Beverage product innovations, processing and packaging technologies were showcased at InterBev Process on Sept. 15-18 at McCormick Place in Chicago. For the first time, the tradeshow featured three shows in one — InterBev Process, Process Expo and the International Dairy Show — and brought together more than 1,000 exhibitors and 15,000 industry professionals.

Presented by the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA), McLean, Va., and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., the tradeshow’s Process Expo University featured more than 40 hours of educational sessions that addressed critical topics, including how healthy beverage trends can bring more shoppers to the dairy case, a total plant approach to water conservation and blend optimization.

Below are highlights from InterBev Process exhibitors:

Anton Paar, Ashland, Va., showcased its new Generation M inline digital density meter that provides an integrated reference oscillator, built-in platinum thermometer and full-range viscosity correction, including filling errors or bubbles, for soft drinks, beer and other beverages. 

Axium, Montreal, featured its palletizing and depalletizing solutions, including its DP240 layer depalletizer, which yields optimal flexibility and secure product transfer using bottom-layer support technology. The end-of-arm tool, coupled with an industrial robot, can handle a wide range of products (closed caser or cartons, open trays, shrink-wrapped trays) at a rate of 240 layers an hour, the company says.

Baldor Electric Co., Fort Smith, Ark., highlighted its new Tigear-2 Ultra Kleen stainless steel reducers, which are maintenance free and require no oil changes.

Bel Ray, Farmingdale, N.J., showcased its total performance lubricants for machinery processing. Additionally, the company shared its pledge to help customers reduce their overall carbon footprint with responsible waste management and eco-friendly, partially recycled products, packing, collateral and more.

Boccard Life Sciences Inc., Sugar Land, Texas, highlighted Boclock, a process connector that enables quick connection of hoses and hook-up connections for industrial applications to transfer fluids without cross contamination. It also showcased Track Advance, a manufacturing process improvement tool to compile the parameters for production cleaning with customized data analysis to reduce material losses.

Clarion Lubricants, Houston, manufactures NSF registered, Kosher- and Halal-certified lubricants for processing and machinery applications including mineral oils, greases, hydraulic fluids and more.

Doehler North America, Cartersville, Ga., showcased prototypes for a cold-brew coffee and a mango beet root nectar fruit juice featuring 30 percent juice and natural color from black carrots sourced by Doehler.

Gusmer Enterprises Inc., Mountain Side, N.J., debuted its laboratory CO2 content measurement laser technology device that measures CO2 content in bottled carbonated waters, lemonades, beers, ciders, sparkling wines and Champagnes.

International Food Products, Fenton, Mo., showcased its dry and liquid blending products, stabilizers and flavor systems.

JBT Corp., Chalfont, Pa., highlighted its filling, closing, pasteurization and sterilization equipment. It also demonstrated its range of packaging options for thin and thick liquids. The company has further increased its aseptic processing and sterilization technologies following its July acquisition of Stork Food & Dairy Systems, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Lubriplate Lubricants Co., Newark, N.J., showcased its range of 100-percent synthetic and USP mineral oil-based NSF/H-1 registered food grade lubricants.

Markem-Imaje, Kennesaw, Ga., highlighted its line of inkjet, thermal transfer, laser and print-and-apply label systems.

Mettler Toledo LLC, Columbus, Ohio, showcased its competencies in product inspection and industrial weighing and formulation for beverage manufacturers, including sanitary equipment design, label mix-up detection and prevention, and using X-ray inspection as a critical control point.

Mettler Toledo Safeline, Tampa, Fla., highlighted its metal detection and X-ray inspection equipment, including its X36 series, which automatically detects and rejects contaminants as small as 0.4 mm, including metal, stone, glass and bone.

Miura North America Inc., Irwindale, Calif., highlighted its low NOx steam and hot water boilers, which have nitrous oxide emissions levels as low as 9ppm Nox at 3 percent. It also showcased its system-integrated water softener with new spit-flow regeneration technology and Boilermate, an eco-friendly water treatment program that reduces chemical dependency and boiler operation cost.

Mura America, Rockmart, Ga., showcased its steam boilers, water softeners and chemical water treatment processes.

Murzan Inc., Norcross, Ga., highlighted its sanitary pumps and systems for the food and beverage industries, including its clean-in-place systems.

NewAge Industries, Southampton, Pa., introduced its new Clearflo AG-47, which is composed of clear antimicrobial PVC tubing designed to protect beverage products from harmful bacteria. It is manufactured from a clear flexible Shore A74 PVC compound with microbial technology that is effective where there is infrequent use of fluids in warm conditions, the company says.

Nexosis, Columbus, Ohio, debuted its Axon Demand Forecasting, which helps solve supply chain forecasting issues using a web interface. Data feeds include historical data, economic data, promotions/sales, seasonality and more. The tool takes into account product lead time, shelf life and stock levels, which can help beverage manufacturers predict customer needs and wants.

Parker Products Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, offers a variety of beverage flavor bases for smoothies, malts, shakes, hot and cold ready-to-drink coffees and teas, fruit drinks, juices and alcohol-based drinks. It also offers sweet, fruity or savory toppings and drizzles for craft beer, sugar-based granular blends and liquid flavored mix-in ingredients.

Spirax Sarco, Blythewood, S.C., showcased its innovations in steam system management including its CSM-C 600 compact clean steam generator, which can produce a maximum of 1,275 pounds an hour of clean steam at 45 psig, depending on plant steam pressure and feed water temperature.

Stober Drives, Maysville, Ky., highlighted its gear boxes for the food processing and beverage industries. The no-maintenance-required devices require no oil changes and last for an estimated eight years.

Tufco Flooring, Siloam Springs, Ark., showcased Tufcrete, a hybrid, three-component polyurethane concrete floor that can stand up to harsh conditions, especially when thermal cycling is present, according to the company. The maintenance-free, chemical-resistant flooring compound enables the flooring to be cleaned with strong acid or caustic cleaners without damage.

Woodard & Curran, Portland, Maine, highlighted its manufacturing design and process solutions, including project and program management and design-build building, primary packaging and warehouse systems technology, and process and wastewater solutions.