3-A Sanitary Standards Inc. (3-A SSI), a resource on hygienic equipment design for food, beverage and pharmaceutical processing, opened registration and announced the agenda for its 2024 Summit on Hygienic Design: Advancing Product Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability. The event is taking place May 7 to 9 at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare. General registrants may claim a $50 early registration savings through March 15.

“The event reflects an intense, shared focus on food and product safety by manufacturers of foods, beverages and pharmaceutical products,” says Tim Rugh, executive director of 3-A SSI. “Ramped-up enforcement of the Food Safety Modernization Act, increased consumer demand for product safety, and the need to show compliance with U.S. dairy regulations have combined to drive new demand for processing equipment that meets higher levels of proven design criteria. This demand comes from a wide range of industries, including food, beverages, active pharmaceutical ingredients, pet foods, personal care products and others.”

Now in its 20th year, the Summit on Hygienic Design, previously known as the 3-A Education Event and Annual Conference, features a 50% increase in content, with presentations and breakout sessions led by product safety experts. Participants will also take part in hands-on equipment demos and will have more time to network with peers, peruse product and service displays, and engage with exceptional students presenting posters on their research.

The 2024 Summit on Hygienic Design begins Tuesday, May 7, with a full day of foundational learning about hygienic design and the role of 3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Accepted Practices. The program continues Wednesday, May 8, with a full day of advanced education sessions tied to the theme, including three concurrent sessions in each of three breakout periods. The event concludes Thursday, May 9, with a special half-day of hands-on training illustrating some of the key principles of hygienic design with actual sample equipment. Throughout the conference, participants will have the opportunity to peruse tabletop displays and to network with like-minded professionals, presenters, and other industry experts from all over the world.

The event is for professionals, at all skill levels and from any industry, who seek a broader and deeper understanding of the critical role of hygienic design in product safety. This includes regulatory sanitarians, representatives of scientific societies, academics, and students pursuing a degree in a related field. Watch the 3-A SSI web site for details on program speakers and topics.