PKN spoke with Urschel's VP of sales Tim O’Brien about new technology and opportunities for expansion in Australasia.
Urschel is responsible for a range of food-cutting technology, and Tim O’Brien brings over 25 years of experience in the food processing industry to his role with the company.
Here, he chats with PKN about his expectations for Auspack in March as its exclusive distributor Heat and Control gains ground in the Australasian region.
Q. What opportunities does Urschel see for its business in Australasia?
A. Heat and Control has been a trusted and valued business partner in the Australasian region for over 45 years. It has grown the business successfully and developed strong relationships with some of the largest food production companies in the region.
We believe the Australasian region will continue to grow and become even stronger in the coming years and we'll be supporting Heat and Control with its expansion there.
Q. What are the key market trends driving product development at Urschel?
A. Our main aim is to develop machines which help our customers’ operations become more efficient. They need to produce more in a shorter amount of time without compromising quality and safety.
With global demand for food production growing rapidly, and a global population projection of over nine billion in 2050, efficiency is the key.
We need to ensure that we minimise food waste, increase production speeds and reduce downtime.
Q. What's the most 'cutting edge' development Urschel has brought to market to date?
A. The Sprint 2 Dicer with conveyor is one of our recent releases.
The machine capitalises on the longstanding Urschel G Dicer with a similar infeed and discharge height.
The integrated discharge conveyor allows free-flowing exiting assistance of cut product, and also acts as a safety device eliminating the design necessity of bars.
Many processors have commented how easy it is to incorporate this into an existing line.
Q. What other products will you be highlighting at Auspack?
A. We'll have two of our most popular products on show – the Comitrol Processor Model 1700 and the DiversaCut 2110A Dicer, which is the largest dicer in the DiversaCut range.
The Comitrol Processor Model 1700 suits free-flowing dry and semi-dry product applications.
This includes textured vegetable protein, chicken slurries, baby food, dehydrated potato flakes, fruit and vegetable pastes, corn masa, and hard cheeses.
It can meet a range of size reduction needs from coin size particles to fine emulsions.
It's made from stainless steel to ensure maximum durability and sanitation, and is designed for easy cleanup and maintenance.
The DiversaCut 2110A Dicer is the largest machine in our DiversaCut line.
It dices, strips, slices, granulates, and shreds at high production capacities, and can be used on pretty much any food product you can think of.
It has a maximum infeed of 254 mm in any dimension, which eliminates the need to pre-cut product.
Q. What does 'optimising the customer-to-sales relationship' mean in your role?
A. We know that every customer is different, each producing a unique product with a unique set of criteria in their production process.
We make sure we tailor our offering to meet each and every aspect of their size reduction needs. This could be producing a finer slurry, a smoother cut, a unique shape, or a finer powder.
In its Brisbane facility, Heat and Control offers a robust testing centre in which customers can come and test their products on Urschel equipment.
It's a great way for customers to develop new products, or product ranges, without slowing down operations at its own facilities.
Heat and Control is the exclusive supplier of Urschel cutting technology to the Australian market. Tim O’Brien (pictured below) will be at the Heat and Control booth (72) at Auspack 2017 from 7-10 March.
