded Ms Liu.

The event attracted 194 companies from 18 different countries across the globe, including: Korea, Chile, Denmark and Canada. Although a truly international gathering, Taiwan was well represented, with 50 members of the Taiwan Agriculture Machinery Manufacturer’s Association in attendance.

Mr Eve commented, “So we've got the Livestock shows in Malaysia and Vietnam and the Philippines, so we're really happy that we have one now in Taiwan because I think there's a lot of potential here.”

He continued, “We have exhibitors with poultry cages, turnkey equipment, antibiotic free feed and feed additives as well as aquaculture systems which are being developed by Taiwan’s top IT companies. We also have bio fertilisers and pesticides, automatic environmental control systems, animal waste recycling systems and many, many more advanced technology and products.”

Designed as a ‘one-stop comprehensive international B2B trading platform,’ the 300 booths provided ample opportunity for industry experts to share their latest products and thoughts on the future of agriculture in Taiwan and further afield.

Ms Liu added, “Exhibitors say they are very happy not only because the business people they've met have placed orders, but also all of them are end-users and this is what they are looking for. So today many people have come to our sales office to rebook for next year.”

Read the full show report, HERE.

Visit the event website, HERE.

Yenar company profile

With more than 20 years experience in the sector, Yenar have a state of the art production plant on an area of 40,000 m2, of which 18,000 m2 is covered.

Domestic and global leaders since 1995, Yenar's equipment range includes rolls manufactured using the most up to date technology by means of the double pour centrifugal casting method. These rolls are in demand in many food sectors.

Manufacturing 22,000 units annually of various diameters and lengths as of 2014, Yenar is the fastest growing Turkish company in the sector, supplying hundreds of food sector producers in both domestic and foreign markets by means of professional sales teams.

Visit the website HERE

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine GFMT
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

For additional daily news from milling around the world: global-milling.com

November 29, 2017

30/11/2017: Zetadec celebrates its 10 year birthday with mini symposium “From plant to pellet”

The Dutch research company Zetadec celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a mini symposium entitled “From plant to pellet”

Zetadec was founded in 2007 by Menno Thomas and over the past 10 years has steadily grown into a world-wide acclaimed company in research and development in compound animal feed and fertilizer production.

Zetadec team
Image credit: Zetadec

The symposium was held in Wageningen and chaired by Jacqueline Wijbenga, chief-editor of De Molenaar.

Ate Ludwig, director of N-xt Fertilizers discussed the degradation of arable soils and the resulting loss in quality of human food and animal feed.

“Healthy food for humans and animals can only grow on healthy soils,” according to Ate Ludwig.

Professor Wouter Hendriks, Wageningen University and Research and Utrecht University addressed recent results with respect to effects of technological treatments in relation to the nutritional value of feed ingredients.

“Standard feed manufacturing technology is not well suited for breakdown of recalcitrant fibres.”

Menno Thomas discussed fundamental aspects of feed production which up till now did not receive proper attention.

“Further understanding and subsequent use of physical processes in feed production will lead to improved nutrient utilisation in the animal and a better efficiency of the feed production process.”

In addition, the new house style was presented to the symposiums attendants.

“This new company style represents the contribution of Zetadec to the manufacturing processes of our business relations; first understand, then improve”, according to Menno Thomas.

Visit the Zetadec website, HERE.

30/11/2017: Standard-compliant analysis of dough properties

The Brabender Extensograph-E determines the extensibility and resistance to extension of doughs, allowing conclusions to be drawn about dough characteristics (e. g. gas holding capacity) and bakery product volumes

Why is this important?

- Gluten strength and bread-making characteristics of flour can be determined
- Flour supplied from the mill can be checked if it meets the specifications for the given application
- Influence of flour additives like ascorbic acid, enzymes (proteinases), and emulsifiers can be made evident

How is the test performed?
- Before starting the test in the Extensograph-E, prepare your sample dough from flour, distilled water, and salt in the Farinograph
- After a certain proving time, the dough is stretched until rupture in the Extensograph-E. The force exerted is measured and recorded. This procedure is repeated three times. This corresponds to the actual practice in the bread and bread roll production
- The Extensogram recorded on-line, and represented as a color diagram on the monitor, shows: Resistance to extension, maximum resistance, energy, extensibility/resistance ratio, maximum resistance / resistance ratio

Extensograph-E
Image credit: Brabender

Standards fulfilled:
- ICC-Standard No. 114/1
- AACC Method No. 54-10
- ISO 5530-2
- RACI, GB/T, GOST R, IRAM, FTWG, amongst others

What are the benefits?
- Guaranteed reliability and reproducibility: Compliance with international standards for testing flour quality
- Practice-oriented test procedure: Guaranteed high flour and end product quality
- No production losses due to usage of inappropriate material

For more information visit the Brabender website, HERE.

The Global Miller

This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain

which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

For additional daily news from milling around the world: global-milling.com

30/11/2017: IAOM Middle East and Africa: The fasting growing regions with exponential potential

by Tom Blacker, Milling and Grain

The International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Middle East and Africa Event and Conference 2017 was again a successful conference and exhibition for all involved

The venue was again the Dubai World Trade Centre’s Sheikh Rashid Hall from Sunday 22 - Wednesday October 25, 2017. This was the 28th year of the exhibition and conference and the fourth time Dubai had hosted the event since 1992.

The Middle East and Africa combines some of the fastest growing regions for the food industry and is establishing itself more in alternative industries away from the dominant sectors of oil and gas.

IAOM MEA 2017 impressively showcased the event from the moment a delegate entered, it was clear that the growth of the exhibition booths and quantities had meant an enlarged space to 5000 metres squared floor space. The exhibition was directly next to the conference in the Sheikh Rashid Hall. Around 900 delegates attended with millers being around 40 percent of the total, which is a good balance according to Ali Habaj, Regional Director for IAOM MEA. Habaj also said this is the most diverse range of attendees for all of IAOM’s annual events and bodes well for the future of the international industry group.

Background
A week before this year’s events, a successful five-day training course for millers in Arabic was organised, which attracted a total 34 millers from: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The honoured guest of note at the 2017 Conference and Expo was Egypt’s Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, His Excellency Dr Ali Elsayed Ali Elmoelhy, who partook in the Wheat Imports: Middle East and Africa Regional Outlook panel discussion. Grains, pulses, rice and maize were amongst the most discussed materials for millers attending the events. The final session about Wheat Imports brought some interesting perspectives together.

Mandeep Singh Bindra, Head of Procurement – Grains at the IFFCO Group, United Arab Emirates, said that despite Dubai’s modern infrastructure and buildings, food habits amongst people here have not changed from simple tastes of previous generations, only that demand has intensified with population growth.

New developments and topics outside the industry, yet still disruptive to forward planning were on many minds. For example, the international easing of economic sanctions on Iran and Sudan. Also, political events such as Catalonia and Spain, Brexit and the European Union, North Korea, Donald Trump Trends from before were raised such as fortification in many more countries in the region. Within the industry, the record harvests from Russia were discussed especially closely in the sessions moderated by Dan Basse, President and Founder, AgResource Co., United States of America. Most were satisfied with the quality of the questions from the delegates to speakers to be a high standard.

Exhibition
Special products were being exhibited for the first time Stif exhibited the NovaPorte® product for dust proof inspection doors. Fawema introduced the innovation with a fine inner layer of the USA’s FDA-approved to all regulations of glue to seal 0.5kg to 5kg bags. The glue can be hermetically heat sealed, with the advantages of tamper-proof and dust-proof.

Depart were exhibiting independently this year, with Cengiz Tiryakioglu satisfied with the visitors. Henry Simon had both a roller mill and colour sorter machine Sangati Berga exhibited plastic sieve frames which are stackable to be totally flush, which improves food safety and prevention of dust.

I-Grain were proud to be introducing the Toxi-Scrub® which provides the efficient removal of mycotoxins and fumonisins from raw materials such as grains and nuts. Many exhibitors brought fully operational products to show to delegates, which allowed for the tactile hardware to be examined and inspected. A symbol of the strength of any exhibition is the technology and it can be reported that this year the technology was at a very high standard.

According to the pre-registered delegate list, the representation from countries around the world was formidable: One from Algeria, 10 from Australia, three from Austria, seven from Bahrain, 10 from Belgium, four from Brazil, five from Canada, one from China, one from Cyprus, 10 from Denmark, 26 from Egypt, one from Finland, 33 from France, 26 from Germany, one from Greece, one from Hong Kong, 16 from India, three from Iraq, 32, 65 from Iran, 32 from Italy, one from Japan, four from Jordan, one from Kazakhstan, 21 from Kenya, 23 from Lebanon, one from Lithuania, two from Luxembourg, one from Malawi, three from Morocco, 15 from The Netherlands, seven from Nigeria, 11 from Oman, three from Poland, three from Qatar, three from Russia, two from Rwanda, 28 from Saudi Arabia, one from Senegal, two from Singapore, 10 from South Africa, eight from Spain, 21 from Sudan, three from Sweden, 44 from Switzerland, 117 from Turkey, nine from Tanzania, three from Tunisia, four from Ukraine, one from Uganda, 88 from United Arab Emirates, 20 from United Kingdom, 22 from United States of America and five from Yemen. Plus, new for 2017, a day-only delegate allowed a lower cost, which was taken up with good effect.

Read the full report, HERE.

International Protein LLC company profile

International Protein LLC is a worldwide importer/exporter and manufacturer of animal feed industry.

Their product line includes a wide variety of feed additives, ingredients, proteins, and raw materials for the poultry, swine, aquaculture and pet industry.

Their main office is located in New Jersey, where they handle trading, logistics, product marketing, and new business development.

Visit the website HERE.

29/11/2017: Focus on efficiency and quality is paramount for India's livestock industry

Image courtesy of Nagarjun Kandukuru @Flickr
Caption - A Bishnoi village near Jodhpur. Rajasthan, India. Oct '12.
Copyright - Some rights reserved.

B Soundararajan, Chairman, CLFMA of India, commented, "Strong focus on improving efficiency and quality is critical for the next wave of growth for India's livestock industry." He noted this is his keynote address during the Knowledge Day on the sidelines of Poultry India 2017 at Hyderabad. He also emphasised the need for balanced and holistic policies to double farmers' incomes.

He added, "India's poultry industry is one of the most efficient globally and is a well recognised contributor towards the nation's food and nutrition security, employment and most importantly poverty alleviation. It is the source of livelihood for millions of farmers mainly, smallholders and is the foundation of rural India's prosperity. India’s poultry industry has been growing at over eight percent annually in the last few years and I am optimistic about the growth accelerating in the near future. Apparently, next five to ten years are extremely critical for the sector to maintain its growth and strengthen its competitiveness."

On evolving food consumption patterns, he mentioned that in fast growing developing economies like India, South East Asia and parts of Africa, demand for protein is increasing and consumers’ preference and food consumption patterns are evolving. As India is going through exciting demographic and economic transformation, consumers increasingly seek better health through food.

They are getting more demanding and their preferences are changing much faster than the previous generations. Issues such as food safety and quality; judicious use of inputs such as antibiotics and adoption of best practices are, nowadays, more important for them and the industry must do more to not only meet but exceed those expectations. Consumption of processed foods including dairy products and meat is bound to go up significantly as currently, only about three to five percent of the chicken meat consumed in India is processed. India’s dynamic meat sector is up for the challenge being one of the highly efficient producers of meat, milk and eggs in the world.

Soundararajan highlighted that India was ranked 100 out of 119 in the recent Global Hunger Index (GHI) report, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). One-fifth of the children under the age of five are underweight and at least a third of the children are stunted.

He remarked that, “Not just in the financial ratings, we must also look at the “AAA’s of food” i.e. Availability; Accessibility; and Affordability. The Country needs a renewed focus on enhancing agricultural productivity, food safety and quality. All inefficiencies and roadblocks in the food value chain that stand between the poor, hungry and malnourished population and its due share of safe and nutritious food are to be removed with a great sense of urgency."

Before summarising, "Soundararajan concluded by adding “Taking a holistic perspective, CLFMA is approaching every challenge faced by the industry from multiple dimensions in terms of animal productivity; costs of food production; incomes, profits and livelihoods of the farming community; industry’s competitiveness; and overall food and nutrition security of the billion-plus population.”

Visit CLFMA of India's website here.

29/11/2017: Holistic perspective on antibiotic awareness beyond food chain is critical

Logo courtesy of CLFMA

CLFMA, the association representing India’s dynamic livestock sector reiterates the need for a holistic perspective in promoting awareness on judicious use of antibiotics not only within but beyond the food value chain on the occasion of World Antibiotic Awareness Week (13 – 19 Nov 2017).

B Soundararajan, Chairman of CLFMA of India commented, “Our association is working closely with a wide array of stakeholders both nationally and internationally on this very important aspect. CLFMA of India regularly participates in the meetings called by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF), Government of India and has already presented inputs from Indian livestock industry on the issue."

He continued, "As the country is going through a period of exciting demographic and economic transformation, consumers increasingly seek better health through food. They are getting more demanding and their preferences are evolving much faster than the previous generations. Issues such as food safety and quality; judicious use of inputs such as antibiotics and adoption of best practices are, now a days, more important for them and our industry is also making all efforts to not only meet but exceed those expectations."

CLFMA also contributes to the global discussions on the issue of antibiotics as a member of the task force on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) under the Luxemberg-based International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF). IFIF works together with organisations including FAO on various issues related to global feed and livestock industry.

Soundararajan also mentioned that India has the potential to become one of the prominent exporters of animal protein and issues like these must be addressed holistically to cement its place in the global market as a reliable and quality supplier.

He remarked, “Competition from other Asian countries is quite tough but it is certainly not insurmountable. India can become one of the largest seafood exporters globally. However, it needs to look above and beyond the food value chain to address issues such as antibiotics which are critical in market access perspective. It is a shared responsibility of every entity in and also beyond the food chain such as human health and nutrition domains. For example, preliminary research results from IIT Roorkee and IIT Delhi in improving the efficacy of existing antibiotics used in humans and preventing development of resistance are truly encouraging."

He summarised, "However, more holistic and inter-sectoral research studies are to be encouraged in future besides promoting judicious antibiotic use both in food production and among human health domains. CLFMA is doing its part in raising these issues at appropriate forums including its educational initiatives, publications, and also during industry seminars, symposiums and conferences."

Visit CLFMA of India's website here.

The December edition of Milling and Grain is available now!

Back issues available

November 28, 2017

29/11/2017: More grain, more storage

by Rebecca Long Pyper for Dome Technology

DomeSilos™ come equipped with features that optimise long-term grain storage

It’s well known that wheat farmers enjoyed a strong harvest in 2016, setting records for winter-wheat yields during the 2016/2017 marketing year. According to the USDA’s June 2017 report, worldwide winter-wheat production for the 2017/2018 season is approaching last year’s yield. In some areas, particularly Russia, weather has been ideal for growing grain.

So what to do with a bumper crop? When grain farmers harvest record amounts of grain, prices drop because supply is abundant. The ideal option, then, is to store grain in such a way that its integrity is preserved until demand increases.

An increasing number of grain producers, large and small, are contracting with Dome Technology to build DomeSilos™ for product protection, granting them the freedom to store and sell on their terms. “A DomeSilo is proven to be an economical and reliable solution for long-term grain storage. It’s a sealed vessel that protects against rodents, bugs and moisture,” said Dome Technology CEO Bradley Bateman.

Each DomeSilo is customised to meet the unique needs of the farmers and companies who will use it.

But here are a few key benefits present in all domes built for grain:

Cost savings
A dome allows for more storage than a silo with a comparable footprint. A silo’s traditional conical roof cannot support product, so the entire interior cannot be used for storage. Because the hemispherical geometry of a dome renders strength at all points of the structure, the entire interior can be used to contain product.

Traditional bulk storage frequently may require expensive deep-foundation systems based on the amount of weight the structure will hold. But Dome Technology engineers utilise diverse alternative foundation systems that will often reduce deep-foundation costs. Customers can save millions as the need for deep foundations may be reduced.

Costs are cut as domes are built with locally available concrete and steel, and the dome’s double curvature requires fewer construction materials with significantly less waste. And a DomeSilo can be built quickly; once the outer weatherproofing membrane is in place, construction materials and machines move inside, so construction can continue regardless of the weather.

Superior product protection through climate control aiding pest prevention
A dome staves off boundary issues other structures face. First, the PVC membrane covering the entire dome prevents moisture entrance. Second, the combination of the waterproof membrane, polyurethane foam insulation and reinforced concrete structure prevents extreme interior temperature fluctuation. These features reduce heating and cooling of the walls and air inside, preventing condensation.

Read the full article, HERE.

29/11/2017: China to subsidise grain transportation and storage facilities

China plans to subsidise grain transportation and storage facilities in the latest push by Beijing to modernise the world’s largest agriculture sector

Image credit: m.shattock on Flickr
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

Beijing will subsidise projects upgrading or building facilities to load and receive grains along main railways and ports for major waterways including the Yangtze and Pearl rivers, a document issued by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Friday.

“Setting up the special funds ... will help to reduce the cost of grain distribution and improve efficiency,” the document said.

Inadequate transportation capacity for grain has caused backlog in the north and spiked prices in the past, while poor storage facilities are a major cause of grain losses in China.

China, which aims to improve its grain logistics system and boost grain storage capacity by 2020, will also subsidise grain facilities that offer storage, processing, trading and quality inspection services, the NRDC document said.

These so-called logistic parks must occupy at least 20 hectares of land and have more than 100,000 tonnes of storage capacity, the document said, adding that a single project could receive as much as 100 million yuan ($15 million).

($1 = 6.6035 Chinese yuan renminbi)

Visit the NDRC website, HERE.

PCE company profile

Pelleting Consumables Europe (PCE) is a global supplier of tailor-made, high-grade precision Ring Dies and Roller Shells.

Thanks to years of experience in the pelleting industry they can provide customers expert advice on the geometry and design of ring dies and roller shells. Manufacturing reliable ring dies and roller shells for compound feed, biofuel and recycling industries and a wide range of other applications.

Their tailor-made ring dies and roller shells are available for pellet presses of all brands and are manufactured at an ultra-modern manufacturing facility.

As the entire process takes place In-house, they (can) guarantee short lead times and optimum quality.

PCE ring dies and roller shells are made of high-quality steel. The ring dies are manufactured as standard from high-grade, high chrome steel x46cr13, tempered to 53-55 HRC. The associated roller shells are manufactured from 100cr6 or 20mncr5, depending on specific application.

PCE is continuously focussed on improving the life cycle of their products and to increase profits for their customers.

PCE key features
- Longer life cycle
- Higher capacity
- Low power consumption

In addition to providing products PCE also assists with the planning of your spare and wear part inventory. Minimising costs and the risk of running out of wear and spare parts is their concern.

A team of experts is available to guide you by selecting the right ring dies, roller shells and to set up a service level spare part management program.

PCE is your partner for just perfect ring dies and roller shells.

Visit the PCE website, HERE.

November 27, 2017

28/11/2017: High level training and events at the avant-garde research centre

by Bonifiche Ferraresi and OCRIM

Even defining it as an “avant-garde research centre” does not do it justice, as it is a bona fide container of ideas and proposals, a place where ideas are exchanged, research is conducted and discoveries are made, unifying and making different sectors and competencies work together

What ideal leads various Italian businesses to rally together for the common good? The desire to join their energy and best resources for the culture of Italian excellence.

Image credit: OCRIM

The centre was conceived, designed and built to create a unique synergy between various minds and businesses, which are, in their own right, unique containers of specialised, targeted, and circumscribed competencies, which, when made to work together, create an actual hub of consulting, training, internship, a positively versatile hub for every need.

This is the first project of its kind in Italy. Bonifiche Ferraresi and OCRIM have fully involved, in every aspect, institutional agencies such as ISMEA (Institute of Services for the Agri Food Market) and CNR (National research Council), Ghigi, for the pasta industry, ENEL, for power, the Universities of Parma, Bologna and Florence and Università Cattolica, for high level training, in order to offer the hub true independence and to bring a never-before-seen “plan” to completion in Italy.

Various competencies were included in a single research hub, equipped with a large and futuristic auditorium, a mill, fields designed as outdoor areas for precision farming for empirical and cutting-edge training and a campus to stay at, offering participants the possibility of combining training and interpersonal experience, a campus that brings people together, catering to and encouraging on-going exchange.

From as early as the beginning of this year, international events, conferences and debates were organised, with the aim of popularising, creating rapport, providing information and training, especially on agri-food-related themes and the use of advanced technology within the sector, with the presence and the intellectual contribution of the economic and political world.

Of these many initiatives, the “Zootecnia 4.0 (Animal Husbandry 4.0)” conference held on October 5th received particular acclaim, with the participation of Health Minister, Beatrice Lorenzin, and the Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, Maurizio Martina, in addition to figures and experts from the scientific-technological and agri-food sector.

The General Manager of Bonifiche Ferraresi, Federico Vecchioni, and of OCRIM, Alberto Antolini, increasingly believe that this was the right choice, in fact, that it was a necessary investment of which we are only now able to fully appreciate the great opportunity that it offers the engineering-metalworking and mechanical industry as well as the Food sector.

The culture and the concept of ‘Italian Made’ is undoubtedly the punctum and least common multiple that embraces all of the various companies involved in Jolanda di Savoia’s avant-garde hub.

To this regard, on the occasion of the inauguration of the centre, the General Manager of Bonifiche Ferraresi, Federico Vecchioni, stated, “History teaches us that when fine minds, looking out for the common good, join and work together, the end result is, without a doubt, fruitful and positive. Whether this means bringing together people, politicians or companies, when the intentions are aligned and forces join to build a chain, this chain becomes a true resource, not only for the sector that they work in, but for the entire community. It is our intent, through this union, to represent and implement the Italian Made culture, hence the culture of Italian excellence”.

Over the course of the same inauguration and referring to the avant-garde hub of Jolanda di Savoia, the General Manager of OCRIM, Alberto Antolini, declared, “As things stand, it is our aim to ‘guide’ our clients, from the first steps of learning about the raw material, to processing it through the advanced technology of our increasingly-automated machines and plants, to the converting of the final product such as pasta, biscuits etc... It is our intent to make participants fully understand and show them, from up close, every processing phase of the raw materials, so that they can feel like the prime representative and very knowledgeable connoisseur of the product that they are offering.”

Visit the OCRIM website, HERE.

28/11/2017: Space is limited; register now for AFIA’s upcoming PCQI training at IPPE

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) will host a three-day training course Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2018, to certify a limited number of participants as preventive controls qualified individuals (PCQI) for their animal food manufacturing facilities

The course, to be held in conjunction with the 2018 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia, is one way that animal food manufacturing facilities can meet current federal regulatory requirements.

“AFIA is committed to offering its members detailed and timely resources and training for compliance with the Food Safety Modernisation Act,” said Gary Huddleston, AFIA’s director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs.

“Participants in recent trainings have left with a thorough understanding of the PCQI rule and how to comply with the requirements in their facility, showing the immense value that this program provides to participants.”

The Food Safety Modernisation Act requires one or more PCQIs in each facility to develop and apply an animal food safety plan. Developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA), the three-day AFIA course provides the “standardised curriculum” recognised by the Food and Drug Administration as adequate for PCQI training.

The complete agenda can be found here. The course is limited to the first 80 registrants. Register by Dec. 31 to receive the early-bird rate of $550. On-site registration will be available for $650.

IPPE is expected to attract more than 30,000 attendees and is a collaboration of three trade shows—the International Feed Expo, International Poultry Expo and International Meat Expo—representing the entire chain of protein production and processing.

The event is sponsored by AFIA, the US Poultry & Egg Association and the North American Meat Institute.

More information about IPPE, including registration details, lodging and other educational opportunities, is available on the website, HERE.

28/11/2017: You need silo maintenance most when you don’t think you need it at all

by Mole Master

The efficiency of a plant’s operation depends in part on how effectively the plant’s storage vessels are working

Where silo maintenance is concerned, this fact serves as a two-edged sword. The desire is to have the storage vessels as free of blockages and issues as possible, but there is usually hesitation in stopping or slowing production to get those kinds of problems addressed.

www.molemaster.com

Often, that hesitation results in a call being made only after a serious problem has developed. Mole Master has been the leading expert in the industry for over three decades, so when there’s a serious problem, that first call comes to us.

The number of calls Mole Master receives when a storage vessel seems to be in pristine shape is minimal. That is actually a problem. Mole Master is equipped with the safest, most efficient buildup, contamination, and blockage removal services and equipment available.

Mole Master can handle even the most difficult challenges. Our experienced crews are uniquely qualified to handle any obstacles that may arise during a silo-cleaning project. We arrive onsite with a variety of tools and systems that have been developed over more than three decades of specialising in silo, bin, bunker, tanks, transport, and process vessel cleanout.

Whether it is a simple clogged feed and grain bin with a few bushels of buildup or an entire bank of silos with many tonnes of hard, non-flowing buildup, Mole Master has the solution.

Silo inspections and preventative maintenance
Mole Master constantly and consistently reminds customers about the importance of regularly scheduled silo inspections and preventative maintenance. It is advantageous (and smart) to have your storage vessels examined on a regular basis.

Contracting Mole Master to execute your silo or bin inspection carries the added weight of also incorporating Mole Master’s silo cleaning expertise. The two services are intertwined, and being able to work through one company that is coordinating all efforts makes the process far easier to manage with confidence.

A silo inspection involves an examination of the storage vessel both on the outside and the inside. The first step is that a silo engineer will look at the silo with binoculars to see if any immediate problems can be spotted. These might include buckling, bulging, or exposed beams. The interior of the vessel needs to be examined next.

Along with visual inspections, the engineer will use a 3-pound hammer to test the sound of the inside walls. A dull, dead sound can be a signal of delamination. Core samples may be taken for further analysis of suspected problem areas.

Incorporating an experienced silo cleaning contractor to handle all of the necessary rigging is important because the interior of the silo cannot be examined until areas have been cleared of blockages or buildup.

Usually this kind of information will be presented in the initial plan, but sometimes the unexpected also occurs, and having a silo cleaning contractor ready at hand can save a great deal of time and money. Regularly scheduled preventative maintenance can work with regularly scheduled silo inspections quite easily.

The inspection can confirm that your structure is safe to use at full capacity. If the inspection indicates there are serious problems, our engineers can provide you with the proper repairs necessary to get your silo safely back into service.

Read the full article, HERE.

Ottevanger Milling Engineers company profile

Ottevanger Milling Engineers is a leading European company in the design and manufacture of equipment and complete installations for the grain-processing and mixed-feed industries.

Food producers throughout the world use these installations to produce food for people and animals. In modern, well-equipped plants in Aalten and Moerkapelle (The Netherlands) Ottevanger's specialists use the latest technologies to design and manufacture a comprehensive range of products.

Computer-controlled plants – anywhere in the world – are provided with on-line technical support from these plants. In its design of any installation Ottevanger takes into account the strictest environmental regulations and safety requirements.

There are, for example, always adequate facilities for air purification as well as sound and heat insulation. A lot of attention is also devoted to hygiene through the use of stainless steel and special coatings.

Thanks to its expert knowledge and expertise, amassed throughout its over one hundred years' experience, Ottevanger is the ideal partner for the implementation of your project.

Visit the Ottevanger website, HERE.

November 26, 2017

27/11/2017: Siwertell wins repeat industry award success with 'Best Ship Loading/Unloading System'

Siwertell, part of Cargotec, has won the prestigious International Bulk Journal (IBJ) Best Ship Loading/Unloading System award for the fifth time

It was presented to the company at the IBJ awards ceremony held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in November 2017.

"IBJ awards are well-respected in the bulk industry and highlight its on-going achievements," says Per Karlsson, President, Siwertell.

From left: Sylvia Boer, Head of Communications, Damen Shipyards; Hanna Fors, Project Coordinator, Siwertell; Daniel Frostberg, Service Director, Siwertell; Ray Girvan, Publisher, International Bulk Journal
Image credit: Siwertell

"To win the Best Ship Loading/Unloading System category, Siwertell has been judged to offer the market the most efficient, safe and innovative dry bulk cargo handling systems. We are enormously proud of our technology and winning this particular award for a second year running shows that we are not alone in recognising our market-leading qualities. "However, we are in no way complacent," adds Mr Karlsson.

"We continue to explore new opportunities and refine and develop our product range to ensure that we maintain a market-leading position and offer the industry the best technology we can deliver."

Siwertell recently answered a market demand with the launch of its high-capacity coal unloader, capable of a continuous rated capacity of over 3,000t/h. The unit can serve bulk carriers of up to 200,000 dwt, some of the largest in existence, quickly, cleanly and safely.

This year Siwertell also introduced a new port-mobile unloader, offering operators a scaled-up version of its road-mobile unloader. It is based on the same proven screw-type technology and delivers a cost-effective, flexible alternative to pneumatic systems with the added benefit of careful cargo handling, making it ideal for grain shipments - although, like all Siwertell unloaders, it can seamlessly switch between cargoes.

Siwertell's innovative approach to dry bulk handling can maximise throughput, increase productivity, raise returns on investment and protect the environment.

"They are the total package," notes Mr Karlsson. "Our largest units can withstand a minimum of eight million stress cycles and all our systems are designed for efficient, long-term operation, lowering the total cost of ownership and cost-per-use. Their flexibility also allows operators to benefit from in-built future-proofing, enabling them to respond quickly to emerging market trends."

Several awards from IBJ over the years
The IBJ Awards competition was introduced in 2009 and like last year attracted a record number of entries. In 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2016 Siwertell received the award for the Best Ship Loading/Unloading System.

In 2016 it won the award from a joint submission with its customer Peel Ports. In 2011, it won the award for Environmental Protection.

"IBJ is a highly-regarded organisation within the bulk cargo industry," says Emily Brækhus Cueva, Marketing Manager, Siwertell.

"Those in positions of responsibility take careful note of the shortlists and winners in categories relevant to their operations. They are also well aware of our regular successes, confirming our consistent performance and providing important industry recognition of our efforts and achievements."

Visit the Siwertell website, HERE.

27/11/2017: Conference topics – “Wheat, Flour and...”

by Roger Gilbert, Milling and Grain

The seventh edition of “Wheat, Flour and…” hosted a conference that touched upon many different important topics

This way Ocrim has still confirmed its experience and versatility in understanding customers’ needs and expectations. In fact, many various topics were examined: from flour improvers (Lutz Popper) to blending and micro-ingredients management (Fabio Vuoto), as well as Sanitation (Marco Galli) and BioStoneMill (Stefano Mazzini). We have featured these full speeches in the latter half of this article.

Flours blending with or without micro-ingredients are an important step in flours management in order to obtain products that are different among them and useful for several exigencies.

Ocrim, during these last years, has focused its attention just on these points and has developed different solutions in order to supply its expertise both in technical and technological field. The company has invested a lot toward this direction in order to find the right approach and offer the right solutions with the maximum flexibility to the Market.

Another topic, which gained a lot of attention, was the one of Galli’s presentation about “Sanitation”. A week of explanation could not be enough for this topic since it’s very complex and full of argumentation. Galli talked (above all) about cereal bacterial content during the cleaning process and how to destroy moulds and contamination in the mill.

Regarding the bacterial content problem, Galli said that Ocrim has foreseen a new conception machine for the soft wheat processing, which is very abrasive and with debranning technology, which is able to brush efficaciously the inlet wheat in order to have two effects: Light debranning in order to improve the inlet product in the mill and with fundamental effect to destroy the cereal bacterial content that is contained in the external part of the grain. This is a high-efficiency machine, which is able to reach these two important goals.

Concerning the mould and contaminations problems in the mill, Ocrim R&D dept. has concentrated part of its “energy” on an important machine: The Plansifter. The experts have paid a lot of attention on the sieves material, which is already in plastic material. They worked to improve that plastic material able to destroy moulds and bacterial problems.

After extensive research and tests in specific milling plants and after several and accurate comparisons carried out at OCRIM’s laboratory, the sieves proposal foresees a particular anti-mould and anti-bacterial product, which keeps its efficiency for a long time and guarantees the total destruction of mould and bacteria.

Finally, Stefano Mazzini talked about the BioStoneMill, a new machine and a new cereal processing line, which is gaining a lot of importance in the field of niche products. The BioStoneMill is conceived as an independent line or integrated in a cylinder industrial milling plant. The aim is to supply a machine that is linked to the most traditional concept of wheat processing but studied and designed through modern industrial and technological concepts.

Ocrim’s challenges are more and more ambitious and diversified and OCRIM works hard in order to find always the perfect bond between industrialised, high-tech and modern products meeting the customers’ demand.

Read the full article, HERE.

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