Process Expo packed with innovation

CHICAGO — The 2019 PROCESS EXPO opened yesterday to the largest registered audience ever. Thousands of food and beverage professionals experienced innovative exhibits, networking opportunities, a world-class educational program. and unique show floor activities at the largest trade show dedicated to bringing the latest technology and integrated solutions to all segments of the food and beverage processing industry.

Day two promises even more highlights. The exhibit hall at McCormick Place Complex in Chicago will be open on Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. October 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Seventeen finalists in the Innovations Showcase and Awards program presented their latest cutting-edge technology and equipment to a panel of food processor judges, who selected the Most Innovative New Product winners in six categories:

• Meat, Poultry and Seafood: Foreign Material Inspection System, ProSpection Solutions
• Bakery, Grains, Seeds and Snacks: FlexFlow Precision Spray Control System, BETE Fog Nozzle, Inc.
• Prepared Foods: Grote Robotics, Grote Company
• Dairy: PP20H Pressure Sensor, Baumer
• Beverage: ThinkTop®, Alfa Laval
• Pet Foods: FoodSafe Conveyance Workshop, Commercial Food Sanitation, an Intralox Company

Schedule of events for the rest of the show is as follows:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9th

• Press Conference Breakfast – 8:30 a.m. The Food Processing Suppliers Association’s (FPSA) will announce the initiation of Food Industry Technician Certification Program. (FIT) classes being launched with Lincoln Technical Institute offering instructional training and education for prospective food and beverage industry technicians (Press Room S-401A)
• PROCESS EXPO Orientation Tour – 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. (South Hall Entrance)
• Team. USA Butchering Demonstration – 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The History Channel’s Colby Donaldson of The Butcher and Team. USA members show off their skills ahead of next year’s World Butcher’s Challenge (Booth 4618)
• Sliced Cheese Production Line Demonstrations – 10 a.m., 12 noon & 2 p.m. From the separator and HTST, all the way through to post packaging inspection, the line will produce a variety pack of cheese. Sponsored by Dairy Farmers of America (Booth 251)
• Pet Food Kibble Production Line Demonstrations – 10:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. See how dry kibble is produced in one of the fastest-growing segments of the food industry today (Booth 4324)
• Sliced Salami Production Line Demonstrations – 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. Moves from raw ingredients through the smokehouse and then slicing and packaging for the consumer (Booth 3675)
• Ground Beef Production Line Demonstrations – 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. Starts with cuts of beef and ends with the convenient packaged product you see in the supermarket (Booth 3675)
• Frozen Pizza Production Line Demonstrations – 11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. Moves from the creation of the crust through the depositing of sauces and toppings and the packaging of the finished product (Booth 2477)
• Educational Program. focused on food safety, cannabis, hygienic design, technology, automation and much more will take place in three theatres on the show floors (Booths 1677, 484 & 456)
• Networking Events will take place throughout the day including ones for Young Professionals (The Quad, Booth 1377) and the Woman’s Alliance Network (Theater II, Both 4568)
• Oktoberfest Reception – 4 to 6 p.m. This reception celebrates PROCESS EXPO partners Messe Dusseldorf, Messe Frankfurt and Messe Nurnberg. Meat industry professionals will be especially interested in connecting with our international partners. Enjoy the sounds of a Bavarian Oompha band and more! (PROCESS EXPO Beer Garden, Booth 3076)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10th

• FPSA Women’s Alliance Network Breakfast – 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. All FEMALE PROFESSIONALS at PROCESS EXPO 2019 are invited to attend this free event. Keynote Speaker: Suzanne Strassburger, “First Lady of Meat” and CEO of Strassburger Steaks (Room N427)
• DEFEAT Hunger Press Conference – 1 to 1:45 p.m.. In conjunction with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a food drive is conducted at PROCESS EXPO, with all donations and proceeds going to the Food Depository to help fight hunger in the greater Chicago area. The Foundation of the FPSA will present its contribution during the press conference in the Grand Concourse, Third Floor.
• Team. USA Butchering Demonstration – 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The History Channel’s Colby Donaldson of The Butcher and Team. USA members show off their skills ahead of next year’s World Butcher’s Challenge (Booth 4618)
• Cheese Production Line Demonstrations – 10 a.m., 12 noon & 2 p.m. (Booth 251)
• Pet Food Production Line Demonstrations – 10:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. (Booth 4324)
• Meat Production Line Demonstrations – 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. (Booth 3675)
• Frozen Pizza Production Line Demonstrations – 11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. (Booth 2477)
• Educational Program. focused on food safety, cannabis, hygienic design, technology, automation and much more will take place in three theatres on the show floors (Booths 468, 1677 & 4568).
• Networking Events will take place throughout the day including ones for Young Professionals (FPSA Booth 2848) and the Joint Food Safety and Packaging Networks (Booth 4618).

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11th

• Sliced Cheese Production Line Demonstration – 10 a.m. From the separator and HTST, all the way through to post packaging inspection, the line will produce a variety pack of cheese. Sponsored by Dairy Farmers of America (Booth 251)
• Pet Food Kibble Production Line Demonstration – 10 a.m. See how dry kibble is produced in one of the fastest-growing segments of the food industry today (Booth 4324)
• Sliced Salami Production Line Demonstration – 11 a.m. Moves from raw ingredients through the smokehouse and then slicing and packaging for the consumer (Booth 3675)
• Ground Beef Production Line Demonstration – 11 a.m. Starts with cuts of beef and ends with the convenient packaged product you see in the supermarket (Booth 3675)
• Frozen Pizza Production Line Demonstration – 11 a.m. Moves from the creation of the crust through the depositing of sauces and toppings and the packaging of the finished product (Booth 2477)
• Networking Events will take place throughout the morning including ones for Young Professionals (Theater II, Booth 4568) and the Women’s Alliance (Theater II, Booth 4568).