Category Archives: Industry

Why Eco-Friendly Industrial Coatings Deserve Your Attention?

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Industrial plants and facilities have been instrumental in propelling the modernization of human society. From that pen you use to sign your cheques to the knife you use to cut fruits for breakfast – almost every object of daily use has been manufactured at a production unit.

However, despite the numerous benefits of industries, they’ve been responsible for a wide array of environmental issues, including greenhouse gas emission, global warming, and air pollution. Also, improper waste management at manufacturing plants has adversely affected biodiversity in various regions.

The good news is that today’s industrial units are becoming more aware of their environmental impact and taking various steps to reduce their carbon footprint. This change has been propelled by increasing consumer demand for sustainable business practices, as well as federal and state regulations.

But while you’re striving to reduce energy consumption and waste generation at your plant, you’re likely ignoring the crucial aspect of industrial paint. That’s right! The paint that’s used for industrial plants, machinery, and tools is a key contributor to environmental degradation.

industrial-coatings

This, in turn, has compelled manufacturers and plant managers to look for eco-friendly industrial paint options from established distributors, such as Promain Paints. But if you’re new to the world of eco-friendly industrial paint, you might be skeptical about making the switch.

Is eco-friendly industrial paint worth the cost? Is it going to have the same characteristics as traditional industrial coatings? Is it mandatory for industrial units to use eco-friendly coatings?

If you’re looking for answers to these questions, we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into the concept of industrial paints and understand their environmental impact. We’ll also explore the benefits of replacing traditional industrial paint with eco-friendly alternatives. Let’s get started.

Industrial Paint: A Closer Look

Industrial paint or industrial coating is specifically formulated for machinery, equipment, structural facilities, and end products at manufacturing plants and other industrial units. It’s also used to coat floors and other surfaces that endure the stress of heavy machinery.

Industrial paint can be in the form of a liquid, powder, or paste. When exposed to natural air, the paint gets cured and dried, thus forming a protective layer over the surface on which it’s been applied.

The primary purpose of industrial coating is to protect equipment, goods, and other substrates from physical and chemical damage. Depending on its chemical composition, the paint can also prevent the accumulation of dirt and grime. It even goes a long way to improve safety by making surfaces, such as floors, less slippery.

Typically, industrial paint comprises the following components:

  • Pigments
  • Binders
  • Solvents
  • Additives

Pigments are the chemicals or dyes that give the paint its color. Commonly used pigments include titanium oxide, iron oxide, and phthalocyanine derivatives. Binders are polymers, such as alkyd and acrylic resins, that allow the paint to adhere to the substrate and form a protective film on drying.

A solvent is a liquid that’s added to the paint to reduce its viscosity and improve its consistency so that it can be sprayed or applied with a brush. Typical solvents used in industrial paint include aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ethers, alcohols, ketones, etc.

Additives are special chemicals that give specific characteristics to the paint. Common examples of industrial paint additives include wetting agents, drying agents, fungicides, biocides, and plasticizers.

Effect of Industrial Coating on the Environment

The solvents used in industrial paint contain toxic chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs have low boiling points and react with other gases present in the air when exposed to sunlight. They’re also responsible for giving paint its characteristic smell.

Short-term inhalation of VOCs can cause a wide array of health problems, including headaches, nausea, dizziness, and skin rashes. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals can lead to serious diseases, including cancer and liver ailments, as well as damage the central nervous system.

However, the impact of VOCs isn’t restricted to health-related disorders. They also adversely affect the environment and cause air pollution. It’s because these chemicals react with nitrogen oxides present in the environment in the presence of sunlight. This, in turn, results in the formation of tropospheric or ground-level ozone.

Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant that creates smog and damages plants. It could affect the natural habitat of various animals and, in turn, destroy biodiversity. Also, it acts as a greenhouse gas, thereby contributing to global warming. That’s why increased use of conventional industrial paint is proving to be catastrophic for the environment.

The Search for Eco-Friendly Options

The harmful effects of industrial coating have forced manufacturers to look for environmentally-friendly alternatives. Eco-friendly industrial paint usually contains special solvents that emit negligible or very low amounts of VOCs into the air.

industrial-valve

The biggest benefit of using eco-friendly paint is that it helps you comply with the environmental regulations in your area. The Environmental Protection Agency has outlined specific limits for VOC emissions in different regions. Non-compliance with these regulations could result in legal ramifications.

Also, many eco-friendly paints are formulated to be more durable. Some of them are even made using bio-renewable or post-consumer waste raw materials. This further reduces the environmental impact of your unit and takes you a step closer to creating sustainable business operations.

What other steps are you taking to minimize the environmental impact of your business? Share your suggestions in the comments section below.

Innovative Reasons to Try the Aerospace Field

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Most people would be surprised to learn that many of the technological advances we enjoy today came from the field of aerospace engineering. Calculators and non-stick pans, for example, were both initially created to aid in space flight. While the focus of aerospace engineering is on aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems, hundreds of the innovations created in this field eventually make their way into earthly technology. Home appliances, farming equipment, communication devices, medical instruments, and more have all benefited from the innovations generated in space programs.

benefits of aerospace engineering

A Career in Aerospace Engineering

If you have a desire to make a positive impact on the universe and life on earth by creating innovative technologies, then aerospace engineering may be a great career path to explore. This job field will allow you the opportunity to shape the future by having a direct hand in designing and developing equipment that will improve life for others.

Pursuing a degree in this field might be easier than you think. Interested candidates can apply for their aerospace engineering masters online and choose a program track that aligns with their specific interests and goals. Led by world-renowned professors and experts in the field, you will become an expert in a high-demand industry as you prepare to step into a promising and expanding career.

Sustainability and Innovation

Thanks to improved technology and innovation, today’s aircraft are 80% more fuel efficient than it was in 1960. Still, when it comes to reducing the carbon footprint and harmful emissions released by aircraft, there is much work to be done. Although the aerospace industry has prioritized sustainable practices by focusing on more efficient operations, new technologies, improved infrastructure, and global measures for aviation emissions, the impact of human demand has created an ongoing challenge.

Currently, there are initiatives looking to dramatically reduce aircraft emissions by replacing standard fuel with electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered options. Now is an exciting time to enter the field of aerospace to apply your knowledge and creativity toward groundbreaking developments.

Emerging Trends

The aerospace industry has been evolving for decades and seems to be growing at a more rapid pace than ever before. With increasing interest by entrepreneurs, investors, and multiple outside companies, the opportunities for advancements are at an all time high. Some of the latest trend developments include decarbonization, autonomous flight systems, improved software systems, opportunities in the space market, and digital thread and smart manufacturing.

Each of these areas of design and development requires an enormous amount of studying, testing, financing, and human led innovation. As technology continues to improve, we will have the ability to change the entire landscape of the space and aircraft industry. As it has since the beginning, these innovations will also greatly impact everyday life for those on planet earth.

A Profitable Industry

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for qualified aerospace engineers is $122,000 per year. Being a part of one of the most profitable industries in the world while helping to connect others through new technologies in communication, flight, and security is an amazing opportunity to make a powerful and lasting impact.

Things to Know About the Aerospace Industry

Depending on your personal interests and skills, you can choose from a variety of specialty fields within the industry. Oftentimes, aerospace engineers become experts in one of two types of engineering: astronautical or aeronautical. Going even further, there are numerous disciplines in each of these fields that can be further explored and specialized in. For example, engineers can specialize in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, flight mechanics, and guidance and control systems, to name a few.

Make a lasting impact

As mentioned, the work of an aerospace engineer goes far beyond the skies. Because of the developments in technology, we are able to enjoy many benefits here on earth. During the process of solving technical challenges related to space or aircraft, new discoveries are made about how to improve living conditions for all people.

For example, sensors and drones can collect critical data for farmers about their crops, soil, livestock, and equipment. This information can be used to adjust practices and materials in order to reduce waste, increase yield, and improve planning.

While some may view the work of those in the aerospace industry as a distraction from real problems on earth, we have seen the positive impact this work has had on everyday living conditions. Better and safer equipment, more efficient tools and systems, and solutions to growing problems such as poverty and hunger are all possible because of the innovations in aerospace engineering.

Everything You Need to Know About Carbon Black

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Carbon Black is a commercial form of solid carbon that is manufactured in highly controlled processes to produce specifically engineered aggregates of carbon particles that vary in particle size, aggregate size, shape, porosity and surface chemistry. Carbon Black typically contains more than 95 % pure carbon with minimal quantities of oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen.

In the manufacturing process, Carbon Black particles range from 10 nm to approximately 500 nm in size. These fuse into chain-like aggregates, which define the structure of individual Carbon Black grades.

What is Carbon Black

Carbon Black is used in a diverse group of materials in order to enhance their physical, electrical and optical properties. Its largest volume use is as a reinforcement and performance additive in rubber products.

In rubber compounding, natural and synthetic elastomers are blended with Carbon Black, elemental sulphur, processing oils and various organic processing chemicals, and then heated to produce a wide range of vulcanized rubber products. In these applications, Carbon Black provides reinforcement and improves resilience, tear-strength, conductivity and other physical properties.

Carbon Black is the most widely used and cost effective rubber reinforcing agent (typically called Rubber Carbon Black) in tire components (such as treads, sidewalls and inner liners), in mechanical rubber goods (“MRG”), including industrial rubber goods, membrane roofing, automotive rubber parts (such as sealing systems, hoses and anti-vibration parts) and in general rubber goods (such as hoses, belts, gaskets and seals).

Applications of Carbon Black

Besides rubber reinforcement, Carbon Black is used as black pigment and as an additive to enhance material performance, including conductivity, viscosity, static charge control and UV protection. This type of Carbon Black (typically called Specialty Carbon Black) is used in a variety of applications in the coatings, polymers and printing industries, as well as in various other special applications.

Actually, after oil removal and ash removal processing from tire pyrolysis, we can get high-purity commercial carbon black, which can be used to make color masterbatch, color paste, oil ink and as addictive in plastic and rubber products. Besides, after activation treatment, the carbon black will become good materials to produce activated carbon.

In the coatings industry, treated fine particle Carbon Black is the key to deep jet black paints. The automotive industry requires the highest black intensity of black pigments and a bluish undertones.

Carbon Black has got a wide array of applications in different industries

Small particle size Carbon Blacks fulfill these requirements. Coarser Carbon Blacks, which offer a more brownish undertone, are commonly used for tinting and are indispensable for obtaining a desired grey shade or color hue.

In the polymer industry, fine particle Carbon Black is used to obtain a deep jet black color. A major attribute of Carbon Black is its ability to absorb detrimental UV light and convert it into heat, thereby making polymers, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, more resistant to degradation by UV radiation from sunlight. Specialty Carbon Black is also used in polymer insulation for wires and cables. Specialty Carbon Black also improves the insulation properties of polystyrene, which is widely used in construction.

In the printing industry, Carbon Black is not only used as pigment but also to achieve the required viscosity for optimum print quality. Post-treating Carbon Black permits effective use of binding agents in ink for optimum system properties. New Specialty Carbon Blacks are being developed on an ongoing basis and contribute to the pace of innovation in non-impact printing.

Here’s What To Expect With Your First Environmental Inspection

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An environmental inspection gives the organization crucial information that will help it create a successful program for ongoing environmental improvement. All investigations, from on-site visits to data gathering and analysis, are taken into account to control their environmental impact. It also assists in finding ways to improve waste management, and eventually comply with environmental laws. The process may seem daunting if you are a business owner undergoing an environmental inspection for the first time. Here is a brief guide to the entire environmental inspection process to calm your nerves.

environmental inspection process

Steps in Environmental Inspection

Environmental inspections cover various domains. Although the procedure may differ slightly, the standard process of an environmental inspection follows 7 steps. These are:

1. Planning

  • Defining The Context

It’s crucial to establish the inspection plan’s context. According to the mission’s goals, statutory tasks, and competencies, the inspection authorities determine the mission’s scope according to the context. Setting the backdrop is crucial to focus on the dangers that must be examined.

  • Establishing Priorities

Conducting a risk analysis is crucial to preparing for an environmental inspection. Priorities are established by determining the hazards associated with the various installations and activities at the inspected facility. The risk level is then categorized into high, medium, and low risk.

  • Settings Goals And Objectives

The inspection’s goals can be decided upon once the priorities have been established. Performance indicators should be used to keep track of the output and outcomes to determine whether these goals can and will be met. Compliance with relevant environmental regulatory requirements is always one of the goals.

  • Planning And Review

Based on the preceding processes, the inspection plan and schedule are established. The strategy, the objectives, and the pertinent conditions under which the inspection is to be conducted are all covered in depth in the plan. On the other side, the schedule contains the logistical information on the inspection and the appointed inspector(s).

2. Framework And Protocols

The framework for the inspection activities is established in this step. It is crucial to guarantee that the investigation will be conducted efficiently, expertly, and consistently. At this time, working guidelines and protocols are created.

3. Execution

Activities designed to confirm compliance are included  to carry out the inspection efficiently, and in accordance with the protocols established in the earlier steps. Everything is carried out in accordance with the protocols established in the earlier steps. A searchable database contains all the details of the inspection activities, findings, and follow-ups. The inspector(s) conclude their inquiry by issuing a report in which all the information and earlier reports are examined and analyzed.

How To Pursue A Career In Environmental Management

4. Performance Analysis

Performance analysis enables the inspecting authority to determine whether goals and targets have been met and to report either internally or externally. Performance indicators show which methods and tactics are most effective in ensuring compliance and whether the inspection authority is carrying out its duties. The data provided in this stage can be used to analyze the inspection plan and potentially generate reports for usage by outside parties.

How Can UAV Benefit Inspections?

Drone technology offers access and insight that some individuals are unable to obtain on their own. There are several ways that UAVs benefit the environment. Besides wildlife conservation and reporting climate change, drones are quite helpful for gathering inspection data. The ability to gather data provides the opportunity to make more informed decisions. Drones primarily record, monitor, and take images of what is going on in the environment. Several organizations, like soar consulting, are now actively utilizing UAV technologies for environmental inspection.

Final Thoughts

Conducting an environmental inspection can reveal the precise state of an organization’s compliance with environmental laws. This enables proactive businesses to anticipate new regulations and set up businesses in accordance with the established regulations and compliances.

Why Procurement is the Hottest New Realm for Tech Investors?

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More than ever before, investing in sublime software-company-based valuations is paramount, especially for businesses that have different distribution cycles and those that have also intensified their asset ownership.

The same applies to tech investors who for the past few years have been overreaching in finding the optimal solutions for not only analysis but in transforming operations in the most sensitive areas of their work.

With that in mind, is procurement the next big thing for tech investors? Is procurement the hottest new realm for investors to eye? Let’s take a gander at a few reasons why it indeed is.

Why Procurement Tech Is So Popular

Understanding Procurement

Before you jump on the bandwagon, you must understand what the term procurement means. In layman’s terms, procurement involves the processes included in preparation, processing incoming demands, and the end processes of approving payments.

You can also define it as the process or steps taken when obtaining goods, services, equipment, and everything in between. And in the modern world, what used to be a rather lengthy and sometimes complicated process has been eased by, if you guessed right, procurement technology!

Why Procurement Tech Is So Popular Right Now

From data analytics to cloud-based software, process automation, and self-service portals, a diverse range of technology tools are currently being used to make procurement processes and cycles flawless. Below are some compelling reasons why tech investors should consider giving the procurement industry a try.

1. Analysis and Budgeting

If you are heading a tech department, you must analyze your company’s needs. This allows you to strategically define the key areas that might need more funding in terms of acquiring services/materials as the key components in helping you realize the company’s bottom line.

With this perhaps being one of the key areas considered by procurers and intermediaries, a lot of companies are relying on analytical software to help gather data and make their budgets.

2. Strategic Sourcing

After you’ve clearly defined your goals, you’ll need to identify suppliers who at a considerable cost will provide you with high-quality products. Price and product comparison are crucial elements that shouldn’t be ignored. Many companies rely on various tech tools for this.

3. SRM – Supplier Relationship Management

This is an important stage in procurement as it helps prevent issues to do with delays and quality drops. This stage allows you to closely monitor products and services, communicate with both suppliers and clients, and in evaluating your innovative projects. Various tools exist as well to help individuals and companies in this stage of procurement.

How Trends Impact Procurement

As industries keep evolving, so are the technologies and processes involved. The area for procurement today revolves around data. The systems and methodologies used in yesteryears cannot be termed to be as effective. There were flaws, delays, and not to mention lack of clear-cut strategies.

Thankfully, a great deal of technological advancements has been seen in the procurement industry over the past couple of years. Today, there are tons of tools designed to streamline your procurement processes so you can refocus on other areas of business that scale your revenues and profit.

How Trends Impact Procurement

Data Visibility

The modern systems and tools used in procurement have helped procurement departments in diversified industries to have ease of access to information, bring order to data management, and in extraction and analysis of data.

Risk Management

This is an important aspect in just about any business. In procurement, however, this has been by evaluating the risks involved in data and information exposure. Over the past few years, the cumulative risks involved have been greatly reduced and the rewards exponentially increased.

Sustainability

In a world where almost every process in business seems to be centered on sustainability, you can expect nothing less in procurement processes. There’s more focus on the implications procurement has on social and environmental levels.

Now, even as businesses continue to outsource their procurement activities, one thing remains constant. Most companies want to keep costs down while focusing on strategic growth, and procurement tech tools allow them to do just that.

With the above pointers in mind, it is easy to see why procurement is among the hottest realms right now for those interested in tech investments.

Innovative Technologies to Help a Start-Up in Beverage Industry

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For businesses trying to make a name for themselves in the beverage industry, the challenges are vast and varied. Yes, the sector can be a profitable one – it’s predicted that the global market will be worth $1.86 trillion by 2024 – but that does not mean there are any guarantees of success.

There are a wide range of difficulties facing start-ups of all kinds, and being able to make an impression within the drinks industry is certainly no different. Of course, not every enterprise will start out hoping to become the next Coca Cola, Heineken or Starbucks, but having a solid business plan and a clearly defined set of goals is likely to offer a greater chance for success.

Part of that planning involves identifying which tools and processes are going to help your organisation compete against its rivals. Advances are being made all the time, but which technologies might be most effective in launching a beverage business. Read on to know more:

tech-in-beverage-industry

1. Flow-through systems

Automated systems can prove invaluable in terms of streamlining the processes of sorting, packaging, labelling and distributing produce. Flow-through systems utilise robots to do the vast majority of this work, using proximity sensors in order to detect the presence of other objects and repeat the same movements. Operating in this way can help to reduce the risk of human error while simultaneously lowering running costs and increasing productivity and efficiency.

2. Industrial Internet of Things

This is where devices in an industrial setting are connected on a network in order to communicate with one another. The IIoT can enable machines involved in the manufacturing process to log data and identify any faults in the production line, which means each drink is turned out to a greater level of consistency.

3. Voice technology

Another development that is assisting beverage businesses – and those in other industries – is the emergence of voice technology. Warehouse operators can now harness this concept to issue voice commands that will be picked up by the relevant pieces of machinery, which subsequently carry out the action. This means tasks can be completed in a safer, more time-efficient manner, while it also makes training of new employees easier in that there are fewer manual skills for them to learn.

4. NFC tags

Moving away from the manufacturing side of the business, near field communication (NFC) tags can help to improve the customer experience once the product has been put to market. NFC technology is what’s used in contactless payment devices, and the concept has been adapted by the beverage industry in order to add another dimension to the product that consumers purchase.

They can be added to the label or packaging and scanned with a smartphone to unlock a range of additional information about the drink.

5. Cloud service

For businesses in any field, the challenge of data storage is one that can be difficult to overcome. Giants of the industry will have the available resources to own and run their own infrastructures, but others may not be in a position to do so or may wish to focus their spending in different areas.

As a solution, there are cloud service providers who offer products such as Virtual Desktop or Azure Virtual Desktop with rented access to certain software at a lower cost, which frees up funds for beverage companies to commit more capital towards the likes of R&D, production and marketing.

4 Tips On How Smart Manufacturing Can Reduce Environmental Impact

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Manufacturing accounts for a massive portion of global carbon emissions, almost a quarter of direct global carbon emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency reports a 23 percent contribution from manufacturing companies in the United States. Varying factors drive this output, but there could be a way businesses could lessen their environmental impact.

Smart manufacturing improves many of these problem areas, leading to better environmental results. Here are four ways smart manufacturing could make a splash by lessening its environmental impact.

How Smart Manufacturing Could Lessen Environmental Impact

How Smart Manufacturing Could Lessen Environmental Impact

Global climate change has evolved into one of the most prominent concerns around the world today. The connection between manufacturers and global climate change is undeniable, leading to understandable concern in worldwide industrialization and economic development.

The manufacturing industry isn’t going anywhere, so changes need to be made. Smart manufacturing can repair and improve areas that affect environmental impact, allowing facilities to remain efficient, productive, and cost-effective without sacrificing the environment.

1. Reducing Production Waste

Many facilities produce enormous amounts of waste every year. By reducing waste output, intelligent technologies can minimize the environmental effect. There are a few ways to implement innovative technology toward lessening production waste:

  • Adopt lean manufacturing to reduce waste production with assured quality.
  • Implement an advanced manufacturing process to minimize wasted material used to make a product. 3D printing is an excellent way to reduce production waste.
  • Incorporate automation in certain areas of the process to minimize the dependence of the process on human intervention. Automated devices can reduce the regularity of human error and defection, resulting in less waste.
  • Utilize greener cleaning materials with water- and bio-based cleaners to reduce water waste.

2. Improved Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is another significant piece of the puzzle. A facility can become more energy efficient in varying areas by incorporating greener, high-end equipment designed to reduce energy consumption in specific tasks.

Additionally, internet-connected sensors can improve the performance of energy management systems, allowing facilities to reduce their energy consumption without impacting production. Intelligent scheduling and AI can also help in the efficiency process, whether at the base equipment level or covering the entire supply chain. IoT-consulting services can enable industrial manufacturing systems to be more intelligent.

robotics in sustainable manufacturing

3. Working Toward Sustainability

Sustainability is a critical factor in reducing a facility’s environmental impact. Facilities can incorporate remanufacturing to restore damaged or defective products to full functionality, allowing the product to become useable again and reducing waste.

Reconfigurable manufacturing, although initially designed to improve responsiveness to a fluctuating market, can help facilities improve and manage wastewater and emissions via system reconfiguration.

4. Adjusted Manufacturing Processes

Changing the nature of the beast is one of the most promising ways to lessen environmental impact. Facilities could switch from a chemical to a physical or biological process, reducing emissions. Additionally, facilities can directly use smart technologies to reduce specific emissions from industrial processes, such as GHG emissions.

Greener inputs can replace traditional forms of energy, such as fossil fuels, which are rapidly depleting and produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct. Alternative renewable energies, such as hydrogen, biobutanol, and bioethanol, could replace fossil fuels.

Bottom Line

Smart manufacturing has the potential to improve manufacturing drastically. It could be the way of the future, increasing sustainability, productivity, and cost-efficacy to reduce environmental impact.

Top 5 IoT Use Cases For Smart Machine Manufacturers

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The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term that has been thrown around a lot lately, but what does it actually mean? The Internet of Things refers to the interconnectedness of devices and things. This could be anything from your refrigerator telling you when you’re out of milk to your car automatically ordering new tires when they start to wear down. This blog post will discuss 5 different use cases for IoT in the smart machine manufacturing industry. Most IoT consulting services will include the following recommendations and/or use cases for the aforementioned industry:

use cases for IoT in the smart machine manufacturing

1. Remote monitoring of machines

IoT sensors can monitor machines’ performance in real-time, identify issues, and schedule repairs before problems cause downtime. This can help to improve the uptime of machines, as well as reduce the need for manual inspection and maintenance.

Additionally, remote monitoring can also be used to track the usage of machines and predict when they will need to be replaced. As a result, IoT-enabled machine monitoring can help improve manufacturing operations’ efficiency and productivity.

2. Automated inventory management using RFID tags

Smart machines can be equipped with RFID tags to automatically track inventory levels and trigger replenishment orders when stock levels run low. This can help reduce the time needed for manual inventory checks and prevent stockouts that can cause production delays.

Additionally, automated inventory management can help identify opportunities for cost savings by optimizing stock levels and reducing waste. As a result, RFID-based inventory management can be a valuable tool for manufacturers looking to improve their supply chain management.

3. Creation of virtual prototypes for testing

One of the top IoT use cases for smart machine manufacturers is the creation of virtual prototypes. Manufacturers can create accurate models of their machines using sensors and other connected devices. These models can then be used to test various scenarios and compare different designs. This helps to optimize the manufacturing process and ensure that the final product meets all the necessary requirements. Additionally, it can help reduce the need for physical prototyping, saving both time and money.

4. Workforce efficiency

IoT can help smart machine manufacturers to become more efficient in several ways. For example, by connecting machines to the internet, manufacturers can remotely monitor performance and diagnose any issues quickly and easily. In addition, IoT-enabled devices can share data with humans, allowing for more informed decision-making. As a result, IoT can help manufacturers to reduce downtime, increase productivity, and save on costs.

In addition, IoT can also be used to improve safety in the workplace. By connecting devices to each other and to the internet, manufacturers can create a safe environment for their employees by monitoring conditions and responding quickly to any potential hazards.

5. Quality control

In the era of Industry 4.0, more and more manufacturers are looking to adopt smart machines to improve quality control. By using IoT technology and tools, manufacturers can collect data on factors such as material usage, machine utilization, and production line efficiency. This data can then be analyzed to identify areas of improvement.

Additionally, by incorporating IoT-enabled sensors into machines, manufacturers can gain real-time insights into the quality of their products. This allows for quick corrective action to be taken in case of a problem, ensuring that only high-quality products leave the factory floor. As a result, IoT-enabled smart machines can help significantly improve the quality control process for manufacturers.

Waste Management in the Food Processing Industry

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Food processing industry around the world is making serious efforts to minimize by-products, compost organic waste, recycle processing and packaging materials, and save energy and water. The three R’s of waste management – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – can help food manufacturers in reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and reusing waste.

EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy

EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy is an excellent resource to follow for food processors and beverage producers as it provides the guidance to start a program that will provide the most benefits for the environment, society and the food manufacturer.

Notably, landfill is the least favored disposal option for waste generated in food and beverage producers worldwide. There are sustainable, effective and profitable waste management options including:

  • making animal feed,
  • composting to create nutrient-rich fertilizer,
  • anaerobic digestion to produce energy-rich biogas,
  • recycling/reusing waste for utilization by other industries,
  • feeding surplus food to needy people

Waste Management Options

Food manufacturers has a unique problem – excess product usually has a relatively short shelf life while most of the waste is organic in nature. Food waste created during the production process can be turned into animal feed and sold to goat farms, chicken farms etc. As far as WWTP sludge is concerned, top food manufacturers are recycling/reusing it through land application, anaerobic digestion and composting alternatives.

Organic waste at any food processing plant can be composted in a modern in-vessel composting and the resultant fertilizer can be used for in-house landscaping or sold as organic fertilizer as attractive prices.

Another plausible way of managing organic waste at the food manufacturing plant is to biologically degrade it in an anaerobic digester leading to the formation of energy-rich biogas and digestate. Biogas can be used as a heating fuel in the plant itself or converted into electricity by using a CHP unit while digestate can be used as a soil conditioner. Biogas can also be converted into biomethane or bio-CNG for its use as vehicle fuel.

Items such as cardboard, clean plastic, metal and paper are all commodities that can be sold to recyclers Lots of cardboard boxes are used by food manufacturers for supplies which can be broken down into flat pieces and sold to recyclers.

Cardboard boxes can also be reused to temporarily store chip packages before putting them into retail distribution boxes. Packaging can be separated in-house and recovered using “jet shredder” waste technologies which separate film, carton and foodstuffs, all of which can then be recycled separately.

Organizing a Zero Landfill Program

How do you develop a plan to create a zero landfill program or zero waste program in food and beverage producing company? The best way to begin is to start at a small-level and doing what you can. Perfect those programs and set goals each year to improve. Creation of a core team is an essential step in order to explore different ways to reduce waste, energy and utilities.

Measuring different waste streams and setting a benchmark is the initial step in the zero landfill program. Once the data has been collected, we should break these numbers down into categories, according to the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge and identify the potential opportunities.

For example, inorganic materials can be categorized based on their end lives (reuse, recycle or landfill).  The food and beverage industry should perform a waste sort exercise (or dumpster dive) to identify its key streams.

Nestlé USA – A Case Study

In April 2015, Nestlé USA announced all 23 of its facilities were landfill free. As part of its sustainability effort, Nestlé USA is continually looking for new ways to reuse, recycle and recover energy, such as composting, recycling, energy production and the provision of safe products for animal feed, when disposing of manufacturing by-products.

Employees also work to minimize by-products and engage in recycling programs and partnerships with credible waste vendors that dispose of manufacturing by-products in line with Nestlé’s environmental sustainability guidelines and standards. All Nestlé facilities employ ISO 14001-certified environmental management systems to minimize their environmental impact.

Recommended Reading: Renewable Energy from Food Recycling

The Role of Bioengineering in Sustainable Food Supply Chain

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Every year, the production of food around the world accounts for almost a third of all global emissions of greenhouse gases. Deforestation, grazing livestock, and the use of fertilizers all contribute to climate change. Finding ways to minimize the damage that food production causes is becoming a priority in the fight against global warming. In addition, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that every year, the world produces enough food waste to feed 2 billion people.

To address these problems, the field of bioengineering has found ways to recycle scrap food, reduce the amount thrown away, and find alternative ways to produce sufficient food to feed the world more sustainably and with less waste.

sustainability-food-supply-chain

Engineering Sustainable Food

A degree in bioengineering, or a masters in biomedical engineering online, involves the study of a range of scientific fields from computational biology and physiological systems to mechanical engineering and material sciences. This multidisciplinary approach lends itself well to improving the sustainability of food production. For many years, the genetic engineering of plants has created the potential of increasing production in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way, and more recently, progress has been made in creating synthetic meat.

Now, without the use of genetic engineering, biomedical engineers have created the first bioprinted steak from cattle cells. The qualities of real meat are replicated by allowing living cells to grow and interact in the same way as they would in nature. The result is the creation of an authentic-tasting steak produced without the extensive environmental damage caused by farming livestock.

Converting Food Into Fuel

Every year in the US alone, 80 billion pounds of food is thrown away without being eaten. An increasing number of scientific projects are working on harnessing the valuable energy from food waste and converting it into renewable fuel. This can then be used to power a range of vehicles from privately owned cars to planes and trains.

In communities where food waste is collected along with other recyclable materials, anaerobic digestion can also be used to convert the high fat content of food waste into green electricity, which is put back into the grid to power households.

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Reducing Food Waste

Some food scraps are unavoidable, but now bioengineering is being applied to reduce some of the waste from over consumerism. Shoppers often buy excess food and leave fresh fruit and vegetables to go mouldy before they are eaten. Using plant derived-technology, the protective peels of fruit and vegetables can now be enhanced, allowing them to stay fresh for triple the amount of time of regularly grown produce. As the freshness of the products is protected for longer, the logistical costs of a strictly controlled refrigerated supply chain are reduced, and in the long-term, food waste is minimized.

As it exists at the moment, the food supply chain is environmentally damaging. From growing meat in a lab to extending the lifespan of fresh food, bioengineers are now finding ways to improve sustainability in food production.