This 8000 lb. Mixer Blender is equipped with vacuum and CO2 injection, required for downstream forming and packaging operations.
Mepaco's Mixer Blenders are engineered to specific application parameters. These industrial mixing solutions are code-stamped and ASME rated, with high-pressure dimple or stay-bolt jackets. Cooling jackets or injection systems, like in this Mixer Blender, are also available with applicable solenoid controls, manifold, injectors and exhaust covers. Designed to produce homogeneous blends quickly and efficiently, Mepaco's Mixer Blenders provide results in increased productivity and yields.
This unit has a hatch in the cover for access to sanitation and to manually add ingredients. It also features dual paddle agitation and discharge. The interior was polished to a 32RA and the exterior is passivated.
For more information, visit Mepaco's page on Mixer-Blenders.
Now playing at the Mepaco's IPPE Booth B4853 are several system videos and 3D animations that showcase Pre-Blend Systems, Grind Blend Systems and Accumulation Systems. Mepaco's entire sales team will be at the IPPE show to answer questions on how to increase production, yields and product integrity.
Mepaco provides a custom system approach to customer plant and processing requirements that includes immediate and long-term performance goals, as well as sanitation and safety requirements. Our equipment includes grinders, mixers, blenders, vacuum pumping units, hoppers, loaders, screw and belt conveyors and dumpers.
We strive to be a strategic partner with a team of long-standing, experienced engineers and project managers who work with you on your specific application. Our equipment designs are modified to specific requirements to meet customer product, safety and sanitation goals. We are a complete SOLID WORKS 3D capable engineering design team.
Also as a strategic partner, Mepaco has in-house controls capabilities with the latest in software and device technology to bring the best results in process and material handling systems. Customers can expect UL listed industrial control panel design and assembly, as well as UL listed stainless NEMA 4 enclosures, allowing Mepaco to provide controls programming and integration with your system.
The Mepaco team understands how valuable production uptime is to your company's bottom line. We are evolving our service team to provide quick response commissioning, ramp-up, maintenance, repair, and emergency break-down support.
IPPE International Production and Processing Expo
Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta Georgia
Jan. 31 Tuesday 10am -5pm Feb. 1 Wednesday 9am - 5pm Feb. 2 Thursday 9am - 3pm
In the photo, the DP3000 is shown in different stages as the pallet is separated from the combo during the dumping process. This system reduces the risk of foreign matter getting into the food stream and contaminating the food production process.
This dumper also features liner retention which prevents the liner from separating from the combo and falling in the hopper or cart.
Watch Video In a new system video animation a similar dumper is featured at the start of the Pre-Blend line; shown with safety guarding, the PRS (Pallet Retention System) and LRS (Liner Retention System).
Designed by the Mepaco group, this system (above video) was engineered to formulate ground meats. It addresses the customer's production goals for speed, flexibility and accuracy with the utmost attention to a safe and sanitary design. In addition, the system provides efficient transfers that reduce transport time and eliminates transfer issues that result in lost yields.
Highlighted in the video animation:
Our Clean-Sweep surge loader provides added surge to aid in the turn-over of batches while its unique design eliminates product harborage and completely cleans out between batches.
The two-tier conveyor belt with integrated metal detector flips the trim for further visual inspection of contaminants.
Pivoting drop-down conveyors are designed to pivot between required processes and lower for easier sanitation.
Our overlapping paddle mixer-blenders and mixer-grinders provide a quick and accurate blend with minimal temperature rise. The dual pre-blend system is equipped with vacuum sampling capability for testing lean-point for accurate formulation.
Visit us at IPPE, Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 B4853 Georgia World Conference Center, Atlanta, Georgia
DUAL COOK SYSTEM SOLVES PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY & CAPACITY
THE CHALLEGE A multi-recipe prepared foods manufacture required an increase in cooking production and the flexibility to add more varieties of soups and sauces to their product offerings. The application required cooking and blending of viscous food product with limitations in available floor space.
THE SOLUTION The solution, provided by Mepaco, was a side-by-side ThermaBlend cooking system, sharing a maintenance and sanitation platform. This system utilizes minimal footprint and allows two different batches or doubling of batches.
THE EQUIPMENT
Column Dumper Two column dumpers are used to add ingredients to two ThermaBlend cookers. The Mepaco Column Dumper offers a very heavy-duty design and are engineered for ease of maintenance. Mepaco often makes modifications depending on the application such as column heights, dump angles to 60 degrees, dumper capacity, extended chutes, and stainless upgrade kit.
ThermaBlend Cooker In the system, there are two ThermaBlend Cookers, that support quick batch turns in their multi-recipe production needs. A versatile unit, these cookers are capable of cooking, searing, caramelizing, sautéing and blending. ThermaBlend Cookers are designed for large scale operations, featuring:
Buffering Mixer – The batches are discharged into a heated Buffering Mixer that maintains product temperature and consistency until required by downstream operations.
The Mepaco team of long-standing technical sales managers, engineers and project leaders work with customer teams on solving the best solution that fits the application and production goals. Our equipment and systems uphold increased yield performance, optimal designs for ease of maintenance and operation, single-source manufacturing capabilities, the highest sanitary equipment finishes available and vigilant compliance of food safety criteria.
With so many videos and animations added to the website, we have created a video channel just for Mepaco systems and equipment. Among the new videos are:
Visit the channel and check out the new videos!
The night shift has completed their work and the sanitation team begins flooding the process room with cleaning chemicals, water and spray to soak and sanitize every nook and cranny. And what often gets blasted away? The drain plug often goes missing. Sometimes the cleaning crew doesn’t even know it went down the drain. Sometimes the production staff starting up the next shift also doesn’t know it is missing.
Many food processing people have a similar story, so Mepaco invented a tool-less self-containing plug that is impossible to lose and easy to appreciate.
Mepaco’s plug ejects far enough to release the waste, but is restrained against a solid welded restrictive barrier that holds the plug in line, without limiting performance, or enabling escape.
Other plug designs don’t hold up to rigorous cleaning and aren’t designed to prevent the harboring of bacteria. While sanitation teams want easy to clean solutions that will pass inspection, production wants efficiency with no loss of product. Losing plugs are no longer a concern with these self-containing plugs.
In the photo are samples that we provide to customers to show the different types of finishes available in the design and manufacturing of equipment for industries that require a high degree of sanitation.
From the left:
2B Finish: Has common corrosion resistance properties, heat resistant, smooth (not brushed) steel. The RA (roughness average) is 36 to 15 depending on the gauge of the material.
#4 Finish: Is Characterized by short, polished brushed lines and is suitable for caustic wash down procedures. The RA is from 29 – 40 depending on the gauge of the material.
Pickle Passivation: A treatment also referred to as descaling, pickle passivation removes the scale and leaves a matte finish that is free from contamination. Apache’s tests have proven an increase in RA smoothness up to 25%, compared to measurements before the material was pickle passivated.
Bead Blast: Bead blasting utilizes material such as glass, ceramic beads to produce a non-directional, textured surface with a satin appearance and low reflectivity. The finish is not necessarily smooth, depending on the process and blasting medium. RA readings are typically greater than 45.
Electropolish: Surface metal is dissolved, removing all embedded contaminants, which creates a smooth, mirror-like finish. Apache’s tests have proven to increase smoothness up to 50%, compared to measurement before the material was electropolished.
For detailed information about these finishes and processes, download our white paper “Leveraging Stainless Steel Finishes on Sanitary Equipment”.
The Apache Corporation and the Mepaco group work continuously in the manufacturing community to promote careers in manufacturing. In honor of Manufacturing Month, we are sharing a new video on the making of Mepaco stairs and platform.
A new video series, “This is What I Make”, features fabricators who have volunteered to put their work on video to educate youth and prospects how Apache’s equipment is made and the tasks involved in the process. In the video, Matt demonstrates reading engineering drawings, measuring to verify tolerances, welding and grinding in order to fabricate a stairs and platform that food plant customers use to maintain tall equipment at a safe level.
Apache is planning on making a video for each product segment to demonstrate the job duties in making our custom products.
These manufacturing career videos will be available on Mepaco’s website, social media and workforce partnering websites.
For more information and videos, visit www.mepaco.net/careers.
The Mepaco group has expertise in manufacturing screw conveyor systems for many food industries and applications. The articulating screw conveyor is part of the customizable product offering that includes screw feeders and surge loaders.
In the video, the articulating screw conveyor is animated to demonstrate:
These articulating conveyors have been designed with different pivot configurations, CIP (clean-in-place) capabilities, pneumatically controlled safety grating and covers, and electropolished food contact surfaces.
For more information, download Mepaco’s screw conveyor systems brochure.
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