Technology solutions provider JBT Corporation has teamed up with food safety technology specialist SmartWash Solutions to take what they describe as the latest fresh-cut food safety technology to Europe.

With their partnership, they will bring an innovative combination of science, technology and engineering to fresh-cut produce processors within the continent, says JBT.

One way in which they plan to do that is by introducing the SmartWash system to Europe, it adds.

This successful system is already used by more than 50% of the fresh-cut produce industry in the U.S.

SmartWash Solutions’ patented SmartWash works by delivering Pinpoint Process Control to food processing wash water systems. The system mitigates cross-contamination while improving food safety.

The system's expansion to Europe will start with the opening of SmartWash Solutions BV in the Netherlands, says JBT.

Ewoud Buter, general manager of SmartWash Solutions BV, comments that with the alliance, the company anticipates further expansion.

He anticipates JBT to be able to leverage its resources in Europe and beyond, significantly scaling-up its activities.

He comments: “Through our alliance with JBT, we will be able to make many more people in the industry aware of the benefits of SmartWash by leveraging the resources of JBT worldwide.”

Carlos Fernandez, JBT's executive vice president and president, Liquid Foods, says: "Food safety is a mega-trend that will transform the marketplace over the next generation.

"We're thrilled to partner with SmartWash Solutions and offer this breakthrough to our customers.”

SmartWash Solutions achieves cost savings in labor, productivity, utilities

Buter explains that his corporation's unique solution is designed to increase and maximize the effectiveness of chlorine.

He calls the element the most powerful anti-microbial weapon in existence. And SmartWash Solutions works by combining chlorine-based washes with its own patented chemistry.

“The components of our patented SmartWash solution help to alleviate the challenges associated with fresh-cut produce, comprising a high level of pathogen control that allows us to mitigate the risk of cross-contamination and in the process reduce the probability of outbreaks occurring,” he says.

“The wash water used in fresh-cut processing can get extremely dirty, due to soils and other contaminants entering the system.”

He points out that SmartWash Solutions’ process control systems provide high process control. Plus they also can withstand the challenges of working in a wet and cold environment, common in fresh-cut processing.

Additionally, he says SmartWash Solutions has helped customers realize cost savings in labor, productivity and utilities.

It does this by improving the efficiency of wash systems, he explains. It also increases the process control to levels previously impossible in the industry, he emphasizes.

In fact, the technology has been so successful that SmartWash systems now treat an estimated five billion pounds (over two kilograms) worth of fresh-cut produce in the U.S. every year, according to the company.

Companies in Canada, Australia, China and Spain also use the system on significant volumes of fresh-cut produce, it adds.