Blending advanced automation with purposeful design, this year’s Plant of the Year reflects how food manufacturers are engineering smarter, more efficient operations to meet evolving industry demands.

Brase succeeds Sean Connolly, who will step away from his leadership roles and from the Board on May 31 after more than a decade of leadership.

Desteaming — the practice of replacing steam with a right-sized thermal solution like hot water — can improve the efficiency of hot water generation, helping to reduce operational expenses and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Set to debut at upcoming tradeshows, Little Gem can produce cuts including slices from 2 mm to 10 mm, strips and dices up to 20 mm.

Duravant says the transition to the Pyramid name will strengthen how the organization works with customers, integrators and partners.