Webber-Smith Associates, Inc

Throwback Thursday Project Spotlight! The Sara Lee Bakery Group planned a refrigeration project designed to replace their R22-based refrigeration and place the cooling load on their central ammonia system at their refrigerated dough products facility. WEBBER/SMITH worked with plant staff and corporate engineers to analyze refrigeration loads and construction options to determine the best choices from an operational and budget standpoint.... The upgrade expanded their current ammonia system to allow it to serve as the primary refrigerant for the new glycol system. The ammonia engine room housed new ammonia compressors and a suction accumulator with evaporative condensers on the roof. A new building expansion housed the new glycol chiller, glycol tank and pumps. Learn more about this and other projects by visiting our website: https://www.webbersmith.com/sara-lee-bakery-group/

Project Spotlight. For this project, our team was contracted to upgrade an ingredient batching operation. Our client realized their existing ingredient batch process was difficult to maintain and ergonomically challenging to operate, often times resulting in inconsistent batch mixes.... Our design team’s scope of work was to develop an automated batching system with better quality control, more access to equipment for cleaning and a more ergonomically friendly workspace while increasing their product capacity. Our creative design allowed the client to re-purpose an existing process area providing a food-safe, sustainable and cost-effective solution. Learn more about this and some of our other projects by visiting our website: https://www.webbersmith.com/non-disclosed-juice-manufactur/

We're Hiring a Project Architectural Designer! We are seeking a Project Architectural Designer who specializes in food processing, cold storage, and/or industrial building design and project management. Five years minimum design production experience preferably in these building types and capable of producing complete construction documents while coordinating with the in-house architectural and engineering staff. REVIT proficiency/experience preferred. Architectural and/or Ar...chitectural Engineering degree required. Travel (project related) is required. For more information on the position, visit our website at: https://www.webbersmith.com/now-hiring-project-architectur/

We're hiring an Administrative Coordinator! We are seeking an individual with experience performing administrative duties in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. We are a multi-discipline EA firm located in Lititz, PA specializing in the design of food processing facilities and low temperature food storage and distribution facilities for over 40 years. The corporation is a national leader in this field with projects throughout the US and our clients inclu...de some of the largest food companies and contractors in the USA. The firm consists of licensed architects and licensed PEs in structural, plumbing, HVAC, industrial refrigeration, and electrical disciplines. For more information on the position, visit our website at: https://www.webbersmith.com/now-hiring-administrative-coor/

September is National Food Safety Education Month. Food Safety Begins in the Details of Design. When it comes to the design of sanitary and multi-temperature zones in food processing facilities, the details matter. If your facility doors and walls details are not designed correctly, there are potential food safety risks that could create problems down the road.... For example, vapor leaks around IMP walls, doors, and wall and floor penetrations can introduce a variety of problems to a facility. The impact can include excess moisture, condensation and ice buildup. This excess moisture and water can foster bacteria growth and create unsightly staining which can leave a negative impression on inspectors and visiting customers. Learn more about our food-safe designs: https://www.webbersmith.com/food-safe-environments/

Throwback Thursday Project Spotlight. We were chosen by Gordon Food Service to lead the architectural and full design efforts of their seventh distribution center located in Shepherdsville, KY. To meet the high through-put requirement of GFS’s comprehensive logistic plan, we designed a 105’ tall warehouse to increase space utilization. The automated storage and retrieval system also provided structural support for the building.... The building includes two freezers, a cooler and 80 loading docks. The complex includes rack layouts for ambient groceries, non-conveyables, and ice cream. The 2,000 ton refrigeration system services a 5,250,000 cu ft freezer operating at -10F, a 2,255,000 cu ft cooler operating at +34F, and a 90,000 cu ft ice cream freezer operating at -20F. Learn more about this project and others: https://www.webbersmith.com/gordon-food-service/

How often do you walk your roof and spend time looking at your ammonia pipe insulation system? You spend tens of thousands of dollars on pipe insulation, so why not maintain it? We recommend you walk your exterior pipe insulation at least twice per year to look for gaps and separations in the jacketing and vapor barrier. These gaps not only let in rain water, but they also let moisture migrate into, and throughout, your pipe insulation system. These failed points can shorten ...the life of your pipe insulation, cause corrosion under the insulation and increase your energy costs! Let us help you save energy and extend the life of your ammonia pipe insulation system. Learn more by visiting our website: https://www.webbersmith.com/refrigeration-design/ Or contact us directly: https://www.webbersmith.com/contact/

September is National Food Safety Education Month. We've been in the food safety business since 1978 and we know where bugs hide. In addition to our preemptive food-safe design, we offer investigative building surveys that focus on improving food safety. We contend it is better for us to prevent, find and correct any issues before they show up on social media. Whether it is finding those areas that are hard to clean or addressing condensation formation on walls and ceilings..., we know where to look. Learn more by visiting our website at: https://www.webbersmith.com/food-safety-consulting/

Project Spotlight! Don’s Prepared Foods, a family-owned RTE food manufacturer, hired WEBBER/SMITH Associates, Inc. as their design partner to renovate and expand their Schwenksville, PA facility. Don’s Prepared Foods has been delivering quality fresh products under the brand names Don’s Salads, Melanie’s Medley’s, and Artisan Deli since 1970. Project included a 25,000 sf freezer and cooler warehouse addition, upgrades to existing process systems and building renovations to im...prove production efficiencies and increase throughput. Looking to expand or redesign an existing facility? We can help! Learn more by visiting our website at: https://www.webbersmith.com/services/ https://www.webbersmith.com/rte-food-facility-design/

When it comes to the design of sanitary and multi-temperature zones in food processing facilities, the details matter. The WEBBER/SMITH Group branded companies have gained a reputation for excellence in helping clients design new processes and buildings, and improve their existing operations, by creating food-safe environments that aid compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). What are some of the key factors we consider in the design?... Learn more by visiting our website: https://www.webbersmith.com/food-safe-environments/

Throwback Thursday Project Spotlight! Taylor Farms purchased a foodservice facility designed by WEBBER/SMITH in 2015 and hired us in 2019 to design renovations. The 117,000 sq ft facility included spacious employee locker rooms with numerous handwashing stations leading into the food processing and preparation areas. Processing and preparation areas included a separate room for cooking raw ingredients and large sandwich and salad assembly rooms. A R&D kitchen was added for ...recipe development. If you're looking to renovate an existing food manufacturing or foodservice facility, we can help! Learn more by visiting our website at: https://www.webbersmith.com/services/ https://www.webbersmith.com/project/taylor-farms/

It’s a small item. Just a small gap in the aluminum jacket of your pipe insulation system. Just the separation of some caulk. A minor item. Or is it?... These small, not so important, gaps and broken seals are places where the failure of your low temperature pipe insulation starts. Gaps in aluminum jacket allow water to enter and get below the jacket to start deterioration. Additionally, where there is a gap in the aluminum jacket, there is usually a gap in the underlying vapor barrier too. Breaks in the vapor barrier left unattended turn into big, expensive problems pretty quickly. If you’re not sure what to look for or how to fix the pipe insulation failure, we do. We’ve assisted many clients over our 40+ year history with pipe insulation issues. https://www.webbersmith.com/refrigeration-design/

Spotlight on our Leadership Team! Ray Anater Vice President, Sales and Marketing... Ray has over 28 years of engineering, project sales and marketing experience in the food and beverage industry. This gives him a broad perspective and enables him to focus on providing clients the right design solutions to meet their technical requirements, budget and operational needs. Learn more about Ray and other members of our Leadership Team by visiting our website: https://www.webbersmith.com/about-us/#team

Spotlight on our Leadership Team! Drew Blank, P.E. Vice President of Project Management | Principal... Drew leads the day-to-day project activities of our project managers and support staff. He brings over 20 years of project management, project engineering, and design experience from a variety of projects in the food processing industry. He has a strong background in mechanical engineering and industrial construction. Prior to joining the firm, Drew was responsible for the operations, maintenance and engineering activities for multiple snack food production facilities, wastewater treatment plant, and multiple distribution centers. Learn more about Drew and other members of our Leadership Team by visiting our website: https://www.webbersmith.com/about-us/#team