Company: Heat and Control Inc., Hayward, CA

Website: www.heatandcontrol.com

Heat and Control Masa MakerEquipment Snapshot: Heat and Control Inc. says it has developed a unique process that eliminates corn simmering, soaking and washing to produce fresh masa. The patent-pending Masa Maker system produces fresh masa from dry corn in minutes, compared to hours required by the traditional simmer/soak process, according to the company. Masa Maker needs no steam generator, simmer kettles, soak tanks or washers, and eliminates water discharge and sewage fees. It allows tortilla and snack manufacturers to produce customized masa almost on demand, eliminating the long lead times for dry corn preparation. It also reduces production costs.