Steam is an integral component of food processing. It is commonly utilized for cleaning equipment, blanching and rehydrating product, sterilizing equipment and Steam-in-Place (SIP) for cleaning pipes. Three types of steam used by food processors include plant (or utility) steam; culinary steam for product or contact surface sterilization; and pure (hygienic steam) that must be free of additives and used to produce organic products. [reference: stellarfoodforthought.net]
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As experts in thermal energy systems and steam handling, TEI, with our comprehensive range of energy efficiency solutions, is a perfect fit for customers in the food processing industry, making the Food Processing Expo an excellent place for our team to exhibit.​

With more than 280 exhibitors and 2600 attendees, Food Processing Expo is the largest trade show in California devoted exclusively to food processing. The Expo brings the industry together by offering a trade show floor with exhibits featuring machinery, equipment, supplies, services and other vendors with innovative industry products. The Expo also features informative, topical educational sessions, dynamic speakers and networking events, offering something for everyone in the food processing industry. The Expo is produced by the California League of Food Producers (CLFP). [reference: Food Processing Expo website]

Exhibiting last week at the expo, Thermal Energy’s David Coletta, Area Sales Manager, Western USA, and Mike Mckissick, Area Sales Manager, Texas, had the pleasure of meeting with Plant and Technical Service Managers, Food Process and Facilities Engineers, and other professionals from hundreds of companies, and demonstrating how TEI’s solutions reduce annual plant energy costs by hundreds of thousands, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions by thousands of tonnes per year. ​

David Coletta had this to say about the expo:
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“The event was amazing and resulted in some solid opportunities. It was an ideal spot for us and the info sessions, such as “Making Energy Efficiency Programs Work for Your Operation” presented by Pacific Gas & Electric, provided insight on new developments in food process technology happening right now. If anything, the expo emphasizes how many professionals in the food industry are already familiar with our company and what our products can do for the sector.”

What TEI products can do for the food sector
TEI’s venturi orifice designed GEM steam traps, with their 100% stainless construction, are ideal for the food processing industry, and our FLU-ACE® heat recovery technology provides ideal solutions for recovering waste heat from dryers and boilers. Typical food processing applications for TEI’s solutions include: autoclaves, CO2 vaporizers, evaporators, dryers, CIP systems, starch converters, heated tanks and line drainage.

​Food for thought
Thermal Energy has already helped 570 manufacturers in the food & beverage industry, in North America and Europe, save more than $72 million in energy costs and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 760,000 tonnes.

Our clients include a leading food ingredient company who we recently commissioned us to install an innovative heat recovery system that is expected to provide the site with a utility savings of over $614,000 per year and annual carbon emissions reductions of 5,200 tonnes.

Read more about our solutions and other success studies on our food & beverage page.

Last week, Antoine Hofer, TEI’s Technical Sales Director, Quebec and Eastern Canada exhibited at the 2019 Paperweek Canada international conference for the Forest Products Industry in Canada. 

Typical paper mills use most of their energy in the drying process.  In fact, up to 80% of a paper mill’s energy can be used for drying the product. Our FLU-ACE® heat recovery technology can recover as much as 90% of the heat normally lost in the form of water. For the pulp and paper industry, TEI’s products are capable of returning natural gas savings of more than 35% while reducing mill greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20%.
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Our proprietary products that are ideal for paper mills include:

• GEM - Steam traps;
• FLU-ACE® - Direct contact condensing heat recovery; and
• DRY-REX® - Low temperature biomass drying systems.

Learn more about TEI’s sustainability solutions for the Pulp and Paper industry.