The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation and Tednologies, Inc. are joining together to conduct 14 tests of the TEDSBOX (Tracking Environmental Deviation System) in moving fresh salmon to distribution points and markets.  By using the refrigerated LD3 TEDSBOX container, AFDF and Tednologies are planning to demonstrate that high quality fresh salmon filets can be transported in a temperature stable refrigerated environment, with a temperature maintained at between 28o-34oF for a period of up to 36hours without the additional weight of gelpacks.

Attention Processors and Manufacturers: Interested in learning more about metal detection best practices?   Sign up for the following webinar scheduled for June 25th at 2pm, EDT.

 “Building an Effective Metal Contamination Detection Program”.  The link below provides information on the webinar content and allows you to register to attend.     Sign up here.

All registered attendees will receive a copy of a new guide “Reduction of Metal Detection – Building an Effective Program”.

It's not easy being a food manufacturer in Alaska.   Besides being far from ingredients, packaging and markets, there is a limited private sector system that supports the needs of this type manufacturer with equipment, supplies and know how.     That is why we keep our Rolodex of those inside and outside of Alaska that have familiarity with Alaska's producers and products and been major contributors on best practices.

That is why it was such a pleasure to meet Bill Scott of R.L. Scott & Associates last summer.    Bill learned of Global Food Collaborative after reading a story about GFA 2007.   He had just been in Alaska for a tour of food producers and vowed to return to the next show in 2009.  The dialog has now continued for the past 9 months and over that time Bill has reviewed best practices of manufacturing for everything from seafood to nutraceuticals to coffee.    Here's a bit of what I've learned.

PakSense, Inc., Boise, ID, now offers a new time/temperature monitoring label that is seeing a growing footprint in seafood.  According to Amy Childress, Marketing Director for PakSense, "We're seeing the product used for air shipments of fresh seafood from Alaska to the lower 48 states due to its cost, size, ease of use, accuracy and, of course that it is waterproof."    If you haven't taken a look, you may want to check out their demo video.   Labels run about $12 each with readers running ($179) and fully integrated with any windows-based computer.

Stock designs for frequently shipped perishables such as beef, poultry, seafood, produce are available. They offer a label that can be customized with specific temperature ranges and graphics. Stock labels come in seven temperature ranges, three time spans -- six, 15 or 30 days -- to protect perishable products from produce to frozen products. Pressure-sensitive labels are attached to product or packaging prior to shipping, activate by snapping corner. Each configuration allows for 30-minute cool-down period after activation, delays visual alert of temperature excursion for 30 minutes. Color-coding provides easy visual recognition.

Questions?  www.paksense.com
or info@paksense.com
208 629 3358

The excitement is building for the West Coast Paper Industrial Show on Thursday,March 13th, 2008 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. It will be held at the West Coast Paper warehouse at 2209 Spar Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska. There will be representatives from several different manufacturers, as well as food and door prizes. We will be having a GREEN theme. Please join us and come see the latest and greatest products from our vendors.  Don't forget to check out West Coast's New Website at www.wcpc.com.   More information?  Call Victoria Hayes, Industrial Merchandiser, (907) 276-1333, Extension 325.

During the past summer, Phil Reeder of Microdaq, Ltd. came to Alaska to spend time with Alaska producers to talk perishable products and temperature monitoring. His business storefront, TheDataLoggerStore, demonstrates his companies sole focus and expertise in data collection. We wanted to provide a quick review, in case you did not meet Phil during his visit to Alaska and encourage you contact them with your temperature monitoring challenges.

The technology, Cells Alive System is already utilized for produce, meats, milk and seafood (including oysters). Check out the 3 minute video produced by the Daily Planet that showed on Discovery Channel or this recent article. Meet the developer, Mr. Norio Owada, Wednesday, September 12th - 10-3pm, Downtown Marriott Hotel, Kenai/Denali Room, Anchorage.

New Machine Automatically Packs and Seals Fish Bags

Ove Godo of Atlantic Group, hosted a delegation from Alaska in 2002 who were seeking new supply chain solutions as it applied to new technologies reducing costs and increase efficiencies.    Mr. Godo provided the group an overview of his company and contacted us about a new piece of technology that he thought of interest to Alaska processors and readers of Collaborative INSIGHTS.

From Mr. Godo - ATLANTIC GROUP, NORWAY

Dear Global Food Collaborative Members and Collaborative INSIGHTS readers,

Atlantic has invented and developed a machine to automatically pack and seal fish bags. We are aware of a number of companies in Alaska using bags. This equipment will help them to do the job with packaging a lot easier. By using this machine they will prevent heavy lifting of 50-100 lbs blocks, thereby saving workplace challenges and injury.

The first Atlantic Bag Filling Machine was installed on board the factory trawler F/V Havbris of Norway. The machine is working in accordance with our expectations. Reports back from the crew using the machine are very good - it is considered as a revolution in regards to packaging of vertical frozen blocks.

Please take a look at the new video published at our web site http://www.atlantic.no.  There are also a few pictures of how the machine is placed in the factory on board.

The machine on the video is made to handle 2 sizes of blocks i.e. 50 lbs and 100 lbs, however, this slows down the packaing speed. I think Alaska production generally does you not require more than one size block. This makes the machine smaller and more compact. The capacity to pack and seal 1 block is 15-20 sec. Pack and seal is done in 2 operations with 2 different machines.

The machine is supplied with electric system, but can also be supplied with hydraulic system (additional charge).

Please be informed that Atlantic has been in the bag business since 1995. We got the ideas from Alaska while importing P.cod H+G packed in bags. Today, most of the Norwegian fishing vessels is using bags, while we are by far the largest supplier. In 2004 we invented the bag sealer, and this is today used daily by about 30 fishing vessels in Norway, Spain, Russia and USA. We focus on being a couple of steps ahead of our competitors both in development of machines and bags, and to be a world wide supplier. We have our own offices in Korea and Norway.

Atlantic is active in Ship brokering, Seafood trading and production of salt fish, Ship management and Ship consultants.

More information can be found at our web site www.atlantic.no

Look forward hearing from you.

Vennlig hilsen/Best regards,

Tph +47 70 101800 Fax +47 70 101810 Mobile +47 915 11110


Vennlig hilsen/Best regards,
ATLANTIC GROUP, NORWAY

Ove Godo