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When Hershey embarked on a conversion of an abandoned brownfield factory into a new candy manufacturing facility in Mexico, SSOE was asked to join the design build team that turned it into a viable production facility for its chocolate products. With a history of success on fast-track food projects, the team was able to immediately respond to the challenging project demands, which allowed for parallel design and construction.
With extensive international food engineering experience, SSOE was chosen to design a master plan greenfield project spanning more than 300 acres in Tuticorin, India.
This includes a wide range of facilities encompassing cold storage, warehousing, irradiation complex, food testing laboratory, and logistics planning, as well as a wide variety of food processing plants including grains, oils, and vegetables.
In June 2008, widespread flooding submerged much of Iowa. This confidential client’s plant, one of the world’s largest food manufacturing facilities, was among the many businesses affected by the rising water. Located near a main river, the plant suffered considerable internal damage to operating equipment and was forced to stop production. Water filled the basement and rose nearly two feet into the first floor, destroying much of the on-hand product and damaging the facility’s operating process equipment.
American Snuff, LLC called upon SSOE to provide a project solution for their new tobacco product manufacturing, warehousing, and packaging facility in Memphis, Tennessee. As part of the conceptual design effort, SSOE accompanied American Snuff on walkthroughs of several vacant buildings being considered for the new plant. Based on their observations, SSOE recommended building which would best meet American Snuff’s needs and budget.
During an unexpected shutdown of its production, a confidential client called on SSOE, its long trusted engineering resource, to quickly improve processes and return the facility to full operation. Because every week of lost production meant lost revenue, the team was directed to fast-track the project, but not at the expense of the client’s stringent quality standards.
When this confidential food manufacturer built a pilot plant to develop a new method of making tomato products using a new evaporator system, they realized they were limited in the manpower they needed to master the process. With a need for additional onsite support, the food manufacturer wanted a partner that not only had expertise in design process, but had a fundamental understanding of the hands-on approach needed to learn the functionality of the system and to help ensure its success. With an Alliance Agreement in place the client commissioned SSOE to manage the startup process at the facility under a Master Service Agreement. Noted for its vast expertise in tomato-based products, SSOE’s experience runs the gamut from bulk ingredient receiving through USDA/FDA inspection, sorting, processing,
filling, packaging, palletizing, and warehousing.
When a sausage snack manufacturer experienced catastrophe at one of their production plants, SSOE proved integral to getting them back in production, and with quick results. Noted for its expertise in start-up management, SSOE’s involvement with this project showcased its ability to provide quick response to client crisis situation, whether it be floods, explosions, or product tainting.
When a large chain superstore mandated that its suppliers become SQF (Safe Quality Food) certified, Malt-O-Meal needed an expert firm to get their largest facility compliant, and in record time. With a solid reputation in start-up management and implementation, and ranked second in food food process design, SSOE proved to be the best firm for implementing this food safety project. Working against a 10 day downtime timeframe, SSOE put the right team of experts in place to ensure Malt-O-Meal’s compliance. With an ever-changing project scope, SSOE responded and improved the indoor quality of the facility.
When a long-time food manufacturing client wanted to assess opportunities for energy savings at one of its facilities, SSOE had the expertise to both evaluate existing plants and systems and also recommend and implement process and mechanical improvements to achieve cost and energy savings. By conducting an energy savings audit, including heat recovery potentials, SSOE helped identify areas for energy savings.
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