Whether you’re molding chicken nuggets into fun, kid-friendly shapes or crafting the perfect meatball, you’re likely using further processing solutions to achieve a consistent end-product. Also known as “forming,” further processing is the method of adding a binder to a product and transforming it into a design or shape. While meat and poultry are common products that incorporate further processing, EnSight has also helped food processors form starches, vegetables, rice cakes, protein bars and even pet treats. No matter the final consumable you’re creating, your forming equipment should meet the demands of production without sacrificing the recipe your customers know and love.
Here are three key things food processors should consider when looking for new further processing solutions.
Texture & Recipe
Many EnSight customers prioritize the ability to maintain their product’s made-from-scratch, homestyle quality and bite while increasing operational efficiency. The EnSight Bridge line of equipment can accomplish both tasks. With more than 60 years of experience in the food processing industry, Bridge has built its legacy on engineering creative solutions that never sacrifice quality, safety or reliability. Our professionals are ready to help you integrate durable, sanitary equipment, and we can custom-design our machines to help ensure your end product stays true to the recipe your customers love.
Our customers understand that equipment isn’t cheap, so the longer they can run it, the better return on investment (ROI) they’ll gain.
And that means more than just new machines!
EnSight has also worked with a food processor seeking a replacement part to a Bridge machine they’d had for well over 50 years. After some research, the EnSight team found a drawing of the part and replicated it to ensure the customer could continue using the machine they were accustomed to, therefore raising the ROI of that machine even further.
Sanitation
One of the biggest concerns and challenges in the food industry is sanitation.
In recent years, there has been an uptick in foreign material showing up in products, resulting in recalls from major food suppliers. Selecting equipment that’s designed to mitigate contamination risks is key to preserving not only the quality of your product but your brand and reputation as well.
The EnSight team strives to stay on the cutting edge of technology regarding sanitation and hygienic design. This includes developing machines with minimal to no harborage zones, incorporating clean-in-place technology, getting rid of hollow tubes and parts when possible and using stainless steel for our control panels. To help, every EnSight food solution designer and engineer attends sanitation training to keep them up to date on the latest and greatest sanitation innovations and techniques.
Engineering & Controls
Further processing is complex at times, even requiring multiple steps to accomplish the desired final product. However, sound engineering principles combined with the performance benefits electronic controls provide advantages to your production line. These elements, when well-designed, decrease the number of team members needed, reduce equipment footprints, add consistency and repeatability in the process and improve overall safety within a facility. The EnSight team understands that making your floor as efficient as possible starts with good communication. We work with each processor to understand their processes, what they’re trying to accomplish and what their pain points may be. Our team then employs their deep knowledge and experience to craft solutions that achieve the desired end result and increase ROI.
For example, one EnSight customer required 80 employees per shift to run their facility. Through a series of conversations, design iterations and concepts, we reduced the number of team members needed to five.
While the engineering can be complex, the implementation doesn’t have to be. We work to do the heavy lifting for you by understanding the full scope of your needs to minimize your facility’s downtime. We aim to be not only your service provider but an innovative partner behind the scenes.
Do You Need Help with Further Processing Solutions?
Whether you just want to integrate a piece of equipment (even if it’s not an EnSight machine) or you’re considering a full process makeover, our professionals will work with you to address your functionality needs. Our goal is to create quality-designed machines that achieve consistent, repeatable processes and provide our customers the peace of mind that their solutions will last for years to come.
Further processing can transform your operations to create a high-quality, uniform product that stays true to your unique recipe. Contact us today to see how EnSight Solutions can help with your processing solutions.
