The AMI/Worldwide Food Exposition in Chicago, Illinois kicks off tomorrow and expectations are high. The organisers are promising over 1,200 exhibits featuring the latest innovations in processing and packaging equipment, business and processing software systems, supplies, services and formulations. There will also be exhibits focused specifically on snack foods, frozen foods and packaging.
One company hoping for a good show is UK-based food grade gas supplier BOC. The firm will be highlighting freezing and chilling technologies, ozone and ultra-violet light pathogen intervention technologies and state-of-the-art food monitoring and control technologies. Water management services and a precision-controlled continuous grinding and blending system will also be on show.
"BOC has been a reliable supplier of food grade gases and related technologies to the processing industries for decades," said Bill Baker, vice president of food markets at BOC. "We are also a leading provider of innovative solutions to the meat industry's processing and food safety concerns."
The company's line of ozone and ultra-violet light systems presents the industry with an opportunity to demonstrate some cutting edge technology. "These are proven microbial interventions for food, food contact surfaces, marinade and brine chill treatment and equipment sanitation, and are also validated food safety technologies that can be incorporated into a company's HACCP plan," said Baker.
And through EMC, BOC's St. Louis-based water management services company, BOC can design, build, operate and manage a processor's entire water system from supply through processing to waste water treatment. This, claims the company, provides the lowest lifetime total cost.
Thinkage, a BOC food venture company that uses BOC's proprietary Think Gates service and technology, will also be exhibiting at the show. The technology enables food manufacturers to monitor and control products as they moves from one processing cell to another.
BOC will also be introducing new technology from SafeFresh, a BOC partner company. The firm has developed new technology for continuously grinding and blending fresh boneless meat. According to SafeFresh, this will allow processors to reduce costs, control lean content and improve food safety.
The BOC Group is a global supplier of industrial gases and vacuum technologies. It serves 2 million customers in more than 50 countries and employs 46,000 people. In 2002, it reported annual sales of €5.1 billion.