FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2008
Contact: Timothy R. Rugh, CAE
Email: trugh@3-a.org
3-A SSI Announces Expanded Education Programs and 2008 Annual Meeting
McLEAN, Virginia – 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) announced plans for an expanded education program lineup and the program schedule for the 2008 Annual Meeting to be held May 19-23, 2008 at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport in Milwaukee, WI.
New this year, a Pharmaceutical 3-A (P3-A) Education and Training Program will open the two days of 3-A SSI education events on Monday, May 19. This program represents the first general education program and open Work Group meetings of the P3-A Steering Committee.
Topics for the program will include:
• Role and Purpose of P3-A Standards—What benefits will the new P3-A standards bring for fabricators, users, and advancing regulatory compliance? What is the scope of the new standards relative to other equipment standards? Hear the perspectives of leading fabricators and users.
• Introduction and Overview of New P3-A Standards—Learn more about the content of the three newest P3-A Standards for Materials, Terminology, and Centrifugal Pumps.
• Introduction and Overview of Proposed New Standards—Work Group leaders will introduce P3-A Standards in development for four new equipment groups: Agitated Filter Dryers, Vessels and Agitators, Mills and Classification Equipment, and Process Heat Exchangers.
• Third Party Inspection for P3-A Symbol Authorization—This session will introduce the new P3-A Symbol and the authorization to display the new symbol on equipment that conforms to P3-A Standards. Elements of the Third Party Verification inspection required for use of the P3-A Symbol will be explored in a ‘hands-on’ demonstration.
The second education program, A New World of Sanitary Design, will be held on Tuesday, May 20. This program will showcase some of the leading issues in the ‘smart’ design of sanitary food processing systems worldwide, with special attention to leading trends in equipment, materials and designs in the U.S. marketplace. The subjects will expand the knowledge of professionals on the proper design, installation, operation and maintenance of equipment.
Topics and speakers for the May 20 program will include:
• Meeting the Challenge of Hygienic Integration—Andrew Timperley, Timperley Consulting will describe the challenges and strategies for integrating components, machinery, instrumentation, and control elements for the safe and hygienic operation of food production systems.
• Design Challenges in Emerging Markets—Joe Smucker, Smucker Associates, will provide perspectives on the planning and design of dairy processing facilities in some key emerging South American countries.
• Design for Cleanability—Gabe Miller, Sani-Matic, Inc., will assess the increasing pressure to reduce the cost of cleaning and sanitizing and the critical need for ‘designing for cleanability’.
• Controlling Cleaner Chemistry—Jacques Rouillard, Senior Technical Specialist, JohnsonDiversey, N.A. will address the widespread concern about allergens and allergen control in cleaning efficacy.
• Lean Alloy Alternatives for 300 Series Stainless Steels—Cheryl Botti and Rick Jerzyk, ATI Allegheny Ludlum and Carl Kettermann, Rath Gibson will address utilization of lower-nickel alloys for many applications where Types 301, 304, and 304L have been used and the barriers that must be overcome.
• Mechanical Seals for Food Processing—Henri Azibert, A.W. Chesterton, will describe the challenges of standard mechanical seal function and configurations and how they affect the need of sanitary applications in terms of design, construction, and material.
• Non-invasive Inspection of Heat Exchangers—Tom Werner, Accusense Systems Ltd. will examine all current methods of plate, tubular and scraped surface heat exchanger inspection and an in-depth review of the various non-destructive testing methods of testing heat exchangers.
The 3-A SSI Annual Meeting will open on Wednesday morning, May 21, with reports on 3-A SSI programs and services and an update on all work now in progress on 3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Accepted Practices. Work Group sessions will begin late Wednesday morning and continue through Friday morning, May 23.
Registration is required for all events. A registration fee applies to the education sessions on May 19 and 20 with a discount available until May 1. No fee is required for the 3-A SSI Annual Meeting and Working Group meetings, which are open to all interested parties. Complete program details, including registration information and Working Group meeting schedules, are available on-line at the 3-A SSI website at www.3-a.org under News & Events, or follow the link directly to: 3-A SSI 2008 Annual Meeting and Education Programs (DOC)
Sponsorship opportunities are available for both education events. See details on sponsorship under the event description or go to: 2008 Program Sponsorship Opportunities (DOC). Sponsorship represents a great opportunity to build recognition as supporter of the expanding education mission of 3-A SSI. For sponsorship details, contact Tim Rugh at 3-A SSI.
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3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to enhance product safety for consumers of food, beverages, and pharmaceutical products through the development and use of 3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Accepted Practices. Visit the 3-A SSI web site at www.3-a.org.