April 2, 2018 – Willmar, MN – RELCO, LLC, a Minnesota-based manufacturer of cheese equipment and designer of cheese systems, will be exhibiting at the International Cheese Technology Expo (ICTE) on April 17-19 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. RELCO has now completed the introduction of their TRU-BLOCK™ Blockformer, TRU-FINISH™ Curd Table, and Star Valve products and they will be showcasing them in booth #625 at ICTE.
Steve Ejnik, Vice President of Cheese Equipment & Systems, is eager to share these new features with people in the cheese industry. Ejnik explains, “The RELCO team continues to adapt cheese equipment and systems to meet ever changing customer applications around the globe. This past year, we focused on our TRU-FINISH™ Curd Table with the primary focus on the carriage mechanism, which is often challenged by heavier duty demands during stirring and unloading. The RELCO team will be featuring our TRU-FINISH™ Rack & Pinion Sanitator along with our TRU-BLOCK™ Blockformer at ICTE. This will be the first time both items are on display for all in the cheese making industry to view.”
TRU-BLOCK™ Blockformer
The TRU-BLOCK™ Blockformer is installed and operational in manufacturing facilities around the globe including Parkham Farms in England, Queseria 
Dos Lagunas (QDL) in Chihuahua, Mexico, and Amalgamated Dairies, Ltd. (ADL) in Summerside (PEI), Canada. Thane MacEwen, Operations Manager at ADL recently worked with RELCO to install TRU-BLOCK™ Blockfomers. MacEwen pointed out, “Where other companies have a product in a box, the TRU-BLOCK™ by RELCO can be customized for companies with unique needs, like us. The computer and programming, display graphics, and the unit overall is very easy to use and operator-friendly.”
Some of the new product features of the RELCO® TRU-BLOCK™ Blockformer include:
- The vacuum “Air Management System” optimizes air movement in the tower system during curd transfer and deep vacuum.
- The design of the “Air Management System” also allows for the vacuum pumps to be serviced while the tower system is running.
- The TRU-BLOCK™ Blockformer will work seamlessly when integrated with various Auto Baggers for larger scale Blockformer systems.
TRU-FINISH™ Curd Table
The TRU-FINISH™ Curd Tables are available with permanent drain screens and a permanent (CIPable) drain trough, or traditional removable drain 
screens. Tables with permanent drain screens are currently being utilized by Mullins Cheese in Knowlton, WI and are being installed at Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese in Rudolf, WI. Valley Queen Cheese in Milbank, SD is in the process of installing twelve TRU-FINISH™ Curd Tables. Lance Johnson, Vice President of Manufacturing at Valley Queen Cheese explained, “The purchase of twelve TRU-FINISH™ Curd Tables was a major decision. But, the picture became very clear as RELCO walked through pages of detailed design – they had done their homework and didn’t leave any stones unturned.”
Some of the key new product features of the RELCO® TRU-FINISH ™ Curd Table include:
- “Rack & Pinion” drive Sanitator for applications requiring deeper curd depths (this eliminates the traditional “Chain Drive” and greasing)
- Accurate tracking of Carriage position using encoder technology.
- A “Locking Collar” on the “Cluster Shaft” prevents the Forkers from lifting during operation.
- The “Curd Forkers” may remain mounted of the table during the unload process (along with the Curd Pusher).
Star Valve
Some of the key new product features of the RELCO® Star Valve include:
- Polymer Veins for a more positive seal.
- Available in 10” and 12” (diameter) models.
- Sealed Shaft for blowing or vacuuming of curd.
Visit with RELCO Experts
Several RELCO Experts including Darin Fischer, Mechanical Designer, Todd Malenke, Mechanical Designer, Tom Gumpert, Sales Engineer, and Steve Ejnik, Vice President of Cheese Equipment & Systems, will be available at the RELCO booth at ICTE to help customers understand these new products. RELCO is continually working on improving their products by getting feedback from customers and The International Cheese Technology Expo is a great venue to connect. Ejnik noted, “We look forward to seeing everyone at this year’s Cheese Technology Expo and gaining more input on our new products and future products as well.”
Visit RELCO at the International Cheese Technology Expo (ICTE) on April 17-19, 2018 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. RELCO will be located on the main aisle in booth #625.
For more information, contact Janae Olson, Marketing & Global Communications Manager at jolson@relco.net.
