2012 Ringier Technology Innovation Awards - Food & Beverage Industry, Part I

AFTER selection of qualified nominees by an Experts Review Committee and consulting readers for their favourite entries through online voting, the 2012 Ringier Technology Innovation Awards – Food & Beverage Industry has come to a successful conclusion. Twenty-eight companies received their awards for solutions, technologies and materials that have contributed to the development of China's food industry.

Surveying and appraising the result, we see from the winners in the Processing, Packaging, Food Safety and Automation categories that the awards reflect the ongoing thrust towards automation and growing concern for food safety. In Part I of our coverage of the Innovation awards, we highlight the features of a selected number of award-winning products and technologies related to the processing and packaging of foods and beverages.

Food & Beverage Processing Technologies
Mass flowmeter for product batching
KROHNE Measurement Instruments (Shanghai) Co, Ltd - OPTIBATCH 4011 C
As part of the Coriolis family of meters, the OPTIBATCH offers excellent long-term stability and reliability of mass flow over long periods. This flowmeter has been specifically designed for the fast batching measurement of mass or volume and is intended for use in filling machines or bespoke applications. The precision of rate of mass flow can reach 0.1 %., and the repeatability can reach 0.04%. Compact design. The robust, compact design features integrated electronics, hygienic design of process connections and stainless steel 316L construction with a welded outer casing sealed to IP 67. The flowmeter is CIP / SIP to maximum 120oC (248oF).

Secure valve performance
KunShan King Lai Hygienic Materials Co, Ltd - Ball Valve
The key technologies of this product are: (1) antigush discharge hole design and (2) enhanced air proof performance. When the pressure of liquid inside the valve cavity rises due to heat or vibration, the pressure discharge takes place automatically and the ball design ensures security of the medium. The annular heave set on valve stem along the circumference can effectively obstruct medium from leaking out where the valve stem is installed during use. Annular groove is opened on external heave along the circumference, and the O-ring set inside the groove, which can further prevent the medium from leakage where the valve stem is installed. At the bottom of the annular heave, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) spacer is installed on the valve stem, further enhancing the airproof performance.

Disinfection to the next level
Hanovia Ltd - PureLine PQ UV System
Designed specifically to provide validated, performance qualified and chemical-free UV treatment of water in the food and beverage industries, Hanovia's new PureLine PQ UV system takes disinfection to another level. Not only has the system been designed to exacting industry standards using the latest design techniques to maximise performance, its disinfection performance has also been independently tested and validated by a third party.

The advanced controller continuously calculates the dose, responding to changes in water quality, and will alarm should the dose deviate from the set limits. Comprehensive validation documentation is also available to enable the UV system's performance to be verifiable throughout its operation period.

Reliable eco-friendly transfer system
PCM - EcoMoineau C pumps
Difficult-to-handle ingredients can affect pump performance and reliability, and transfer systems must be designed to perform reliably. EcoMoineau C series pump, the world's shortest stainless steel screw pump, exhibits very high stability and excellent load performance due to its multifunctional, energy-saving and environmental design – saving up to 10% in energy consumption than the previous generation. PCM has gNike Air Jordan 1 Mens