Tom van Ness

Background

About Tom van Ness

Summary of Experience Engineering Manager with 35 years experience in design and implementation of machines & systems for the manufacture of food, medical and consumer products. Major emphasis on: packaging systems, special purpose equipment design and management of large projects. Holder of two U.S. Patents. Summary of Skills: Project leadership from inception through post start-up optimization of large systems with emphasis on custom machine design, new technology roll-out and stringent system accreditations. Project Specific Experience: Project Manager • New packaging & process lines – spirits blending and bottling • New packaging lines – OTC pharmaceutical • New packaging line and line improvements – bakeries for cookies, muffins and bar products • New building & process– peanut roasting, inspection and blanching • New production line – frozen, ready-to-bake cookies • Line improvement – electronics order fulfillment center • New packaging lines – shelf stable, pre-cooked meals • New packaging line – ready-to-eat cereals • New packaging lines – consumer photographic products Equipment Design • Pouch feeders – feeding difficult to handle products from bulk into cartoners and robots • Lane mergers – high speed merging of salty snack bags • Intelligent queue – high speed queue management for unstable trays • Consumer products assembly equipment – various machines for assembly functions ranging from high speed film winding to clean room electronic assembly • Leak detector – 100% on line detection of 12µm pin holes at 250 ppm