ORLANDO, FLA.—The NAFEM Show, held every two years, wrapped up in Orlando on February 9 at the Orange County Convention Center. More than 600 suppliers featured their latest products to help restaurateurs and hoteliers save money, energy, water and reduce waste. It would be impossible to mention every product showcased in a single article. The following is just a sampling of some cool products found among the many aisles at the show:
Bluewater unveiled its Bluewater Pro 400 and Bluewater Spirit water purifier model lines that help foodservice professionals deliver fresh produce, achieve clean glassware and cutlery, and offer coffee and other water-based drinks. Bluewater’s purifiers remove practically all chemical contaminants, heavy metals, pathogenic bacteria and other impurities impacting food quality from tap water.
Both the Bluewater Pro and Bluewater Spirit are WQA certified and provide excellent green credentials such as reducing the need for dishwasher detergents, cutting the need for single-use plastic bottles of water and slashing water wastage common to traditional reverse osmosis systems.
Hobart introduced the new FT1000e Low Energy Flight Type dishwasher. With design enhancements that lower energy consumption and connected load, combined with features like Automatic Soil Removal and Energy Recovery, the FT1000e delivers exceptional cleaning and the lowest cost of ownership in its class.
Traulsen gave show visitors a chance to check out R-Series refrigeration units featuring the new StayClear Condensers and the next generation Smart Control for increased performance, reliability, energy efficiency, and ease of use.
Nor-Lake, manufacturer and supplier of a full line of commercial refrigeration equipment, displayed its Enviro-Control, a highly efficient custom-designed controller for walk-in coolers and freezers to increase reliability, connectivity and food safety while reducing operating costs.
Controller for Walk-In Coolers, Freezers
The Master-Bilt booth featured a demo of the updated Master Controller Reverse Cycle Defrost System (MCRCD). The MCRCD is an electronic controller option for walk-in coolers and freezers and is designed to increase food safety, prevent product loss and provide significant savings on energy bills. Featuring a simplified interface, the MCRCD still provides the same range of functions such as energy efficient reverse cycle defrost. The MCRCD’s patented design saves up to 27 percent more energy than an all-mechanical system.
Mechline displayed its Waste2O food waste bio-digester, a simple and scalable solution which can handle any quantity of food waste and digest it on-site. Users are left with no collection or landfill charges for the food waste that Waste2O digests.
Power Knot brought an example of its LFC Bio-Digesters to the show. The digesters quickly digest food on-site with no odor or noise.
Vero Water demonstrated its water purification system that includes five stages. The system allows users to dispense still or sparkling water in glass refillable bottles.
Natura Water offered its four systems that provide pure, filtered water on demand. Natura’s filtration systems include three stages.
Vivreau Advanced Water Systems also was at the show with its own dispensing, filtering and bottling systems.
T&S Brass featured its new DuraPull Pull-down Pre-rinse Unit for high-volume kitchens. It features pull-down activation and an automatic shut-off function. The 1.07 GPM spray valve flow rate meets 2019 DOE regulations.
Representatives of Oilmatic Systems explained the company’s bulk oil solution, designed to eliminate “all the work” associated with traditional fryer servicing. With the push of a button, one can quickly and safely extract waste oil and provide fresh oil to and from kitchen fryers.
More Food Waste Reduction Systems
Somat Company featured its food waste reduction systems—pulper, grinder, extractor and dehydrator. All the systems dramatically decrease waste volume.
Emerson Electric brought its wide range of InSinkErator foodservice equipment solutions—disposers, collector systems, pulper systems, instant hot water dispensers, handwashing systems and Grind2Energy equipment.
ChemxWorks was at the show with its D-CARBONATOR. It is a heated soak tank that cleans all metal cookware and kitchen equipment. It decarbonizes, degreases, cleans and sanitizes while saving money, time, water and energy.
Kitchen ventilation system experts from Accurex were on hand to provide an overview of the company’s latest kitchen ventilation systems.
The next NAFEM Show will be held February 4 to 6, 2021 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Memorial Convention Center.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
