FMC FoodTech’s Proportional Gate System: Productive, Cost-Effective And Versatile

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 04, 2007 SNACKEX, BARCELONA, SPAIN, June 04, 2007 -

Innovative system delivers the goods continuously, accurately, to weigh systems.

FMC FoodTech, a leading supplier of integrated food processing systems, has introduced an innovative new proportional gate system at the SNACKEX snack food exhibition, June 3-5, 2007, in Barcelona, Spain.

“Increased productivity, cost-efficiency and versatility are built into the design of our new proportional gate system, which continuously, intelligently distributes product to weigh scales and packaging systems,” says Harry Patterson, principal engineer, FMC FoodTech. “It can provide food manufacturers with substantial savings by boosting their throughput and eliminating waste.”

Increased Productivity

Most scale feeder systems possess drop gates that open and close, and scale feeders that start and stop. The resulting gaps in the product flow and uneven product bed depths cause the scales to have to “wait” for enough product to accumulate, thereby reducing throughput.

In contrast, the new proportional gate system separates product from the main product stream, continuously distributing regulated quantities of product to each scale feeder. The proportional gate itself has a unique v-shaped opening through which allotted amounts of product is effectively fed to the scale feeders. By eliminating gaps and lags in the product flow, the proportional gate system boosts throughput and productivity.

Cost-Effective

For food processors, seasoning is one of the most costly ingredients in their operations. The advantage for the customer using on-head seasoning is that this new proportional gate system possesses several features that reduce waste associated with over- and under-seasoning the product.

By maintaining a uniform product depth, the proportional gate system reduces over and under seasoning of product. And, continuous adjustment can be made to product flow based on scale demand by adjusting scale feeder speed and proportional gate opening. Again, this reduces over- and under-seasoning product and ensures consistent product quality.

Versatility

The proportional gate system gives manufacturers greater flexibility in their operations by regulating product quantities so they match each individual scale and packaging system. By virtue of its versatility, the proportional gate system gives manufacturers greater flexibility in their food processing operations.

About FMC FoodTech

FMC FoodTech is an operating group of FMC Technologies, Inc. and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA. A market leader in the supply of technology solutions for the global food industry, FMC FoodTech offers integrated solutions across the entire food processing continuum from meat, seafood and poultry, to fruits and vegetables, beverages, juice and milk and convenience foods.

Wherever food is cooked, frozen, packaged, portioned, preserved, processed, squeezed or sterilized, FMC FoodTech provides superior technologies and services to the world's food processors–small and large. The company represents more than 30 highly respected product brand names including Frigoscandia Equipment, Stein, DSI, Citrus Systems, Food Processing Systems, FranRica, Allen Systems and PPM.

For more information on FMC FoodTech, visit the company’s Web site at www.fmcfoodtech.com.