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Automation for the Food and Beverage Industry

In a recent Food Engineering magazine survey, respondents chose automation as a top priority for the Food and Beverage industry. Automation is the number two concern according to the survey, but it holds the key to solving almost all of the major concerns listed. For example, the survey found that the number one concern for Food and Beverage processors is efficiency and the number five concern is worker availability. Automation has proven to be a solution for both issues as one respondent commented, “Due to increasing cost of labor and increasing difficulty to find enough people to hire, automation is becoming more important. Much of the automation is also resulting in higher efficiencies as well.”

AutomationDirect has products to meet the needs of many industries, including products with IP69K ratings and those specifically designed to meet the strict requirements and tough environments of the Food and Beverage industry. So, we decided to take a closer look at how our products can be used in this strictly regulated field. Included on this page are a series of articles, videos, and other resources that may help answer questions, provide useful information and maybe even offer a solution for your automation needs.


Application StoriesCover StoriesFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationIndustryIssue 18 – 2010Notebook Issue

Powerful PAC Upgrades Tortilla Machine

Advanced automation helps Casa Herrera produce tortillas reliably, quickly and precisely. Casa Herrera builds tortilla preparation equipment for the corn and flour tortilla industry, provides equipment for the bakery and snack food industries, and is the preferred supplier to several national brands. We build several varieties of our machines to meet customer specifications, and we…
Content CollectionsFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationIndustry

AutomationDirect's Food & Beverage Idea Book

The Food and Beverage industry is a growing and changing field that’s becoming more and more reliant on automation and finding efficiencies. Click below to download our Food and Beverage book to see all of the latest trends. Topics Include:
ApplicationApplication StoriesDrivesFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationHMIIndustryMachine ControlOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable ControlVariable Speed Drives

Systems & Controls Takes Time for Tea

Systems & Controls in Lenoir City, Tennessee, was contacted by a scale manufacturing company to develop a brewed tea and coffee container filling machine using four weight transmitters, a DirectLOGIC DL-205 PLC, a RHINO power supply,  a C-more touch panel and a GS2 variable frequency drive.
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationIndustryIssue 19 – 2011Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlUser Solutions

Advanced Automation, LLC Takes Baking To The Next Level

Advanced Automation, LLC, in Riverdale, New Jersey, is an automation systems manufacturing company specializing in creating solutions for companies in need of more efficient automated processes. One such need is in the baking industry. Food associations, such as the British Retail Consortium (BRC), Safe Quality Food (SQF) and the American Institute of Baking (AIB), are…
Equipment SafetyFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationIndustryLearning ResourcesOnline BlogOnline Only

What is IP69K?

IP69K Definition IP69K is a product standard rating developed to ensure that products carrying this rating comply with required simulated environmental conditions. The most common areas requiring IP69K devices are areas where heavy washdowns are required. Therefore, IP69K rated devices are a must to prevent damage to electronic devices and instrumentation during the washdown procedures….
Food and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationIndustryProductSafety

What Does a NEMA Rating Mean?

NEMA rating is one of those standards that is at times misunderstood or even ignored. However, it is an important specification that must be considered when buying a NEMA rated product to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment. For this post, let’s use enclosures as an example of a NEMA rated product. NEMA rated…
Application StoriesFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationIndustryPLCProductProgrammable Control

Automation Helps Turn Homebrewer into Brewhouse

Automation methods used in a distillery are adapted for use in the fermentation process at a brewhouse. By: Avi Aisenberg, CEO and Proprietor at South Florida Distillers South Florida Distillers is the oldest distillery in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company is now branching out into the design business by working with 26°…
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookDrivesFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationIndustryIssue 25 – 2013Learning ResourcesMachine ControlMaterial HandlingNotebook IssuePackagingPLCProductProgrammable ControlUser SolutionsVariable Speed Drives

Automating a Donut Packaging and Labeling Line

When people hear the name Mel-O-Cream, they usually think of donuts. Founded in 1932 as a retail shop in Springfield, Ill, Mel-O-Cream International (www.mel-o-cream.com) manufactures bakery products, primarily for wholesale distribution to supermarkets and bakeries.