Compromising Solutions
October 9, 2014
Adding value has been the major driver for Insta-Pro business since the company was founded in late 1960’s. Farmers around do this by growing their own crops and…
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Lessons from Predicting DDGS Quality, Part 2: Prediction Equation
October 2, 2014
In my previous blog, I discussed data from a recent publication on variation in the quality of DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles), a by-product of the corn…
Lessons From Predicting DDGS Quality, Part 1: Raw Observations
September 25, 2014
A recent publication on variation in DDGS quality, containing attempts to predict it with equations, has once again highlighted the inherent problems with using this ingredient to support…
Feeders for Extruders
September 18, 2014
Just as the extruder is capable of making a wide variety of different products, there are different ways to feed the extruder. I’ll use this discussion to explain…
Finding Solutions in Portugal
September 11, 2014
One of the best parts of my job is getting to travel to interesting places to meet with and assist customers. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel…
Cheap Becomes Expensive in Product Manufacturing
September 4, 2014
Occasionally, we get into a discussion with small extrusion business owners who seek our advice on using proper nutritional requirements and typical ingredients to be used to manufacture quality…
The King of Proteins
August 28, 2014
Changes in market demand always have a big impact on commodity production. From the looks of it, the market is showing an increase in protein demand. As we…
Cooling Conveyors: A Simple Solution
August 21, 2014
As the R&D Extrusion specialist, I like to cover subjects that are relevant to current extrusion operations. Oftentimes, we will be in contact with a number of customers…
Larger Equipment is Not Always the Best Choice
August 14, 2014
I recently spent some time on the phone with one of our customers who operates what most would describe as a small production line for shaped, extruded food products. I…
Exceeding Expectations: Putting the Customer First
August 7, 2014
During a recent trip to visit prospective clients, I was reminded how important customer relations were to business. Without customers, there is no business, so as a collaborator…
Consistent, Quality Ingredients Lead to a Growing Business
July 31, 2014
In my interactions with our customers who are in the business of selling extruded whole soybeans or ExPress® soybean meal, I often hear some of the following comments:…
Corn is Not a Commodity
July 24, 2014
Corn is one of the most important crops in the world. In 2009, more corn (by weight) was grown than any other grain – production around the world…
Durable Equipment and Parts Give You a Better Product and Better Return on Investment
July 17, 2014
During my frequent visits to food and feed plants in Latin America, I often encounter under-performing extruders due to the replacement of factory parts with locally-made, copied parts.…
Investing in “The Most Important Issue Under the Sky”
July 10, 2014
Mr. Ding Xuedong, chairman of China Investment Corporation (CIC), has made an important announcement. He says China’s $650bn sovereign wealth fund is shifting its focus to invest more…
What’s The Problem?
July 3, 2014
Anyone who has spent any time working on a production line knows the scenario: The line is running along just fine when all of a sudden, a problem arises.…
Soy Biodiesel: Is There a Future in the United States?
June 26, 2014
Since the early years of this century (2002-2005), there appeared to be a tremendous future for refining crude soybean oil into a diesel fuel. Those were the days…
Extrusion and Proper Cleaning
June 19, 2014
Extrusion is becoming an exciting business, especially in the part of the world where I come from – Nigeria. From my experiences in Nigeria, I have learned that…
ExPress® Soymeal, an Alternative Ingredient to Solvent Extracted Soybean Meal
June 12, 2014
The majority of the world’s soybeans are processed into oil and meal by the use of organic solvents. The solvent extraction method is an efficient way of extracting…