Confectionery

Confectionery Production Solutions

Confectionery production can be sticky business. Every day, you juggle fluctuating ingredient prices, complex supply chains, new market trends and the ever-increasing demand for innovative candy and gum. The push for high cocoa content in chocolate, more organic ingredients and smaller portions presents new confectionery production challenges as you reformulate your recipes and reconfigure your packaging lines.

At MAVERICK Technologies we understand your need to respond to market drivers, and we know how to help you do it in the most efficient manner possible. With years of experience working for major candy makers, our Automation engineers have intimate knowledge of candy-making equipment, process control and maintaining batch flexibility. It’s all about managing the right recipe with the right flexible process control systems needed for reliable results.

MAVERICK provides industrial automation, enterprise integration and sustaining services that help you improve your operations from the plant floor to the boardroom. We offer confectionery production solutions for all your specific needs, from PLC programming and SCADA system installations to data acquisition and reporting solutions. MAVERICK will help you:

• Select recommended solutions for your needs, choosing among software vendors and functionality options.
• Implement the secure Web-based PlantLogicSM Manufacturing Knowledge Software, for which MAVERICK is the exclusive distributor, to view and configure data and metrics. View demo videos now.
• Choose the right recipe management system. Solutions range from simplistic PLC-based parameter storage to ISA S-88 relational database storage with both ingredient quantities and sequence of operation as part of the recipe.
• Ensure FDA compliance by utilizing ingredient traceability, lot tracking and batch reporting for comprehensive product tracking in confectionery production.
• Refine your operations to eliminate the need for rework.
• Make your data and electronic batch reports more accessible by fully integrating your ERP, MES and other systems. We can maintain an open architecture, allowing you to plan for future version upgrades and vendor changes at minimal cost.

Enjoy sweeter rewards when you partner with MAVERICK to improve the efficiency and profitability of your confectionery production.

Confectionery Plant Control System Conversion

MAVERICK Technologies helped one large confectionery plant upgrade the obsolete Unix-based Honeywell MAS batching SCADA system to the RSView Supervisory Edition, now FactoryTalk View Site Edition, from Rockwell Automation. MAVERICK also incorporated the PlantLogicSM Manufacturing Knowledge Software as part of the solution.

MAVERICK worked with plant engineering and Rockwell Automation throughout the process. The system design for the confectionery manufacturer was based on a client / server SCADA architecture utilizing redundant SCADA backup servers and a standalone recipe management and production information server with a browser-based interface. Fully connected within the plant’s Ethernet network, the system incorporates multiple rack-mount servers with redundant backups for each line. Each server communicates to multiple Honeywell PLCs, multiple SCADA clients and a recipe management and reporting database server running on Microsoft SQL Server. Recipe management, batch reports and lot tracking information are all available through Internet Explorer.

In the past, a SCADA server failure in the plant required IT administrators to follow a complex software installation sequence before returning to production. The system, upgraded to Rockwell FactoryTalk View in 2008, has automated failover of the SCADA server to an online backup server.

The PLC code was modified with a flexible batching engine, supported by the recipe management system which permits a recipe to be built and run with any ingredient addition or batch sequence step in any order.

MAVERICK completed the project in 2007 and met all of the client’s objectives:

• Completion of the project without production interruption.
• No retraining of operators.
• "Any ingredient in any order." The recipe manager allows the user to dictate the sequence of ingredient steps and the insertion of steps such as hand adds. This allows authorized QC or process engineers to create completely new products without reprogramming the PLC or SCADA system.
• Electronic records for batch reports and lot tracking.
• Recipe management from the front office or inside the plant via Web browser.

Broad Client Base in Confectionery Production

MAVERICK Technologies has worked closely with many large and mid-size manufacturers in confectionery production, including:

• Astor Chocolate
• Barry-Callebaut
• Cherrydale Farms
• Frankford Candies
• Roskam Baking

Confectionery Industry Resources

Visit the links below for more information regarding candy making and the confectionery industry.

Industry Regulations

FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (21CFR)
Read the status of the FDA's good manufacturing practice regulations.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Information Center
This information center provides news and spotlights related to food safety.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Food
The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

www.FoodSafety.gov
This site serves as the gateway to government and food safety information.

Confectionery Industry Associations

Pennsylvania Manufacturing Confectioners Association
PMCA is an international non-profit trade association of confectionery manufacturers and companies in related industries with membership worldwide. 

National Confectioners Association
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) is the major association representing the entire confection industry, offering education and leadership in manufacturing, technical research, public relations, retailing practices, government relations and statistical analyses.

World Cocoa Foundation
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2000 for the purpose of promoting social and economic development as well as environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.

American Association of Candy Technologists
The American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT) is a premier professional group of individual technologists, operations personnel, educators, students, business staff and others dedicated to the advancement of the confectionery industry.

Retail Confectioners International
Retail Confectioners International (RCI) provides a forum for confectioners to meet, network, share ideas, solve mutual problems, and develop their candy making and entrepreneurial skills.

Confectionery Manufacturers Association of Canada
The mission at the Confectionery Manufacturers Association of Canada (CMAC) is to grow confectionery consumption in a responsible manner as an enjoyable food that is part of a healthy, active lifestyle.

Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia
The Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia (CMA) exists to improve the welfare and advance the interests of the Australian and New Zealand confectionery industry through representation to all appropriate areas.

Publications

The Manufacturing Confectioner
The Manufacturing Confectioner is the worldwide business, marketing and technology journal of the candy, chocolate, confectionery, cough drop, and sweet baked goods industry. The MC is published once a month and provides in-depth coverage of news, industry statistics, sales and marketing, ingredients, equipment and services.

Candy Industry
Candy Industry is the leading information source for the global confectionery marketplace. Readers gain insight on the latest production efficiencies, innovative packaging, ingredient technology and marketing trends.

Professional Candy Buyer
Professional Candy Buyer consistently brings what’s new and what’s next to buyers and retailers.

P Magee Enterprises
P Magee Enterprises is the world’s only public relations agency that specializes in confectionery and chocolate. Our vision is to help confectionery and chocolate manufacturers and suppliers increase their visibility in a variety of media worldwide.

Confectionery Careers

If you are looking for a job in the confectionery industry, you may submit your resume to PMCA’s administration office. The staff will do its best to match candidates to any recruiting information they have on file.