Page 44 - Food & Drink Magazine April 2021

SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Cannabis drinks market lights up
Functional drinks, including those containing cannabis- or hemp-derived ingredients, are one of the fastest growing segments of the beverage category. HRS Heat Exchangers international sales and marketing director Matt Hale writes.
CBD (cannabidiol) is a chemical extracted from hemp and marijuana plants. While CBD is an active ingredient in cannabis, it does not cause the psychoactive effects associated with the chemical THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is also found in the plants.
CBD used in food and drink products is usually taken from hemp oil due to its lower THC levels. While studies are ongoing, some of the claimed CBD benefits include reducing inflammation, improving relaxation, and better focus.
The global cannabis drinks market is predicted to treble in value by 2024, reaching around $7.6 billion. Large global brands, including AB InBev and Molson Coors have announced
plans to produce products containing CBD.
Entering this market is not for the faint-hearted as different stages of market development, recognition, and approval around the world present challenges to the development of a large market with common standards.
There are limitations and prohibitions on different products in different countries (and even states), so export can equal a whole new range of protocols, tests, and approvals.
Technical challenges extend beyond product formulation into product consistency and stability. The exact nature of the compounds found in the plant that can be extracted can vary according to the growing environment of the plants and
how they are processed.
Heat exchangers play
a key role in the
manufacture of many beverage products, and cannabis infused drinks have the same requirements for pasteurisation, sterilisation, cooking or cooling as any other beverages which contain specific ingredients.
The type and model of heat exchanger needed depends on different factors including which process is needed (pasteurisation, sterilisation, dehydration) and the viscosity of the drink being processed.
High-Temperature, Short- Time (HTST) pasteurisation techniques help to preserve the flavour and texture (including
the crucial emulsion) of many drinks, while cooling can involve chilled water or specific materials such as glycol. Evaporation using heat exchangers is also an efficient method of concentrating products to achieve the required formulation.
HRS has a complete range of products from simple tube-in- tube designs to reciprocating scraped-surface designs, all of which combine efficient heat transfer with delicate product handling. ✷
Allen-Bradley showcases latest tech
Safety laser scanners are an essential safety mechanism in manufacturing plant, particularly those requiring regular access before packaging a final product.
THE Allen-Bradley SafeZone 3 CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP enables integration of the SafeZone 3 safety laser scanner in a GuardLogix Control System. Available through NHP Electrical Engineering Products, the system ensures the safety of personnel while cutting down on maintenance and spare parts.
It features high-definition distance measurement scanning technology with a substantial increase in the number of pulses per scan. It also has two scan cyclesettingswithimproved
performance in dusty environments and increased immunity to optical interference.
Allen-Bradley has also launched its GuardShield Light Curtains with the first CIP Safety over Ethernet module on the market. It also has integrated laser alignment, muting, blanking and cascading.
GuardShield is the first range to have integrated CIP safety over EtherNet modules, providing detailed diagnostics and status information to Logix DLR networks to cascade to multiple450Lorother
EtherNet/IP products together. The GuardShield range also
features an Integrated Laser Alignment System (ILAS) for quick installation and reliable operation. The units come in different lengths from 150mm to 1950mm, in multiples of 150mm and in both 30mm hand and 14mm finger resolutions.
There are no dead spots at the top or bottom of the stick, which means they can be installed inside a machine frame and do not have to be mounted outside or on the machine like a traditional lightcurtainsystem. ✷
44 | Food&Drink business | April 2021 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au