Processing and
Processing and performance of the equipment. Key to both these factors is being able to draw on a high standard of technology, maintenance and – most importantly – knowledge of how to best operate the equipment. A lack of this knowledge can result in wasted of human resources, equipment, and operational costs. How Application Knowledge Can Help Application knowledge focuses on more practical aspects. As an example, at JBT we provide application knowledge support to customers to assess the functioning of equipment in their own facilities to make sure they don’t have a food safety problem or are unnecessarily wasting high quantities of energy or water. Application knowledge can also be seen in the fresh side of our business. For citrus processing, our technicians will recommend specific settings for citrus extraction equipment dependent on the season and variety. This allows customers to extract the maximum level of juice, pulp, and residues from their citrus volumes. Applied Sustainability Let me provide a few specific examples of process and application knowledge in action. Through our worldwide Food Technology Centers (FTCs) and Green Retrofits, JBT is already helping customers to achieve improved productivity and efficiencies while becoming more sustainable. In the process, we help customers to become more profitable, less wasteful, and more economically viable in the long term, ensuring a future for everyone involved. JBT FTCs offer a Research & Development resource for customers that focuses on maximizing the effectiveness and productivity of new or existing equipment and extending its working life. FTCs contain – often full size – replicas of JBT equipment capable of reproducing the exact same processes that food processors use when filling, canning, or mixing. Customers can draw on JBT experts’ substantial food safety, food science, and application knowledge to get the best results from their equipment and the desired end results for their products. Many companies know how to weld steel or bend metal, and JBT is no exception. However, we also understand the products and the processes, ensuring that customers can confidently deliver products with the best-possible shelf-life and food safety, all while aiming for optimum end results. By replicating the performance of an industrial-level processing facility, we can assess the optimum conditions necessary for achieving sought-after results with food products. JBT further utilizes the expertise of its technicians to provide customer training, maximize the handling of existing products and 28 food Marketing & Technology • August 2023
Processing processes and covering the testing of new equipment. We carry out live demonstrations for customers, so they can view in-person the workings of processes they might have previously only seen in presentations. Many customers don’t want to change their entire install base. Instead, they want to take older equipment to a performance level that matches new systems. This approach makes sense and aligns with the principles of the circular economy. JBT’s Green Retrofits allow customers to achieve this goal. Through our Green Retrofit program, we help maximize the performance of installed equipment by improving its productivity and efficiency while minimizing its impact on the environment. So, is it possible to achieve both sustainability and cost savings? Absolutely. Helping customers become more sustainable by getting the most out of their products is the essence of a good food processing technology provider. By investing in process knowledge and application knowledge, food processors can unlock significant savings while embracing sustainable practices. As companies work together to create a greener, more efficient, and profitable future for the food industry, it’s clear that sustainability and cost savings can go hand in hand. Now is the time for businesses to prioritize sustainable processing methods and unlock the benefits for their operations and the environment. fmt Want edgy shapes? The Author USE OUR TECHNOLOGIES TO BOOST YOUR SUCCESS! Carlos Fernandez, JBT EVP of Sustainability and Market Development SCHAAF TECHNOLOGIE GMBH www.foodextrusion.de Key No. 103850 food Marketing & Technology • August 2023 29
