News

NAFEM kicks off in Orlando

February 10, 2011

The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers Show kicked off in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 10 with more than 500 exhibiting companies showcasing the latest technology and equipment for restaurant and foodservice operators.

The Vizion Chill ICE heat exchanger

One big draw on the show floor this year is the new product gallery, What's Hot, What's Cool. The product gallery features nearly 100 products that are new to exhibiting companies and attendees.

In order to exhibit in the new products gallery, items must be a new concept or patented product available for sale after Feb. 8, 2009. The products must provide operators with benefits such as energy efficiency, food safety, labor savings, eco-friendly materials and a reduced footprint. (Click here to view a slideshow.)

Some of the products featured include Franklin Machine Products' Filter Plus, Hobart Corp.'s Abvansys Ventless Door-Type Warewasher and Follett Corp.'s 7 Series Ice and Water Dispenser.

Here's at look at several of the items on display in What's Hot, What's Cool:

1. Hobart Corporation's Advansys Ventless Door Type Warewasher: The product is Hobart's first ventless warewasher featuring energy recovery. The recovery cycle captures water vapor and condenses it to heat the incoming cold-water inlet for the final rinse cycle. It can save operators up to $1,568 a year in energy costs.
2. Grosfillex Contract Tempo Chair: The chairs feature stacking ability and can be used in non-traditional locations such as food courts, airports, shopping malls, colleges and universities. The chairs also come with a three-year warranty.
3. Blodgett BCM: The BCM combination oven is part of Blodgett's BCM and BCP series. The ovens have two control options: manual and programmable, and feature two different rack configurations. Additionally, operators can choose among four self-cleaning programs.
4. Franklin Machine Products Inc. Franklin Hood Filter Plus: The filter has slotted baffle channel screens designed for maximum grease removal.

In addition to What's Hot, What's Cool, companies such as Ice-O-Matic and Vizion are showcasing their latest technology. Vizion displayed its Chill ICE heat exchanger. The device takes ice machine waste water and recycles it to lower the temperature of incoming fresh water. The recycling effort decreases the ice harvest time cycle, and increases ice production and the availability of ice in the bin.

The 2011 NAFEM Show runs through Feb. 12 at the Orlando, Fla., Convention Center.