ORLANDO, FLA.—Anyone attending The NAFEM Show from February 7 to 9 with the goal of greening up their kitchen would have found hundreds of ways to do so thanks to the innovations brought to the trade show floor by the more than 500 exhibitors in attendance. The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers event, held every two years, attracted approximately 20,000 foodservice professionals to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
Companies touted advancements in cooking, ventilation, water filtration, water recycling, water heating, cooking oil management, ice making, warewashing, food waste management, refrigeration, balers, and even vegetable, herb and flower growing. Many of the innovations were found in the show’s WHAT’S HOT! WHAT’s COOL! new product gallery where more than 125 companies participated.
While it would be impossible to mention every company focused on sustainability in this article, here are some of the product highlights from the show:
Eden Grow Rooms featured its grow rooms—structured similar to a walk-in cooler—for the growing of vegetables, flowers and herbs 365 days a year. The highly insulated, climate controlled rooms give one complete control of a growing environment.
Food Waste Decomposition Machines
Just days after announcing its acquisition of EnviroPure Systems, T&S Brass was at the show with an EnviroPure Systems food waste decomposition system. Similarly, Champion Industries featured its EnviroPure System food waste decomposition system in the WHAT’S HOT! WHAT’s COOL! new product gallery.
MEIKO featured its AZP 80 waste pulper that reduces food and mixed waste volume by up to 85 percent. The AZP 80 reduces food waste to a dry, relatively odorless pulp for easy disposal.
Mars Air Systems and Berner International demonstrated their air curtain products that save energy and create barriers from dirt, dust, fumes and insects. Berner introduced its FCB, an in-ceiling flush mount air curtain rated for doorways with up to 16-foot-high ceilings.
Salvajor featured its ScrapMaster and TroughVeyor disposer systems that recirculate water, reducing water consumption by 50 percent. Likewise, Emerson Electric Co. demonstrated its latest InSinkErator food waste disposers and food waste reduction systems that can qualify for LEED points.
Heart Green Technology
Piper Products, in the WHAT’S HOT! WHAT’s COOL! new product gallery, featured its Combi Steamer with Heart Green technology. Heart Green controls the energy supply, always maintaining the right cooking temperature. The Combi Steamer includes an Ecovapor feature that reduces water and energy consumption. The Combi Steamer’s design ensures shorter cooking times.
Cleveland Range featured its Combi Smoker Oven that includes an Eco Cooking Mode and auto-reversing fan for energy efficiency.
Lang Manufacturing introduced its Induction Range. The company says it is the first electric range to include an induction cooking surface. Induction tops are 95 percent energy efficient.
Remco Industries displayed its International Millennium 2000 infra-red energized carousel brick oven that includes an air-curtain door. The door helps the oven retain virtually all of its energy.
Insinger Machine featured its Admiral 44-4 VRS (ventless reclamation system) that saves up to $7,300 annually in energy costs by reclaiming, retaining and reusing the lost heat that normally goes up a warewasher’s exhaust vent system.
Ventilation System Efficiency
Spring Air demonstrated its TruFlow energy management system for commercial kitchen exhaust systems. TruFlow measures heat from the appliances and automatically adjusts fan speeds throughout the day, giving one the precise amount of exhaust at all times. Similarly, Melink introduced its next-generation Intelli-Hood controls that reduce exhaust and make-up fan speeds during idle, non-cooking conditions.
Manitowoc Foodservice’s entire family of products was represented at The NAFEM Show including its oil-conserving Frymaster commercial fryers. The new 1814 fryers have a 60-lb frypot that rivals their 80-lb counterparts’ production capacity. That equates to a 20 percent oil savings. The 1814 fryers use 30 percent to 50 percent less energy than equivalent capacity standard 50-lb fryers.
Red Devil Equipment featured its latest vertical baler for cardboard recycling, as well as several models of waste compactors.
Master-Bilt Refrigeration Solutions demonstrated its Master Controller with Reverse Cycle Refrigeration System that offers energy savings in the United States as high as 28 percent.
Hubbell Electric Heater offered its Model JTX Tankless Electric Booster Heater for commercial kitchen use. The Model JTX is designed for use with conveyor and flight type dish machines.
Extending the Life of Cooking Oil
Systemfiltration was at the show with its VITO 50 oil filter system suitable for fryers with up to 50 lb volume. By being able to reuse cooking oil, one can reduce the cost of frying up to 50 percent.
Selecto featured its NanoSmart water filtration products that eliminate chloramines, chlorine, scale and sediment from ice machines, water fountains, warewashers and other machines.
Eneron demonstrated its high performance Turbo Pots that, because of their increased surface area at the bottom of the pots, reduce cooking time and energy used by 30 percent to 50 percent.
Hyginix representatives explained the benefits of their FOG Tanks—containers with heated water and an environmentally friendly cleaning product that remove carbon and other difficult-to-remove deposits on pots, pans and other items.
Elite Global Solutions displayed its naturally antimicrobial cutting boards made from bamboo. Also featured at the company’s booth: baskets made from cork and plates, bowls and other items made from 50 percent melamine and 50 percent bamboo.
The next NAFEM Show will be held February 19-21, 2015, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
