From motor vehicle parts to plastic products to chemicals and electronic instruments, the United States spreads its top manufacturing industries far and wide.

 A quick glance will tell you that the West Coast owns electronics, food processing is big in the Great Plains, a good chunk of transportation manufacturing occurs in the Midwest and South, and the East Coast is sprinkled with healthcare-related operations, plastic products and electronics. However, there are a few surprises to discover. Read on.

Who knew that both Hawaii and New York are known for bakeries and tortillas? Or in Vermont, that semiconductor and electronic component operations employ more people than dairy product operations?

Other manufacturing realities might not surprise you. Alaska leads seafood product preparation and packaging? Hello, Alaskan King Crab Legs. California leads semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing? We see you, Silicon Valley. Michigan’s pumping out the most motor vehicle parts? Rev your engines, Motor City.

There were 16 states where animal slaughtering and processing appeared in the top three manufacturing categories, 15 states where electronic instruments were in the top three manufacturing categories, and 14 states where plastic products were in the top three manufacturing categories. 

Manufacturing plays a vital role in supporting jobs in a core group of states in the upper Midwest and South. The top 5 states ranked by manufacturing’s share of total state employment are: Indiana 17%, Wisconsin 16%, Iowa 14%, Michigan 14%, and Alabama 13%.

After the Industrial Revolution, mass production of goods led to mass consumption in a necessary way. With factory made goods now accessible and affordable across the country and around the world, the quality of life vastly improved for countless people, elevating our agrarian culture to a global commercial one. In the modern world, there is room for both factory made and handmade, where artisanal can live beside industrial. Check out the differences between the two approaches below.

Though handmade might seem always like the better bet, cost is a major factor in modern consumption. The cost of crafting all the elements that go into modern life is impossible—not at the scale modern society demands. A 20 to 24 piece set of handcrafted silverware costs approximately $426, whereas a factory made set costs only $20. Similarly, handmade plates can run $40 per plate, or $3.50 when purchased at a mass-marketed store. At that price, you can afford to break a few without worry of breaking the bank for a replacement.

Besides being cost-effective, factory made items are also time-effective. While the high quality of proper craftsmanship cannot be discounted, one cannot ignore the length of time it takes for one person to personally make an item. For example, it would take a skilled seamstress or tailor using an old-fashioned hand loom approximately five-and-a-half hours to make a pair of jeans. Considering that 520 million pairs of jeans are sold each year—in the US alone—it would take 1,000 seamstresses and tailors, working 12 hours a day for 365 days each year, for 652 years, to equal the factory output of one year of jeans.

Factory made mass production does not just affect the time it takes to create something, but also to maximize the time allotted to produce. For instance, the harvest window for corn in the US is roughly 60 days. Currently, it takes about 290 man-hours to harvest and shuck 1 hectare of corn by hand. (1 hectare is equal to 2.47 acres.) That doesn’t seem so impossible… until you consider that there are 39 million hectares of corn grown in the US each year. Corn is a foundational ingredient in not only our food processing but also in our livestock feed, and is an agricultural keystone in our economy. To harvest what is necessary to keep the corn industry sustainable would simply not be possible without the heavy lifting of machinery and automation.

The good news is we don’t have to choose between the two approaches. There is room in our world for both the necessity of factory made items and the artisanal craftsmanship of handmade items. Being selective about where our time, money, and energy is channeled can help both sides of the production industry thrive together.

SOURCES:

Products advertised on brand and retail websites including: Express, Amara, Overstock, Zappos, Barneys, Food52, World Market, Target, Walmart, Williams Sonoma, Etsy, Kitchen Collection, JR Cigars, Thompson Cigar, Toyota, Lichty Guitars, Guitar Center, Denims and Jeans, and Dreyfuss and Co.

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http://www.huddersfieldbespokecloth.co.uk/how-many-meters-15-w.asp

https://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/articles/intj_07_83_1.pdf

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http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_15.html_mfd

So many things in life have become more efficient thanks to more automated technology. Take word processing, for instance, and just think of how much faster it is to type a letter on computer rather than hand write it out the old fashioned way. Think of how much faster and more efficient it is to send an e-mail than to mail one via the postal service. These increased efficiencies can't be disputed - and these increased efficiencies don't just impact our daily personal lives, but industry as well.
Case in point (no pun intended) is when it comes to case packing - there's the manual way of doing it and the automatic way of doing it. Case packing is essentially the process of placing packaged product into corrugated cases so that they can be transported to the end user or stores for placement. We probably don't need to tell you how much faster it is to purchase automated equipment for your facility to carry out this work. This post will take a closer look at automated case packing equipment, the types of equipment and just what they can do to increase your efficiency and take your business to that next level.
Why Use Automated Packing?
As we noted in the opening, automated case packing can increase the efficiency and productivity of your packing operations in your facility - characteristics that represent the big payoff behind this technology. There are many reasons why a plant manager might elect to bring automated packing into their plant. These reasons may include:
• Attempting to transition from a small or medium sized company to a large one without significantly adding more labor (i.e. wanting to add a third shift, for example.)
• Feeling the pinch of higher labor costs and bringing in technology to help curb this. And yes, while purchasing this type of equipment comes with a high cost, most companies can recoup these upfront costs in a matter of months due to the increase in efficiency.
• The desire to create a safer, more sustainable working environment - as automated packing equipment enhances safety in the workplace and also helps minimize scrap and waste.
Types of Automated Case Packers
Having trouble deciding what type of automated case packer is right for your facility's operations? There are four main types of case packing technologies to choose from. Here is a closer look at each of them:
• Top load case packers: Fitting to the name, top load case packers load items through the top of an RSC, or regular slotted carton, wraparound or other sort of case. Many top load case packers have multiple stops throughout the line, allowing packagers to fill multiple layers or types of products at various load stations. Most top load case packers are all-in-one machines that also have small footprints. Many even seal the cases with either glue or tape so that they're ready to leave the factory floor upon completion.
• Side load case packers: Just as how top load case packers load product into RSCs from the top, side load case packers load product in from the side. Side load case packers are ideal for confectionary, food and beverage, personal care, nutritional and pharmaceutical products, among others. Like top load case packers, side load machines also often seal the case by gluing or taping the RSCs after they've been filled. Side load case packers may also be referred to as end load packers, as some models fill product into the RSC through the end.
• Robotic case packers: In terms of footprint, robotic case packers take up the smallest overall space on the plant floor. These types of case packers are also ideal for plants that want to maximize changeovers and flexibility.
• Wraparound case packers: These machines pack product from either the side or the top of the wraparound. Like robotic packers, wraparound packers usually utilize minimal space on the plant floor. These types of packers also typically are more affordable to run, as they minimize the cost of corrugated material. Cost per unit is also normally decreased and wraparound packers offer better consistency and efficiency when it comes to palletizing.
Aside from the aforementioned four types of case packers, it's worth noting that there are also optional add-on accessories that can be installed on the equipment to make them even more efficient on the factory floor.
Benefits of Automated Case Packers
As we've mentioned regularly throughout this piece, the big benefit of automated case packing is the streamlining in efficiency of packing operations. As productivity increases, the time and labor decreases, which becomes a win-win for a plant manager. Automated case packing equipment is able to perform more repetitions in less time than it would take to do manually, and because of the streamline in efficiency, changeovers are short, there's less room for error and less waste generated as a result. What's more is that while automated case packing equipment is expensive, most plants can recoup the upfront costs in less than six months after installation due to the increase in efficiency and productivity.
While case packing machines vary in efficiency by model and style, it's not uncommon for most top load case packers to be able to handle about 10 cpm or 20 picks per minute. Side load case packers range from about 10 cases per minute to in the neighborhood of 85 cases or trays per minute. Robotic case packers are said to be the most efficient case packing device, as most have the ability to process about 100 or so packages or cases per minute. These numbers are far more efficient than what it would take to complete these operations manually - and this is even more so the case when you consider the optional add-ons that are able to make these automated case packers even more efficient.

While automated case packers have a place in terms of increasing efficiency when it comes to facility operations, it's also worth noting that these machines are expensive and can range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars in cost. While the payoff and ROI of bringing these machines in house is evident, these upfront costs may be a little too much for many businesses. That's where a quality, previously owned machine can come in handy - as you can acquire a quality machine and begin to immediately reap the benefits of such, for a used price.
For more information on automated case packing equipment, and to browse our selection of previously owned equipment, contact Bid on Equipment today.

If you head to the grocery store, you'll find a bevy of different packages. Typically, these packages are divvied up into two main categories - rigid packaging and flexible packaging. While everyone seems to have their own definition of what's considered "flexible" when it comes to packaging, generally speaking flexible packages are considered to be the plastic pouches and bags that hold products like salad, shredded cheese, snack foods, juice boxes and certain frozen items. Rigid packaging, on the other hand, is considered to be the boxes and thermoformed plastic containers that help package everything from health and beauty products to food and drinks. Clam shell packaging usually falls into the rigid packaging category, as it is usually made from either rigid plastic or paperboard. When it's created from plastic, it's usually either thermoformed or injection molded.
So just what is clam shell packaging? Specifically, it's a one-piece container, typically but not exclusively made of thermoformed or injection molded plastic, that has two halves which are folded together to protect and package a product. It utilizes a hinge of sorts to complete the open and closing action. It gets its name because it looks and operates similar to that of a clam shell - and you may be surprised at just how often you see and use clam shell packaging in your life. For instance, think of the to-go box that you get from your favorite restaurant when you're taking the rest of your meal home as leftovers - chances are the foam or paper box is a clam shell package. When you order a burger at a fast food joint, the burger may be prepared and presented to you for consumption in a clam shell box. If you buy a bunch of nails at the hardware store, they may come in a clam shell package. And when you purchase things like fresh fruit and produce at the grocery store, it's not uncommon to find things like blueberries, raspberries and strawberries packaged in plastic clam shell containers. Many other markets and industries rely on clam shell packaging, which we'll get into more throughout this piece.
Benefits of Clam Shell Packaging
Clam shell packaging wouldn't be such a common packaging option if it didn't exhibit a variety of benefits. Here's a look at some of these benefits:
• Attractive: Aside from protecting the product that it is packaging, one of the key roles of packaging is "popping" so that it stands out on the shelf and appeals to consumers. Clam shell packaging accomplishes this in a few ways. For starters, many clam shell plastic packages allow the customer to see inside the package and observe the product, and consumers prefer this transparency feature. There's also the ability to further customize and enhance the package design by inserting special graphics cards and labels into the package. It's also possible to dye the plastic to a different, more eye-popping color. Bottom line - clam shell packaging may seem simplistic in nature, but there's a lot that can be done to make it more appealing to consumers. And when part of a package's job is to appeal to consumers, this benefit is crucial.
• Good protection: Clam shell packaging also offers good product protection, a trait that has led many brands and consumer product companies to package higher-end items in them. Clam shell packages can usually be sealed or secured in some way, which helps keep products safe in the transportation of them, and many clam shell packages are also designed to prevent tampering.
• Variety: As we hinted in the opening, there are a lot of different types of clam shell packaging. We'll get into more of this variety in the next section, but know that clam shell packaging can be created around the application - and not the other way around. This helps brands put products in the packaging that is best for them. In a sense, clam shell packaging can be packaging without compromise.
Types of Clam Shell Packaging
Plastic clam shell packages are probably the most popular type of this style of package - and these packages are created either via thermoforming or injection molding. Here's a look at some of the types of clam shell packaging:
• Custom vs. Stock: Many manufacturers offer clam shell packaging either by custom package design and creation or in stock options. While stock options are cheaper than clam shells that are custom made, they may not secure and package the product as well as the alternative. Noting this, it's important for companies to weigh the pros and cons of the custom vs. stock option before making a decision.
• Box: Fitting to the name, box-like clam shell packages are box-shaped. Typically made of plastic, these packages can be used to package everything from fresh fruits to nails from the local hardware store. Large box clam shells are often used as to-go or carryout containers at restaurants.
• Rectangular: These types of clam shells area ideal for packaging more unconventionally shaped products. They can also be useful for packaging food items, such as cookies.
• Circular: Circular clam shells are best utilized for single-serve items, like sandwiches at a local deli. These types of clam shell packages often seal in some way to protect the food from premature spoilage and serve as a tamper resistance.
What Industries/Markets Use Clam Shell Packaging?
When it comes to packaging, different types of products are placed in different types of packages. However, when it comes to clam shell packaging, the markets and industries that this style serves are far-reaching. Aside from packaging a bevy of food products (it's estimated that clam shell packaging accounts for about 65 percent of the packaging when it comes to produce), clam shell packaging is also ideal for the following markets:
• Health and beauty.
• Hardware/home improvement.
• Cosmetics.
• Toys.
• Medical.
• Sporting goods.
• Electronics.
• Household goods.

One of the other big notables when it comes to clam shell packaging is that it isn't going anywhere. We already noted that clam shell packaging accounts for about 65 percent of the packaging market when it comes to produce - and this number is expected to increase about 20 percent by 2019 according to estimates from Freedonia Group, a leading market research firm. In other words, clam shell packaging is here to stay - and it's only likely to become more popular in the years to come.
For more information on clam shell packaging, and to learn more about the technologies and methods that help create this style of packaging, contact Bid on Equipment today.

In order to create certain products, a combination of blending or mixing must be administered. Whether they’re dairy products, foods or chemicals, they all typically consist of a mixture of ingredients. However, as you likely know, the aforementioned don’t become end products just by manually mixing different dry and liquid ingredients. Not only would that be inefficient, but it would also be problematic. That's where mixing and blending equipment come into play, as these machines permit processors to create large quantities of product in an efficient and accurate manner.

Powder Mixing: The Basics

Think of your home countertop blender. While you use this to process liquids - and usually not dry powders - the process is similar. To make certain drinks in the blender for instance, you're likely adding milk, fruits and more to it, then punching the button to create a homogenous end product. Powder mixers work similarly to that of your home blender, just on a much larger and more advanced scale. Just as how the blade within the home blender works as the agitator to help create the final product, there are a number of different agitators that are typically used in powder mixing equipment that are designed to perform a similar role.

Mixing can be done with all solid materials, with both solids and liquids and with gas and liquids. Below are some examples of common mixing and blending applications, as the process is one of the most demanding in several industries:

• Chemical processing: Whether it's fertilizers, specialty chemicals or both liquid and powder detergents, mixing may be the most important aspect of the chemical processing field.
• Pharmaceutical: Combining various different products to create medicine and drugs is often performed by blending for pharmaceutical purposes.
• Food: Cake mixes, rice, spices and flavoring are common examples of mixing and blending involved in food processing.

While there are many different types of mixers, there are a few broader styles that they are associated with. For instance, many mixers are classified as "continuous," as they are able to operate efficiently, and their final processed product is not limited to just batches of product. For processing plants that are aiming to improve their output or grow their operations, a continuous mixer is an absolute must have.

Shear blending and inline induction are other techniques and processes that can help with the blending of materials.

Common Powder Mixers (and Their Ideal Uses)

The end product is often only as good as the process, and it's important to note the differences in the various types of powder mixers and what applications and industries they are ideally used in. Here's a closer look at these different mixers and when they are ideally used in processing:

• Ribbon blenders: Ribbon blenders are ideal when mixing powder and granular ingredients is necessary. For this reason, these types of machines are common in the food industry, especially when it comes to processing food in bulk quantities. Ribbon blenders get their names from the pattern that describes their blades, as they resemble that of a ribbon.
• Paddle blenders: Just like ribbon blenders, paddle blenders are often characterized by the paddle-like blades that help process material. The paddles work by moving product from the bottom of the machine's trough and into the product stream. Because of the way that paddle blenders work, they're ideal for mixing product that is dissimilar in size and in shape. It's also worth noting that "hybrid" blenders exist that combine the paddle and ribbon blending styles.
• Twin shell (V-Blenders): Twin shell blenders, also commonly referred to as "V-blenders" for their V-like shape, are used to mix solids with solids and solids with liquids. The machines consist of two blending shells (one on each side of the V) that are then connected and come together at the tip of the V. Because of the V shape, twin shell blenders are able to perform very efficient blending. This is especially true when you consider the fact that the V chamber rotates as it works, which makes blending all the more thorough.
• Double cone: When it comes to blending flowing solids, double cone blenders are used almost exclusively for such purposes. Like the twin shell blender that we mentioned above, the solids that are being processed in the double cone blender are constantly mixed as the machine rotates for up to about 10 minutes a cycle. Double cone blenders are available in a variety of different sizes to allow processors to best select the unit for the application they are working to process.
• Zig zag blenders: Zig zag blenders are a style of continuous blender that's able to process liquids, solids and slurries. Designed for high volume production, zig zag blenders are ideal for gentle and more intimate processing. Zig zag blenders get their name, as the machine takes on a winding pattern to process the product inside of it.
• Nauta mixers: Nauta-style mixers are ideal for processing both solids and paste materials. These mixers are considered to be "connective" and work by gently mixing the material using only a small amount of heat. Because of the mixing style, there's little to no end product distortion. Another big advantage of the nauta mixer is that it is very economical. It uses very little power compared to the vast amount of material it is able to process at a time.

Other Blending Styles

There are a few other broad blending styles to make mention of, such as horizontal shaft mixers, tumble blenders and vertical screw mixers. Here's a brief overview of each:

• Horizontal shaft mixers: These mixing systems typically operate with either paddles or ribbons. They work, as the name implies, in a horizontal manner and are typically deployed for heavy-duty blending, such as spices, concrete and other wet and dry materials.
• Tumble blenders: Twin shell blenders are an example of a tumble blender, in that these types of mixers operate at fairly slow speeds and use diffusion for mixing solids.
• Vertical screw mixers: These types of mixers use heat and friction to help achieve the end result. Unlike horizontal mixers, these machines work vertically and these are also typically very large pieces of machinery.

What type of mixer is right for your processing facility? For more information on the various different types of powder blending equipment and accessories, and to enter your bid for a piece of quality used equipment, contact Bid on Equipment today.

When it comes to food and drink production, it's essential that processing and packaging lines are completing runs that deliver a quality, safe end product. After all, products that are contaminated and unsafe to consume or drink could hurt a brand's reputation, not to mention open a particular brand or company to legal issues.
But one common misconception when it comes to food and drink production is that it's only the end product that needs to be inspected and checked for quality control. Arguably just as important to keeping the end product contaminant free is keeping the equipment that processes the product contaminant free. Yes, the conveyor lines, packaging lines, metal detectors and more aren't immune from accruing contaminants such as harmful bacteria and more that could find their way into the end product, thereby compromising it.

So just what's the best way to keep this processing equipment clean (and safe)? While we'll get into the various ways to accomplish this later on in this post, it's first important to point out that any good cleaning, sterilization and sanitation plan in a food or beverage processing facility should include some common characteristics. These include:

• Both daily and routine cleaning, sterilization and sanitation should be practiced.
• The aforementioned practices should be monitored or supervised to ensure that it is done correctly and adequately. Additionally, the importance of these procedures should be stressed by management. In other words, this shouldn't be an afterthought; it should be a priority in any facility.
• Staff safety should also be considered when any cleaning, sterilization and sanitation plan is implemented. For instance, it's important for staff members to be properly trained and educated on whatever cleaning procedures they are carrying out in a facility.
• Failure to implement such a procedure could lead to severe ramifications.

How to Sterilize Equipment Used in Food/Drink Production
There are many different equipment components in the food and drink production line. There are conveyors, which move packaging to various filling or distribution stations. In some cases, there are even form-fill-seal machines, which essentially finalize the production and packaging process so that products can move on to shipment. Many processing lines also include the use of metal detectors, so that food and beverages can be checked to ensure they aren't carrying any harmful metal in them.
Sanitation is defined as “the process of reducing the microorganisms on a clean surface to a safe level.” This so-called “safe level” is generally thought to be a near 100 percent reduction in contaminants. With this all being said, just how is this processing equipment sterilized so that it's not potentially contributing to any likelihood of contaminated food or beverages? Here's a look at some of the most popular techniques for the cleaning and sanitization used in food and drink processing:

Radiation: This tactic involves the use of ultraviolet radiation to get rid of microorganisms, and is becoming a more and more common sterilization method used in food processing facilities. Generally, by just administering the UV light to processing equipment for 2 minutes is enough to kill all microorganisms that come into contact with them. While fast working, there are a few notable disadvantages to going the UV radiation route. One, such equipment is usually pretty expensive. And two, the UV light is usually only able to treat a small area of the processing equipment at a time.

Thermal Sanitization: As you can likely tell from the title of particular tactic, this sterilization method uses heat. That’s because under the right circumstances, heat is arguably the best way to destroy microorganisms on surfaces. However, when it comes to heat, there are three main methods of using it to sanitize food and beverage processing equipment:

1. Steam: This method uses heat in a gaseous state, as when it is applied to the surface of the processing equipment – and under the right time circumstances – steam can be a critical ally. Generally, steam needs to be at least 170 degrees Fahrenheit and be exposed to processing equipment for a minimum of 15 minutes to properly sterilize and sanitize it. At about 200 degrees Fahrenheit, steam needs to be exposed to the equipment for only about 5 minutes. One downside to using steam, however, is that steam’s condensation byproduct has been known to add complications to the cleaning.
2. Hot Water: Heat in a liquid state, as in hot water, is also a viable sanitization and sterilization method when it comes to processing equipment. Generally speaking, however, hot water must be heated to at least 171 degrees Fahrenheit to be effective in eliminating microorganisms, though higher temperatures will enable sterilization in a lesser amount of time. Depending on the process, temperatures that must be reached and times that hot water must be applied vary. The likes of circulating systems and dishwashers are commonly used for sanitizing and sterilizing equipment using hot water. Compared to the other means of thermal sanitization, using hot water is relatively inexpensive, easy and highly effective. However, being a slower process that needs a warm-up and cool-down period, it can be a bit more time consuming.
3. Hot Air: The third and final way to apply thermal sanitization is to apply hot air to the packaging equipment. The experts agree that hot air must be applied for about 20 minutes and at a temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chemical Sanitization: Last but not least, the other of the “big 3” sterilization and sanitization processes is the use of chemicals. Chemicals are a highly effective means of eliminating microorganisms from processing equipment – but only under the right conditions. For instance, in order for chemicals to work properly, the balance of chlorine, iodine and ammonium must be correct. What’s more is that there needs to also be the right concentration, temperature and contact time. As an example, when using a chemical to sanitize and sterilize, the right amount of the particular cleaning agent must be used, it needs to be used in the right temperature conditions and it needs to be applied for the appropriate amount of time to adequately work. If these standards are not met, efforts are likely to fail, thereby compromising the end food or beverage product through possible contamination.

Cleaning, sanitization and sterilization of food and beverage processing equipment isn’t something that should be taken lightly. It’s an important job that requires dedication and a high level of attention.

For more information on how to clean, sanitize and sterilize processing equipment used in food and beverage production, and for a look at said equipment that we have in stock, contact Bid on Equipment today.