JCS Process & Control Systems, an industry leader in beverage batching and processing technologies, has announced plans to open the UltraPhil Center for Aseptic Excellence, the world’s first and only small scale, bottle-based pilot aseptic research, development and production center.
Balance Tank design plays a large role in the efficiency of the product and water changeover of a pasteurizer. Depending on product and application as well as ordinances that must be complied with the Food and Beverage industry, one may or may not have the ability to make efficient balance tank designs. PMO (Pasteurized Milk Ordinance) has specific rules regarding Balance Tanks. In the case of HTST for Grade A milk, the top of the Balance Tank must be lower than the bottom of the PHE (Plate Heat Exchanger), therefore most dairy HTST’s have a design like the one shown in Figure #1 below. However, for HHST (ESL Higher Heat Short Time) or UHT (Ultra High-Temperature Short Time), there is more flexibility on Balance Tank design. JCS typically uses an arrangement as shown in Figure #2 below, with a sump in the bottom of the product Balance Tank which has a small volume with a maximized head, to produce a sharp product to water transition with minimum interface. Coupling this with other design considerations such as Feed Forward Temperature control, in our direct injection system (UltraSys™), and other processing considerations for Deaerators, and Flash Chambers, we always strive to minimize product loss. Below you will find a short description of how the changeovers are controlled.
What is an engineering study? How is it useful? Why should I pay for one? These are all great questions. First, at JCS, an engineering study is useful when a customer needs to identify a problem, or multiple problems within their systems in their facility. Paying for an engineering study, or engineering evaluation, allows an outside organization to come into your facility with a fresh perspective to look at the big picture. Whether trying to identify possible contamination points creating micro counts on a low acid aseptic line, identifying areas for improvement in yields, or even looking at ways to treat your product better during processing for improved quality; an engineering study brings the perspective of outside engineering experts to evaluate, provide data, and a detailed report to assist you to make the best business decision.
Data Capture is the first step towards process improvement. No matter the industry that you are in, if you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it. In the Food and Beverage processing industry, this is not an exception. For process control systems, data capture is a vital part of the overall system and is what validates the finished product. JCS has developed a standardized approach to data capture for each control process - batching, blending, clean in place (CIP) systems, and ultra-high temperature (UHT) systems - to record data for regulatory, troubleshooting, process optimization and reporting purposes.
Milk producers are constantly looking for new ways to provide value-added products that deliver more in terms of nutrition and taste to consumers. A common trend in the industry is to provide lactose free milk since many people are lactose intolerant and more and more consumers are demanding these types of products.
If you have worked at or with JCS over the last 32 years then you most likely already know the story behind the company name and logo, for those of you that have wondered here is what it all means.
Last week, we celebrated the 2019 JCS Food and Beverage Forum. The forum took place from Wednesday, September 17th-19th in Rochester, NY. The event had diverse participation of attendees from companies in the dairy, isotonic drinks, juice, plant-based products and beverages in general. This year’s program encompassed sessions to gain valuable information on the latest trends and challenges in product standardization and processing, shelf-life extension, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and food safety.
