Cutting-edge solutions take center stage at EATS 2025
The latest in processing, automation, packaging and food safety technology was on display at EATS 2025, where more than 350 suppliers showcased produce-ready solutions Oct. 28-30 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
The global food equipment and technology show rebranded in 2023, as Process Expo became EATS: The Equipment And Technology Show for Food & Beverage. The 2025 event featured innovation across eight key industry sectors: bakery, beverage, cannabis, dairy, pet food, prepared food, proteins and sweets.
The event, which has drawn more than 8,000 attendees, featured three live production lines, sector-specific discussions and cutting-edge technologies aimed at streamlining operations and boosting efficiency. Celebrity chefs, including Rick Bayless and Jeff Mauro, brought consumer trends to life in the EATS kitchen.
New technologies featured at the show included:
METTLER TOLEDO
METTLER TOLEDO highlighted X-ray, metal detection, vision and checkweighing solutions that help food and beverage processors and packers ensure product quality.
The featured solutions also support regulatory compliance, improve production efficiencies and monitor real-time performance metrics.
“Every product leaving a food processing facility represents a promise to the consumer,” said Tom Koshy, national sales director at METTLER TOLEDO Product Inspection. “With our advanced inspection systems, manufacturers can confidently safeguard consumer trust and protect their brand reputation by catching even the hardest-to-detect foreign materials and packaging defects before they go anywhere.”
METTLER TOLEDO featured a new X-ray inspection system designed for bulk flow applications. Capable of detecting challenging physical contaminants including glass, stone, bone and high-density plastics and rubber, the system helps processors and packers inspect products early in production, reducing product waste while protecting downstream equipment.
The next-generation M34R metal detector, featuring dual-simultaneous frequency (DSF) technology, was also on display. DSF improves detection sensitivity by up to 25% and reduces false rejects even in difficult wet or metalized film applications, according to the company.
The company also highlighted its CX combination checkweigher and X-ray inspection system, along with its V31 vision system and two X-ray systems ideal for inspecting small- to medium-sized packaged products.
MOISTTECH
Moisture measurement and control company MoistTech Corp. showcased its IR3000-F moisture sensor, which uses cutting-edge near-infrared (NIR) technology to ensure real-time, continuous moisture analysis for a range of food products.
The sensor enhances product quality and consistency while optimizing oven, dryer and fryer performance, according to the company. The ability to precisely control moisture levels results in improved energy efficiency, reduced waste and increased productivity.
MoistTech’s non-contact moisture measurement technology is designed for seamless integration into existing food production lines, requires no ongoing recalibration and is unaffected by variations in product height, color or ambient conditions.
CONVEYOR TECHNOLOGY
Drum motor sales and service provider Conveyor Technology unveiled its TechRoll Electric Drum Motor and Predictive Failure Analysis technology, pairing next-generation motor performance with real-time intelligent predictive monitoring capabilities.
“The TechRoll represents the next era for drum motors —combining precision engineering, advanced analytics and the kind of reliability our customers have come to expect,” Conveyor Technology CEO Justin Carmondy said. “Predictive Failure Analysis is truly a game changer. It goes far beyond traditional maintenance monitoring by providing real-time visibility into a drum motor’s performance and maintenance needs. Continuous runtime is our top priority, and this technology ensures exactly that.”
The TechRoll Electric Drum Motor’s enclosed design minimizes contamination risk and reduces maintenance requirements, according to the company. Conveyor Technology’s Predictive Failure Analysis provides continuous, intelligent monitoring that allows operators to predict and prevent failures.
Key features include:
- Custom hardware and sensors: Proprietary printed circuit board assembly with wireless connectivity and integrated current, power factor, vibration andtemperature sensing
- Industrial-grade design: Stainless steel IP69K enclosure with whip antenna feed-through for maximum durability in washdown environments
- IoT integration: Real-time monitoring through Grafana dashboards, with optional data streaming to customers’ SCADA or Ignition systems
- AI-Powered analytics: Predictive algorithms deployed both on-device and in the cloud to forecast potential failures
- Cloud infrastructure: Secure AWS hosting with intuitive dashboards, gauges, thresholds and multi-level access
- Smart alerts: Email and text notifications that enable maintenance teams to act before downtime occurs
URSCHEL
Global industrial food cutting machine manufacturer Urschel showcased its collaboration with KRONEN commercial processing solutions.
The agreement, announced in May, includes a sales partnership in specifically defined countries and regions. Urschel will sell Kronen machines and processing lines in Mexico, the U.S. and Asia, with the exception of Vietnam, where Kronen’s sales activities will remain with existing company representatives.
KRONEN’s portfolio — including peelers, washers, conveyors, slicers, dicers, dryers, mixers and preparation equipment — complements Urschel’s cutting technology to broaden the range of solutions available to customers and enhance opportunities for integrated food processing lines, according to the companies.
“By offering KRONEN machinery through Urschel, we’re giving our customers access to a wider portfolio of high-quality, efficient solutions — all powered by Urschel’s trusted expertise and quality service,” Urschel chief sales officer Alan Major said.
ASTRA
Japanese peeler manufacturer ASTRA highlighted the FAP-3000, its latest pineapple peeling and cutting machine solution for large-scale pineapple processing.
The FAP-3000 features a new coring system and can process up to 500 pineapples per hour, helping save time and reduce waste, according to the company. It delivers a yield rate around 62% without coring and 52% with coring.
“Typical pineapple peeling machines offer a yield of only 40% to 45%, wasting more than half the fruit,” Astra sales manager Ryo Takeshita said. “Our FAP-3000 reduces waste to just 48%, helping processors retain 7% to 12% more edible fruit. That means you get one extra pineapple for every eight to 14 processed.”
INNOVATION AWARD
Sustainable packaging company Cirkla won the event’s Best New Technology for Sustainability award for its molded fiber modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) trays.
The proprietary technology provides a high-performance, sustainable alternative to traditional plastic MAP trays, reducing plastic content by around 85%, according to the company.
MAP trays, widely used for preserving the freshness and extending the shelf life of meat and frozen foods, have historically relied on plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP). Cirkla’s fiber MAP trays are made from renewable plant fibers such as sugarcane bagasse and feature an easy-peel liner that ensures recyclability in paper streams.
“With the launch of our fiber MAP trays, we are redefining the possibilities of sustainable packaging,” Cirkla vice president of sales Glenn Divers said. “Our technology ensures that brands can transition seamlessly from plastic to fiber, addressing the challenges of performance, cost and scalability.”
