2026 Archives - HAF Equipment

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HāF Equipment Acquires Semi-Bulk Systems, Expanding Ingredient Handling Capabilities

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HāF Equipment Acquires Semi-Bulk Systems, Expanding Ingredient Handling Capabilities…Read More

March 11, 2026March 24, 2026

CheeseExpo 2026!

Smart Solutions: HaFSBX Brings Automation Products to the Dairy Industry

CheeseExpo 2026 brings together over 4,000 professionals from the cheese, butter, whey, and cultured dairy processing industry for an experience unlike any other. The event blends educational programming, meaningful networking, celebratory recognition of excellence, and an exhibit floor showcasing cutting-edge solutions.

HaF Equipment designs and builds powder handling and processing systems for cheese and dairy manufacturers, focusing on salt, cellulose, NFDM reconstitution, whey powder handling, powder packaging, and other automated solutions.

The HaFSBX team is looking forward to attending CheeseExpo 2026 to learn more about the latest technology, reconnect with old friends, build new partnerships, and strengthen long-standing relationships. We value the time and opportunities that CheeseExpo 2026 provides. If you plan to attend the CheeseExpo in April 2026, let us know. We would love to hear from you! In the meantime, learn more about our innovative dairy automation products below.

Solving Your Toughest Ingredient Handling Challenges

Powder Packaging Automation – Smart Solutions for Handling Whey and Dairy Powders

Automated powder packaging systems connect seamlessly with upstream dryers to move whey and dairy powders from process to package with accuracy and control. By integrating conveying, filling, dust control, and controls into one system, cheese producers reduce manual handling while maintaining sanitary conditions and consistent packaging performance.

How this helps cheese production

Improves consistency when packaging whey, milk powders, and dairy blends
Reduces dust and product loss during bag filling
Enhances sanitation and food safety in dairy environments
Supports scalable automation as cheese production volumes grow

Salt Handling Automation

Automated salt handling systems streamline the transfer, batching, and dissolution of salt used throughout cheese production. By replacing manual bag dumping with controlled unloading, conveying, and mixing, cheese plants achieve safer operations and more consistent salt addition—critical for flavor, texture, and yield.

How this helps cheese production

Delivers consistent salt flow for brines and direct ingredient addition
Improves operator safety by eliminating repetitive lifting
Supports precise control of salt levels for uniform cheese quality
Reduces variability that can impact flavor and moisture control

Cellulose Handling and Dust Control Solutions

Cellulose and anti‑caking ingredients used in shredded cheese applications require gentle, dust‑controlled handling. Automated bulk bag unloading and vacuum conveying systems deliver these fine powders reliably—even in low‑headroom dairy facilities—while maintaining sanitary conditions and protecting operators.

How this helps cheese production

Ensures even distribution of cellulose on shredded cheese lines
Minimizes airborne dust that can affect sanitation and housekeeping
Improves ergonomics and reduces operator exposure
Maintains consistent flow of difficult, lightweight powders

NFDM Reconstitution – Automated Solution with Semi‑Bulk VacuCam®

Automated NFDM (non‑fat dry milk) reconstitution systems use VacuCam® powder‑into‑liquid mixing technology to rapidly wet, disperse, and hydrate dairy powders. By eliminating manual mixing and dusting, cheese producers achieve repeatable liquid dairy bases with improved process control.

How this helps cheese production

Produces uniform reconstituted dairy liquids for consistent formulations
Reduces mix time and operator involvement
Minimizes dust during powder induction
Supports sanitary, CIP‑ready dairy processing

Smart Solutions for Protein Drinks Using VacuCam® Powder‑Liquid Mixing Technology

VacuCam® mixing technology enables fast, dust‑free incorporation of protein powders into liquids for dairy beverages and nutritional products. Using vacuum‑based powder induction, these systems provide precise control and repeatable results—ideal for high‑protein dairy applications tied to cheese and whey processing.

How this helps cheese production

Creates smooth, lump‑free protein and whey‑based beverages
Improves batch‑to‑batch consistency for value‑added dairy products
Reduces sanitation risks associated with open powder handling
Enables scalable production of protein‑rich dairy formulations

Visit Us At CheeseExpo 2026

If you plan to attend the CheeseExpo in April 2026 at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, let us know. We would love to hear from you and show off our dairy automation equipment!

See you soon in Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

About HaFSBX
HaFSBX designs turnkey systems for projects of all sizes. Our team understands our customers’ concerns and takes the time to listen, develop a plan, and communicate along the way. If you need someone you can trust and want to eliminate the stress of managing the details of your next project, contact us today to discuss your next project and how our team can help.

About The Author – Mitch Lund
Mitch has been with HaF Equipment for more than 4 years and leads business development for HaFSBX in the baking and snack sectors. He has been in ingredient handling for 14 years and can be found at many of the industry trade associations HaF actively supports, including ABA, BEMA, and ASB. Mitch is a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Chemical Engineering program and is passionate about helping customers grow and improve their businesses.

March 6, 2026March 10, 2026

Smart Solutions: HaFSBX Leads Micro Ingredient Automation Developments

Image of colorful bakery foods. Ingredient Automation Operations and Bakery Equipment Manufacturers - HaF Equipment.

by Mitch Lund

In the latest feature by Baking & Snack, Minor ingredient automation tightens up operations, the industry is buzzing about the shift toward automated handling of minor and micro ingredients. While efficiency and waste reduction are often the primary drivers for capital investment, HaFSBX is leading a different conversation: the impact of automation on public health and workplace safety.

The Precision of Wellness: How Micro Ingredient Automation Supports The Promise on the Package

Our very own Mitch Lund, Business Development Manager at HaFSBX, was recently consulted for his expertise on why “going small” with automated ingredient handling leads to “big” wins for bakeries, and why.

Not only is product more consistent in quality because of the accuracy of automation... “it means bakeries will be in better compliance with their nutritional targets for vitamins and salt levels." — Mitch Lund

In an era where consumers are scrutinizing labels for sodium content and fortified nutrients, manual scaling is no longer just an efficiency risk—it’s a compliance risk. By automating, food producers ensure that every loaf meets the exact nutritional promise on the package.

Protecting the Heart of the Bakery: The People

Precision is vital, but so is the longevity of the workforce. Manual ingredient handling is often the grind of the bakery—repetitive, dusty, and physically taxing.

As Lund pointed out in the article, automation transforms the environment:

• Reduced Ergonomic Risk: Eliminating the repetitive lifting and bending of 20- to 50-lb bags.

• Respiratory Health: Minimizing employee exposure to airborne dust from ingredients.

• Cleaner Operations: A tighter system means a more sanitary workspace and fewer injuries.

By automating delivery, you reduce risks associated with the repetitive lifting and bending as well as exposure to dust that employees would otherwise endure,” Lund said. “This leads to fewer injuries and a cleaner work environment.

Leading the Industrial Transition

At HaFSBX, we believe automation shouldn’t just be about “taking a pit-stop out of a race.” It should be about building a smarter, safer, and more transparent food system. Whether you are managing salt levels for heart-healthy lines or protecting your team from the physical demands of the mixing room, we are here to engineer those solutions.

About HaFSBX
HaFSBX designs turnkey systems for projects of all sizes. Our team understands our customers’ concerns and takes the time to listen, develop a plan, and communicate along the way. If you need someone you can trust and want to eliminate the stress of managing the details of your next project, contact us today to discuss your next project and how our team can help.

About The Author – Mitch Lund
Mitch has been with HaF Equipment for more than 4 years and leads business development for HaFSBX in the baking and snack sectors. He has been in ingredient handling for 14 years and can be found at many of the industry trade associations HaF actively supports, including ABA, BEMA, and ASB. Mitch is a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Chemical Engineering program and is passionate about helping customers grow and improve their businesses.

February 20, 2026March 10, 2026

The Next Frontier of Food Processing: Why Pneumatic Blending is Now a Strategic Advantage

Coffee Bean Processing - Pneumatic Blending a Strategic Advantage - HaFSBX Ingredient Handling Equipment

by Mitch Lund

In the fiercely competitive food manufacturing industry, maintaining the status quo is a recipe for stagnation and ultimately loss of market share and future profitability. Operational leaders, from Plant VPs to Directors of Innovation, understand that process efficiency is directly proportional to bottom-line profitability and market responsiveness. For too long, the blending operation, a critical stage in food processing, has been overlooked.

Today’s industry leaders recognize that transformative solutions are required to overcome constraints such as difficult-to-clean equipment and inflexibility. Therefore, high-speed pneumatic blending with integrated liquid-addition capability is a critical technology to know about. This is not merely an equipment upgrade; it is a strategic investment in speed, sanitation, and the forward-looking of food processing operations and product capabilities.

Pneumatic Blending A Strategic Advantage and The Operational Imperative: From Bottleneck to Competitive Edge

At HaFSBX, our work with leading specialty food producers across the globe consistently highlights four operational constraints that outdated mechanical blenders impose:

Crippling Downtime and Sanitation Risk: Traditional equipment is plagued by “dead spots” and complex internal agitators, which make thorough cleaning time-consuming and create a persistent, high-risk sanitation environment.

Capacity Cap: Slow blending and lengthy changeover cycles directly limit overall throughput, artificially capping production capacity and profitability.

Stalled Innovation: The inability to seamlessly incorporate liquid ingredients such as oils or flavor extracts without a separate process step impedes the rapid development and launch of new product lines.

Scalability and Consistency: Potential inconsistent blend-quality and lack of global compliance complicate multi-site expansion and threaten brand standards.

The Strategic Solution: Pneumatic Blending Innovation

The next-generation solution is a Pneumatic Blender Assembly engineered for the realities of modern food production. By leveraging compressed air for mixing, this technology eliminates the root causes of limitation of the old process.

Engineering Highlight	Business Impact for Decision-Makers
No Moving Internal Parts & Smooth Surfaces	Massive Risk Reduction & Increases Efficiency: Eliminates dead spots, maximizing sanitation effectiveness and cutting cleaning/changeover time by up to 50%.
Fluidized Blending Technology	Accelerated ROI: Achieves rapid, homogeneous mixing in approximately half the time of traditional mechanical mixers (e.g., reducing an eight-minute cycle to four minutes).
Integrated Liquid Injection	Future-Proofing Your Portfolio: Custom nozzles atomize liquids directly into the airstream, enabling immediate innovation for complex, oil-based, or flavored recipes.
Sealed System with Integrated Bin Vent	Compliance & Cleanliness: Allows for pressure or vacuum conveyance directly into the vessel, maintaining a fully sealed, clean environment and simplifying material handling.
Comprehensive Explosion Mitigation	Regulatory Standards: Our engineered solutions can adapt to codes and regulations based on the project location. HaFSBX can support you on a comprehensive Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA), including recommended precautions like chemical suppression and flameless venting for fine, combustible powders.

Specific benefits are unique for every customer and product. Tests can be conducted at HaFSBX to determine the benefits for applications.

Quantifiable Results: Strategic Actions for Competitive Advantage

For one global specialty food producer, the transition to HaFSBX’s pneumatic blending system yielded immediate, quantifiable, and strategic advantages:

Cycle Speed: Maximized production output by reducing blend times by up to 50%.

Sanitation & Downtime: Drastically improved sanitation and accelerated changeovers, directly reducing high-risk environments and costly operational downtime.

Flexibility & Innovation: Expanded flexibility to the product portfolio by enabling seamless liquid ingredient addition, directly supporting the launch of new, complex recipes.

Brand Integrity: Delivered consistent, excellent blend-quality across all recipes, upholding brand standards globally.

This strategic investment allowed them to move their operations beyond mere regulatory compliance and into a position for unprecedented speed, cleanliness, and long-term competitive flexibility.

To explore how pneumatic blending can specifically transform your facility’s blending process and secure a competitive advantage, contact the engineering specialists at HaFSBX for a consultation.

About HaFSBX
HaFSBX designs turnkey systems for projects of all sizes. Our team understands our customers’ concerns and takes the time to listen, develop a plan, and communicate along the way. If you need someone you can trust and want to eliminate the stress of managing the details of your next project, contact us today to discuss your next project and how our team can help.

About The Author – Mitch Lund
Mitch has been with HaF Equipment for more than 4 years and leads business development for HaFSBX in the baking and snack sectors. He has been in ingredient handling for 14 years and can be found at many of the industry trade associations HaF actively supports, including ABA, BEMA, and ASB. Mitch is a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Chemical Engineering program and is passionate about helping customers grow and improve their businesses.