The Food Products Division of National Starch and Chemical Company has changed its name to National Starch Food Innovation. The new moniker is said to reflect a company that has evolved into one of the most innovative food ingredient suppliers in the world.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Chr. Hansen for a new line of liquid starter cultures. The newly issued patent is the latest in a number of patents Chr. Hansen owns on starter cultures and lactic acid bacteria. The new line allows the company to supply commercial liquid microbial starter cultures that can be stored at the dairy for extended periods of time without significant loss of metabolic activity. The company also announced recently that it has completed a complete renovation of its freezer facilities in New Berlin, Wis.

Steril-Aire Inc. , has moved to an expanded corporate headquarters facility, tripling its manufacturing capacity and its sales and administrative office space. The new headquarters also features a fully equipped research laboratory dedicated to keeping Steril-Aire in the forefront of UVC for HVAC™, a technology pioneered by the company in the mid 1990s. Steril-Aire manufactures and markets a complete line of UVC devices and accessories for commercial, residential, school, health care, food processing and industrial applications. The new headquarters facility is located at 2840 N. Lima St., Burbank, CA 91504. Phone 800/2STERIL (278-3745) or 818/565-1128.

Fristam Pumps has announced the recipients of its 2004 Outstanding Sales Performance Awards. Top distributor honors go to: Dairy Engineering Company, Colorado; DSI Process Systems, Missouri; Statco Engineering & Fabricators, California; Techmatic Inc., Michigan; and W.M. Sprinkman Corporation, Wisconsin. Top OEM honors go to: CPS Scherping Systems, Minnesota; Filtration Engineering Company, Minnesota; Niro Inc., Wisconsin; RDM Technologies, Georgia; and Sani-Matic Inc., Wisconsin. Top Positive Displacement Sales Growth Percent honors go to: R.D. Smith Company, Wisconsin; and Triangle Process Equipment, North Carolina.

Stoelting LLC, has acquired partial interest in Spray Processes Ltd. , Bedford, UK, a company with more than 30 years experience in spray dry technology. SPL is a worldwide specialist in spray dryers, bed dryers, falling film evaporators, and related equipment. Stoelting has been SPL's exclusive representative in the U.S. for the past three years.

Industry mourns the loss of Enda McCormack

MILWAUKEE, Wis.-Enda McCormack, of Chr. Hansen died September 28, 2004 after several months of illness at the age of 34.

McCormack began his career with Chr. Hansen in the United Kingdom in 1994 after his graduation from UC Cork, Ireland. After a period with Chr. Hansen in Australia, he moved to the United States in 2001 specifically to introduce Easy-Set™ dairy cultures to customers. He later became regional sales mgr. for dairy on the west coast, and was instrumental in introducing the Easy-Set product range.

The company said McCormack will be remembered as a dedicated and competent professional, as well as for his high energy level, good humor, and enthusiasm for everything he did.