In today’s challenging economic climate, maximizing efficiency in orange juice production is more difficult than ever. SEPCO’s Nick Stidham spoke with a veteran Mechanical Supervisor to explore the challenges his team faces, from dwindling fruit supplies to increasing costs, and the innovative strategies they’re using to stay ahead.

What is your occupation title?

Mechanical Supervisor

What are your responsibilities at your company?

As a Mechanical Supervisor, I am responsible for keeping the production lines running smoothly, from fruit receiving all the way to the feed mill.

How did you get into this industry, and why did you choose it over other options?

I graduated high school in 1982 and started working here in January 1983. My parents both worked here at the time, so I began with regular labor tasks and gradually moved into maintenance. Over the years, I climbed the ladder of success, and here I am now, 43 years later. The steady income has kept me here, and I’ve always appreciated the stability and opportunities this company has provided.

What changes have occurred in your industry in the past twenty years?

The most significant change has been the shift from producing orange juice concentrate in various container sizes to producing Not From Concentrate (NFC) juice. We no longer remove the water to make concentrate; instead, we juice the oranges, pasteurize the juice to make it aseptic (killing all bacteria), remove the pulp, and bottle it. This method preserves the taste, making it ten times better, and the juice remains fresh in the refrigerator for weeks due to its aseptic nature.

What changes have occurred in your industry in the past two years?

The availability of fruit has drastically decreased. We used to grow around 250 million boxes of oranges per year statewide, but now we’re lucky to get 50 million.

Given the changes in your industry over the years, caused by both external forces and internal management decisions, what new challenges has your business faced?

The main challenge is financial. With the reduction in our product output and the impact of inflation, everything has become more expensive, making it harder to keep operations running smoothly.

How have these new challenges in recent years created obstacles to your team achieving fluid sealing reliability?

Pumping large amounts of concentrated orange juice has been challenging due to the high sugar content and viscosity. The high pressure causes seals to struggle with resealing once they are pushed open. Tommy Seals from SEPCO has been instrumental in addressing this issue by redesigning the seals, which has greatly improved their performance. However, in some applications, it’s still a bit of a challenge.

What specific types of equipment have been the most difficult to manage?

The big positive displacement pumps at the tank farm have been the most challenging.

How has SEPCO assisted your team in the last year to achieve success?

SEPCO has provided some of the best training to our mechanics, enabling them to make quick and accurate repairs when problems arise.

How has training provided by SEPCO benefited your team?

The training has significantly enhanced our mechanics’ skills, allowing them to make effective repairs and improve their overall expertise.

How has SEPCO’s product line and availability of fluid sealing experts benefited your business?

As I’ve mentioned previously, SEPCO’s products and expert support have been incredibly helpful.

In your own words, what sets SEPCO apart from other fluid-sealing equipment manufacturers?
First, they offer what I believe is the best product on the market, based on my 43 years of experience in the citrus industry. Second, when a product fails, SEPCO thoroughly researches the cause, tests to identify the issue, and makes the necessary improvements to both the product and its application. Third, they provide top-notch training to our maintenance technicians, helping them become better mechanics over time.