A Renewed Pride. A Brighter Tomorrow.

Transcription

1 A Renewed Pride. A Brighter Tomorrow. People Products Processes Solutions 9 inches

2 Letter from Our President Welcome to Nitta Casings, a revitalized company with a long and illustrious history. We have overcome some significant hurdles in recent years to emerge as a re-energized company with a renewed commitment to innovation, customer service, and operational excellence. We have differentiated ourselves from our competition through innovation and flexibility. Nitta Casings is renowned for its ability to handle custom orders. We excel at manufacturing and have the most knowledgeable and experienced team in the industry. Many of our employees have 20, 30, and even 40 years of experience. They know collagen processing and our customer needs better than anyone in the industry. We are blessed to have such a devoted, loyal, and knowledgeable workforce that is helping us flourish in the new millennium. With a history of science and innovation in the casing field, we are uniquely positioned to lead the industry into new collagen applications such as medical, cosmetics, and health enhancement. We are laying the foundation here at Nitta Casings for a future of innovation, leadership, and continued growth, and we are thrilled to invite you along for the ride. Our renewed pride will lead to a brighter tomorrow. We hope to work with you soon. Sincerely, J. Ronald Frump President & CEO

3 Company Overview The genesis for Nitta Casings occurred during the 1950 s in the research labs of Johnson & Johnson while trying to meet the demand for a new form of surgical suture. Research for new suture applications unexpectedly led to the development and production of an edible collagen casing. The seeds of a new company were born. This new business was originally formed as a part of Johnson & Johnson in While the healthcare business industry spurred its development, a new subsidiary soon refined the technology for the meat processing industry. The meat processing industry s high speed sausage filling equipment required a casing that provided consistency and performance. The forerunner to Nitta met the challenge head on, enabling sausage and beef snack manufacturers to produce their products faster and more profitably, thus catapulting the company into a leadership position in the emerging edible collagen casings industry. In 1996, we joined the Nitta family of companies. Nitta Casings was formed as an independent subsidiary of its parent company, Nitta Gelatin Inc., one of the world s largest gelatin manufacturers. With the strong financial resource of Nitta Gelatin, Nitta Casings has emerged as the grandfather of edible collagen casings with a renewed commitment to linking leading edge technology with an experienced, knowledgeable work force. VALUES / PEOPLE PRODUCTS: Collagen Casing Products PRODUCTS: New Collagen Products & Distributed Products PROCESSES & SOLUTIONS With Nitta Gelatin s backing, Nitta Casings has committed to move forward with its experience in its core technology of collagen and expand to other areas such as the Bio-medical, Cosmeceutical, and Nutraceutical industries. Nitta has expanded its product offerings to include customized collagen gels and collagen powders for non casing applications. This is being done while ensuring that product development remains focused on meeting & exceeding customer s needs.

4 Our Values Nitta employees are a knowledgeable and passionate group, dedicated to ensuring their customers are more than just satisfied. This Nitta Pride manifests itself in the following core values of the Company: Entrepreneurial ~ We contribute ideas, express our views, and execute them properly. We are cost conscious, but prepared to take calculated risks that will enhance our business, and that of our customers. Ethical ~ We respect and trust each other and are dedicated to Doing the Right Thing. Empowered ~ We have the latitude and authority to move the business forward with progressive and customer-oriented solutions. Empathetic ~ We put ourselves in the other person s shoes and try to understand their challenges. We respect the dignity of the individual at all times. P.R.I.D.E. Mantra Our goal is to become the premier, value-added collagen supplier in the world. We take pride in earning and retaining Customers for Life. We want to be known for: Product Strategy Approach Reinvest in Growth I nnovation Develop Talent & Results Oriented Culture Efficient Use of Resources

5 People Nitta Casings is not a faceless corporation, but a tight knit group of people who take immense pride in what they do. Nitta has over 200 people working diligently in our plants, corporate headquarters, and in the field. Since its founding in 1962, the Company has a long history of hiring and retaining some of the best and brightest people in the industry. Many Nitta employees have over 30 years of tenure with the Company. Collectively, our North American sales team has over 300 years of industry experience. With industry experts like this on your side, customer-centric solutions and ideas are a natural result. We are a global company, acting locally on your behalf. Our sales and technical staff know your business and how to get the most from your manufacturing processes. The Nitta team works full-time to develop innovative collagen solutions and customize our products to meet your needs. They function as trusted members of your team with a personal stake in providing positive outcomes. As long term members of the industry, they speak the lexicon of the collagen industry, helping you navigate the many challenges of the ever changing business landscape. Our people provide support from start to finish: Learning your business and understanding your organizational capabilities Discovering opportunities to improve processes and enhance productivity Prescribing treatment and process solutions Troubleshooting Performing diagnostic tests Customizing products to fit your unique needs Enhancing regulatory compliance Improving throughput and efficiency Providing excellent service and follow up Serving as your personal collagen expert and business consultant We understand that customers are looking for more from their suppliers than a varied range of quality products with consistent performance. Support and service are of paramount importance. According to the results from surveys of our customers, our service is unequaled in the industry. Because we are the industry s collagen specialist, we see our role extending far beyond that of a mere supplier. With roughly 50 years of industry involvement, we also serve as an information resource bringing to customers ideas about nutrition, promotion, packaging and a whole host of other topics gained from our knowledge of markets around the world. Our field sales representatives are our link to you. They can focus on pooling our resources to meet your needs. We invite you to challenge our sales force and customer service staffs to show you that Nitta supplies more than just collagen. VALUES / PEOPLE PRODUCTS: Collagen Casing Products PRODUCTS: New Collagen Products & Distributed Products PROCESSES & SOLUTIONS So when there are thousands, if not millions of dollars at stake, wouldn t you want an experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate sales professional working on your account? Contact us today and find out what Nitta Pride is all about.

6 Collagen Casing Products: Nitta s expertise in collagen casings has resulted in a range of versatile products that are guaranteed to meet, and exceed, your needs. Nitta offers a wide variety of casing types with one common characteristic they all help sausage producers maximize efficiency and productivity. Exclusive technology in extrusion and process control is used to produce a casing which fills to a controlled weight. This will ensure minimized giveaway and maximized yields. Plus, all products can be customized for your specific applications and are backed by our full-service commitment. Nitta s range of casings covers not only fresh foodservice and retail casings but also precooked, snack, processed and other sausage casings. A brief summary of the casing types is shown below. Fresh Sausage Casings: For retail or foodservice, breakfast or dinner size, clear or tinted, precooked or fresh, Nitta has a casing for every application in this segment. A market leader for many years, Superfry Plus casings combines the production characteristics required by the sausage manufacturer with the excellent cooking and eating qualities demanded by consumers. Nitta s Bloom casings, targeted for the retail market, add improved appearance to the production benefits of Superfry Plus casings. Meat Snack Casings: With our exclusive technology, Nitta is a leader in the production of meat snack casings. Nitta makes snack casings in a variety of sizes from 13mm to 32mm, in clear or mahogany colors. Excellent diameter control, strength for high-speed reeling and linking, and porosity for faster processing, all benefit packers, while the colorfast Mahogany casings also offer superior shelf appearance. This adds up to more than just significant savings. Processed Casings: These casings are used primarily to manufacture ethnic type products that are run on high-speed fillers and linkers, and undergo a secondary processing stage. The added processing strength ensures reliable machining for most applications while limiting shrinkage and weight loss. They are designed with extra strength for secondary processing but still allow you to produce a premium product on a wide variety of filling machines. If you are using sheep or cellulose casings, Nitta invites you to take a look at our processed casings; they are easy to run and give consistent results. Processors using our casings on high-speed equipment benefit from consistent drying and length control to meet the needs of net-weight packaging. On secondary processing, the added strength results in good water, steam and smoke cooking with less shrinkage. Processing is fast, consistent and provides the finished characteristics you need.

7 European Style Casings: Designed specifically for the European Marketplace, these clear, translucent casings are manufactured with EU approved raw materials. They are designed for high speed AL use and come with a reliable end closure. The product diameter range is 19-26mm with customized lengths available. Nitta has managed to come up with the right combination of strength and flexibility which has made these casings so popular. The bite and mouth-feel of these casings is comparable to natural casings. Nitta continues to lead the way in improving customer productivity through advanced casing technology. As we look to the future, the company is committed to continuing this trend by developing innovative casings that will satisfy future industry needs. Product Features and Benefits/Consumer Advantages: Nitta s collagen casings provide a variety of industry leading features and corresponding benefits to customers. This is why Nitta has become the go to supplier when meat processing manufacturers need a consumer preferred product. Our casings provide features and benefits preferred by consumers across the globe. Features Accurate diameter and size control Net weight packaging Fast, consistent, processing with strength Specialty colors available Slug rigidity 13mm 32mm range of sizes Consistent, non-fading color Desirable product appearance Benefits Uniform filling Giveaway reduction & packing accuracy Processing on all types of machinery Color stability and retention for shelf life Ease of processing Size & color flexibility to meet demand Longer shelf life Superior shelf appearance Nitta offers a variety of casing lengths and diameter choices to meet your target weight with minimal giveaway. For full details on size ranges contact your Nitta Sales Representative. Collagen Gel for Co-Extrusion: Co-extrusion is an automated process that simultaneously extrudes a continuous flow of meat emulsion and a thin outside layer of gel, creating casing around a product as it is actually produced. Nitta is pleased to offer bovine based collagen gels in customized formulations that provide the desired finished product characteristics for the meat packer. Due to our unique process, co-extruded products manufactured with Nitta s gels are excellent for Snack, Processed and Frankfurter/Hotdog applications. Nitta would like to help you enhance and improve the quality of your co-extruded products. Please contact your Nitta Sales Representative so they can begin working with you now. Cooling Water Meat Emulsion Counter- Rotating Head Nitta s Co-Extrusion Gel Brine PRODUCTS: Collagen Casing Products PRODUCTS: New Collagen Products & Distributed Products PROCESSES & SOLUTIONS

8 New Collagen Products: At Nitta, scientists are creating new products using one of the most plentiful proteins present in animal life collagen. Following nature s path, Nitta is finding ways to diversify the uses of collagen in the marketplace. By breaking it down into more basic forms, a great potential for the development of new collagen based products with varied uses has been opened. The horizon is vast for the potential uses of collagen. Since collagen is found in human beings as well as in animals, these products are compatible with the human body, virtually eliminating the risk of rejection. As one of the natural building blocks of life, it is finding more practical use daily, not only in the biomedical field, but in toiletries, food and beverage, and industry. Collagen Nitta s core technology. Collagen for Cosmeceutical use: Collagen is a naturally occurring supportive tissue in all living skin and is being introduced in cosmetic applications for skin creams, lotions, shampoos & conditioners, etc. Nitta is pleased to offer Pure Collagen and Super Purified Collagen product formulations. Our hydrolyzed collagen products are uniquely suited to cosmeceutical applications in their ability to retain moisture for healthy skin and hair. Nitta offers these collagen products for custom applications with various concentrations, solubility, types and purity. For full details on what we can do for you, please contact Nitta. Collagen for Nutraceutical use: As we age, the body s ability to make collagen protein slows down. During sleep, the body goes into repair and rejuvenation mode, whereupon it searches for a source of energy to fulfill this function. Hydrolyzed collagen (types I & III) protein contains the essential elements for production of lean muscles, healthy bones and firm, youthful skin. Collagen and its benefit to health have given birth to the collagen supplement industry. Nitta s collagen products are utilized for their protein in drinks, dietary supplements, etc. Nitta s collagen powders are well suited not only for the wellness industry, but they are also used for meat binding and to supplement the protein value of meat products. Nitta offers nutraceutical collagen products for customized applications. Please contact Nitta for more detail on how we can assist you with your collagen needs.

9 Collagen for Bio-Medical use: Collagen is the protein that makes up connective tissue and finds widespread application in reconstructive surgery. Collagen can impart both physical as well as biological properties to a wound. Medical grade collagen products are also used in orthopedics and dentistry. Nitta s medical grade collagen products are currently used for developing film, padding for fire victims, and for impregnating vascular grafting. Our high wall tubing and strips are also used for testing and qualifying endoscopic surgical equipment. Our collagen cell beds are also in huge demand in the field of cell engineering. Nitta offers bio-medical collagen products for customized applications. For full details on how we can help with your next project, please contact Nitta. Collagen for the Pet Industry: Use of raw (limed) hides for the dog bone is well established. It is also known that raw (limed) hides can cause illness in pets. Collagen, on the other hand, is a pure protein which can help the sound growth and health of a pet. Pet food can be made using 100% collagen or it can be mixed with other food products. Nitta s collagen a healthy alternative. Please refer to our website for future information and developments in this area! Distributed Products: Nitta is dedicated to increasing your productivity by combining collagen casing technology with the linking technology of the Z-Linker. The Z-Linker, developed by our forerunner, has become the preferred fresh sausage linker in North America because of its high efficiency, versatility, and low maintenance. The efficient cutting action on the Z-Linker is less demanding on the casing. Altering link lengths is easily accomplished by making a quick and simple change of cams. No adjustments are needed to change diameters; and the Z-linker requires little maintenance and repair. For your convenience, Nitta also carries stock of both machine parts and horns for use with the Z-Linker. PRODUCTS: New Collagen Products & Distributed Products PROCESSES & SOLUTIONS Only Nitta brings the Z-Linker to you with almost 30 years of hands-on experience. Our equipment experts would like to help you by recommending the best product combinations to meet your process needs. For more details, contact your Nitta Sales Representative. After all, the only thing you have to lose is rework.

10 Processes Casing manufacturing at Nitta starts with the corium layer. The corium layer which lies between the grain leather (hide) and the flesh and fat layer is rich in protein. Nitta works closely with only a select few suppliers to ensure that this collagen rich material adheres to the most stringent quality requirements. The collagen layer is then reduced to its fibrillar state in our factory by grinding and then conditioning according to Nitta s exclusive process. At this point, the collagen is mixed with specific, approved, U.S.D.A. and F.D.A. food grade ingredients that are chosen to impart key characteristics to the product benefiting both sausage manufacturers and consumers. The resulting gel is then homogenized to increase the uniformity of the casing size, diameter and wall thickness upon extrusion. The collagen gel is then extruded in a continuous tube. Nitta s extrusion process aligns the collagen fibrils so that the casings can stuff, twist and link, assuring efficient production of sausage at high performance levels. The extrusion process that Nitta engineers have developed also permits precise size control of the collagen tube. This assures uniform size, weight and lengths for the finished sausage key benefits in the competitive world of sausage manufacturing. Once extruded, the casing tube passes through water and treatment baths to improve its pliability and machining. Then it moves through a drying tunnel that carefully controls the temperature and humidity. The dry casing is now ready to be shirred or pleated into slugs of easily handled and easily used lengths of collagen. Grain Layer These shirred collagen slugs are then boxed with a further check on moisture content before being hermetically sealed and put into outer cartons for storage. The specifications for every stage of the Nitta process have been refined over the years to allow us to produce casings for a wide range of different applications. Each casing, however, is designed to provide the sausage manufacturer the highest levels of productivity and efficiency. This is the Nitta difference! Flesh & Fat Corium Collagen At Nitta, When it Comes to Raw Materials Criteria and Sources... We source our raw materials globally in order to provide our customers with cost effective products. Our suppliers are put through a stringent qualification and approval procedure which helps to ensure quality and consistency of our raw materials. Received raw materials are put through a Quality Assurance Inspection.

11 Solutions At Nitta, we don t just promise value. We deliver it. We listen to you closely, and develop collagen solutions that meet your needs in a timely, cost-effective manner. Before we get started with a new project, we discuss your strategic objectives. After thorough analysis, we suggest products & services that can help you meet your objectives. Then we monitor and oversee our portion of the project to ensure that our products deliver the performance you demand. This process benefits you in a number of ways: Improve productivity Optimize critical equipment speed and performance Enhance throughput and yields Drive out costs Reduce waste Provide Best in Class In-Field, Technical Support Minimize inventory carrying costs Recognized for Environmental and Sustainability efforts Accelerate Custom Formulation utilizing our fully equipped, USDA kitchen facilities PROCESSES & SOLUTIONS We are committed to providing the highest-quality products and services to the Collagen industry around the world. We will achieve our goal by refining our process through continuous quality improvement, by maintaining a safe and healthy working environment, and by constantly renewing our commitment to customer satisfaction. At all times, our customers will be our focus. Our aim is to become the most valuable supplier in the markets we serve by helping our customers grow and prosper. We will be guided by customer satisfaction and our own commitment to the reliability of our products and services.

12 Nitta Casings Inc. 141 Southside Avenue Bridgewater, NJ Tel: Fax (main): Customer Service: Fax (orders): Nitta Casings (Canada) Inc. 57 Steelcase Road West Markham, Ontario Canada L3R 2M4 Tel: Fax: Production and sales of collagen casings, co-extrusion gel, hydrolyzed collagen products, and medical grade collagen products. Distribution of Fresh Sausage Z-Linkers, Parts, Hardware and Horns.