By-Products Exchange Pulls Plug
Citing the results of an extensive customer survey, By-Products Interactive, Inc., has deactivated its on-line animal by-products trading exchange. According to the company, the market as a whole is still adapting to the Internet as a primary medium for information and is very cautious about trading electronically on a full-time basis. Customers will still be able to make trades using traditional methods of phone and fax and receive information on the by-products industry through The Jacobsen bulletins.
Blaze Strikes Renderer
AJ Bush and Sons, a family owned rendering company in Australia, suffered a major fire in June at their Beaudesert, Queensland, facility. The cause remains undetermined. The plant’s meal room, receiving area, and processing building were destroyed and rebuild is expected to take 10 to 12 months. The company is processing again at 75 percent of capacity under license from the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Local support from the community and our state government has been excellent,” commented Tony Lawlis, spokesman for AJ Bush and Sons. “All our employees have remained fully employed during these hard and difficult times.”
FDA Enhances Web Site
A Web site has been established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to disseminate information on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), including the agency’s action plan, titled “Food and Drug Administration Action Plan: Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies including Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Chronic Wasting Disease.”
The agency’s focused areas are: prevent exposure of Americans to agents of TSEs through human and animal food products; prevent exposure of Americans to agents of TSEs through blood transfusions or tissue transplantation; prevent exposure of Americans to agents of TSEs through other FDA regulated products; establish a risk of TSEs and their potential transmission through FDA regulated products; and continue and expand FDA’s TSE-related regulatory research agenda.
The Web site is www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bse.html.
IFOMA and FEO Merge
The International Fishmeal and Oil Manufacturers Association (IFOMA), based in the United Kingdom (UK), and the Fishmeal Exporters Organization (FEO), based in France, merged their activities and operations on July 1, 2001. The new group will be called the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization (IFFO) and headquartered in the UK.
“Both organizations have considerable complementary strengths in terms of membership,” stated Dr. Stuart Barlow, new chief executive officer of IFFO. “In addition, there is the natural synergy in the functions of both organizations.” The executive staff of FEO will maintain their role in the new organization collecting and analyzing information on production and demand for meal and extending these activities to cover fish oil.
The activities of IFOMA, namely scientifically based promotion, lobbying, and technical information exchange, will continue in the new group.
New Faces at Kemin
Kemin Nutrisurance, Inc., has appointed Donald Mattsson, Jr., Ph.D., as director of research and development. He will provide strategic direction for new product development and assume responsibility for the success of applied and exploratory research projects.
Mattsson received a bachelor of science degree in biology, a master’s in microbial engineering and a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Minnesota’s School of Medicine. He recently served as principal scientist for Kemin’s biotechnology division.
Also joining the Kemin team is Carlos Bacal as technical services manager, Latin America. Bacal’s responsibilities will include providing technical sales support to assigned current and potential customers and assist with the company’s dog and cat palatant program.
Bacal received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a master’s in food chemistry from Universidad de Buenos Aires. He recently served as commercial manager for Willmor South America, a company that produces proteins, fats, ingredients, and special components for the pet food industry.
New Product from Alloy
Alloy Hardfacing and Engineering Co., Inc., Jordan, MN, is releasing a new product to the rendering industry: Rauschert Hiflow Scrubber Packing and Tower Internals. According to the company, the packings have odor removal efficiency, low-pressure drop, mechanical strength, high resistance to fouling, and gas and liquid distribution.
Plasma Product Group Formed
Due to concern over transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, including bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a coalition has been formed to represent the North American spray-dried blood and plasma producers with regards to the safety of their products. Members of the North American Spray Dried Blood and Plasma Producers Coalition are: APC Co., Inc, Ames, IA; California Spray Dry, Stockton, CA; DuCoa, Smithville, MO; Harimex, Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Land O’Lakes, St. Paul, MN; Hemotech, Minnetonka, MN; Merrick’s, Union City, WI; Proliant, Ames, IA; Sanimal, Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Trouw Nutrition, Highland, IL.
The group’s focus is the commitment to producing safe, high-quality blood products for use in feeds for commercial livestock and companion animals. The products they develop are derived from porcine, bovine, or avian origin. Spray-dried blood and plasma products are used domestically and internationally. Approximately 50 percent of the product is exported and impacts agriculture worldwide.
SCC Reverts to Old Name
Screw Conveyor Corporation implemented a corporate name change to SCC Industries in 1998. The change was an attempt to reflect the corporation’s diversity and product line strength. The result of the name change has not had the desired effect.
“The Screw Conveyor Corporation name has been with us since 1932,” said Garry Abraham, chief executive officer/general manager of the company. “Over the years, people in the bulk material handling field have come to recognize us and our name as people they know and trust. When we changed our name [to SCC Industries], we lost valuable identify and name recognition. Now we have taken our name back and we want to assure our many customer that we never left.”
Two Companies ISO Certified
Kemin Americas, Inc., and Taylor Chemical Company have both recently received ISO 9002:1994 Quality System Standard certification. ISO 9002:1994 is the international standard defining the contents of an organization’s quality management system. Kemin received certification in July for its foods and feed ingredients manufacturing operations in Des Moines, IA, and Hitchcock, TX. Taylor Chemical, a manufacturer of silicone-based antifoams/defoamers and emulsions, was certified in August.
October 2001 Render