Santiago Montejo brings years of experience in used cooking oil reclamation and regulation

Ohio-based Frontline International, a leading provider of Smart Oil Management™ systems for foodservice operators around the world, has opened a South American sales office. The sales office, located in Bogota, Colombia, is headed by Santiago Montejo (pictured), and will allow restaurant customers and Frontline International equipment dealers on the continent to receive regular visits from a used cooking oil collection expert and environmental steward.

John Palazzo, president of Frontline International, said, “As equipment manufacturers, we want to provide customers in fast-expanding territories with excellent service, and that necessitates having a branch in their region. By opening an office in Colombia, we can respond more effectively to the needs of our customers in all of Latin America. And we are very lucky to welcome Santiago to the Frontline International family; he’s a bit of a pioneer in his region when it comes to the collection, disposal and recycling of waste cooking oil.”

Montejo will champion the environmental benefits of proper foodservice cooking oil management and be able to provide valuable on-site product installation recommendations. The Bogota office, run independently from Frontline International’s Oil Care branded operations headquartered in Puerto Rico, will allow customers throughout Latin America to receive products quickly and efficiently.

In 2011, Montejo started his own business to collect used cooking oil (UCO) with the environmentally related goals of reusing and repurposing this potentially valuable commodity, which might otherwise be disposed of improperly. At the time, there were no local biodiesel plants that could process UCO, so it had to be exported to Spain. In 2014, Montejo learned about Frontline International through the company’s website and contacted them to learn more. In 2015, Frontline International sent Montejo equipment to collect UCO from professional kitchen fryers and, by 2016, he was attending the National Restaurant Association conference on the company’s behalf.

While he originally focused on collecting and repurposing the oil, the more he learned about the safety hazards involved with handling UCO, the more driven he was to approach sales and service from the perspective of making kitchens safer, cleaner places. He has worked with the Colombian government to create and standardize formal processes for UCO collection, even assisting with writing the related regulations and lobbying the government for change. He is now an environmental consultant for both the country and for the broader South American restaurant industry.

“The equipment and technology we sell is really well received,” said Montejo. “It makes kitchens cleaner and safer while extending the life of cooking oil through filtering—a cost benefit to owners/operators. Oil collectors love how easy it is to work with our secure storage tanks, which can be placed indoors or outdoors.” He added. “Changing the way UCO is handled is, honestly, a matter of public health. Used oil is sometimes collected illegally and then resold to restaurants, which is dangerous and not hygienic. Our equipment benefits everyone and is better for the environment as well.”

Frontline International’s fresh and waste oil management equipment will continue to be designed and manufactured in the United States.

About Frontline International

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: http://www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.

Frontline International, a leader in cooking oil management solutions, knows safer grease-handling practices are integral to lowering risk and protecting employees from injury. The hot grill area is one of the most challenging when it comes to the safe collection and disposal of grease, because grill grease tends to coagulate quickly when cooled.

Frontline International has developed a Heated Grill Grease System that works in concert with any of their waste oil management systems to complete their Smart Oil Management™ program. The system allows operators to collect grill grease throughout the workday in a stainless steel basket positioned under the grill drains. Solids are collected in an extra-large sediment basket, while a silicone heater helps prevent congealing in the heated transport caddy. At the end of the day, simply wheel the caddy to the waste oil containment tank, where grease can be pumped in at a rate of 5 gallons per minute via the 110V 15A-250V 3.5A 1/2HP industrial motor.

This system is UL, UL Sanitation Listed and features seamless, easy-to-clean construction and swivel casters with brakes for steady positioning under grill drains. Quick-connect fittings ensure no manual handling of grease by employees will be necessary; they also help maintain cleaner floors. Not only does this mean a better work environment for employees and potential savings on insurance and workers’ compensation, but it can also help drive productivity. It’s a time-proven concept that when employers show staff they care about employees’ safety, they feel more dedicated and work harder on the job. Making grill grease handling safer in the kitchen is good for everyone.

Frontline International’s fresh and waste oil systems are modular and flexible to fit in every commercial kitchen, no matter the challenges regarding cost or limited space. All equipment includes a one-year warranty on both parts and labor.

About Frontline International

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.

Frontline International is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of cooking oil management services, and the M3 System—winner of the National Restaurant Association’s 2013 prestigious Kitchen Innovations™ Award—is their state-of-the-art solution that offers 24/7 online tracking of your waste oil. And now, M3 has been adapted to help manage fresh oil dispensing with an exclusive Smart Fresh Oil Top Off function.

When the M3 data management system is combined with Frontline International’s EZ Oil fresh oil dispensing system, Smart Fresh Oil Top Off is ready to be engaged. Say the cashier takes an order for a 6-piece chicken dinner. Automation can begin the cooking process and, to maintain consistency between orders, the system then calculates how much oil is lost in the cooking process. The frying equipment “talks” to M3, which signals the EZ Oil system—and that’s exactly how much the EZ Oil system will add in. Frontline International’s exclusive automated top-off feature ensures consistent results from batch to batch and from fryer to fryer by reading the needs of each individual piece of equipment.

When the M3 data management system is combined with Frontline International’s EZ Oil fresh oil dispensing system and Direct-Plumbed® waste oil equipment, you have the power to program your fryers to automatically top-off and filter oil—to enhance the taste of your product, ensure consistent results, and then plumb the waste oil to the tank without it ever touching human hands.

M3 is an invaluable web-based add-on system that works with all Frontline International cooking oil management systems. With M3, it’s easy to access detailed data about your cooking oil at any time using any computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet access. And in an exclusive new feature, M3 will even help manage the frying process from the moment the cashier inputs an order.

About Frontline International

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: http://www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.

Restaurants operate on thin profit margins. But compromising on quality or taste is never an option. Frontline International’s approach to Smart Oil Management™ includes custom oil filtration systems that allow owners and operators to get as much as 20 to 50 percent longer fry life than with unfiltered oil. The company’s Flexible Filter System is a standalone oil filtration system that allows users to easily change filter media according to needs and usage. If your fryer does not have built-in filtration, the Frontline International Caddy System with filtration option could be an ideal solution for you. It converts a simple oil transport caddy into a powerful filtration system.

With the Flexible Filter System filtration caddy, you can choose from two filtration media: stainless steel or paper. You can choose different media from store to store, or switch filters depending on the type and quantity of fried foods. Best practices depend on volume and the types of food you are frying.

Paper filters are another great, cost-effective way to increase oil’s frying life. With this no-loose-powder paper filter, less oil is absorbed into the food as long as the filter is changed daily.

Finally, stainless steel is the most affordable medium. It is reusable and will not tear, rust, or rupture under normal use. And since moisture doesn’t affect stainless steel, the filter won’t get clogged.

Oil is directly tied to the condition and consistency of your fried foods, and the Flexible Filtration System can help regardless of the type or size of fryer you use. Contact Frontline International to find out how to achieve the cost-savings benefits of filtered oil. All of Frontline International’s systems include a one-year warranty on both parts and labor.

About Frontline International

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: http://www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.

Taking steps to increase safety in your restaurant kitchen isn’t just good business, it’s the right thing to do for your employees’ well-being. It’s also the law. OSHA mandates that employers must furnish to each of his/her employees a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his/her employees. When back-of-house employees handle buckets of hot, messy waste oil, there is a real and dangerous potential for slip-and-fall accidents, burns, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by carrying heavy containers, and more. These types of injuries can be extremely costly to businesses due to lost work time and legal liability, and they can leave employees with long-term physical problems as a result of their injuries.

Frontline International is dedicated to increasing safety in professional kitchens. Their hands-free Smart Oil Management™ system received a bronze award in the Kitchen Innovation Challenge at the Commercial Kitchen 2016 show.  

The fully automated Direct-Plumbed® system is Frontline International’s safest waste oil management system, and it’s easy to operate, requiring just the push of a button. Filtered waste oil is plumbed to flow out of fryers and into a Frontline International storage tank with no contact with employee hands. 

Not only does a Direct-Plumbed® system enhance employee safety, it also makes for easier oil collection by your renderer. Used oil or grease flows from the fryers directly to secure waste oil tanks housed inside or outside your facility. Frontline International’s stainless steel waste oil tanks have collection ports designed with a locking anti-theft valve to prevent theft or misuse of used oil. 

Direct-Plumbed® waste oil solutions can completely eliminate the need to handle used fryer oil. Frontline International’s equipment is modular, infinitely customizable, and can be installed in a wide variety of restaurant kitchens, even those with small and complex layouts. Regardless of your setup, Frontline International’s efficient, cost-effective systems can decrease hazards for your employees and increase your bottom line. All equipment is backed by a one-year warranty on both parts and labor.

About Frontline International 

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: http://www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.

Handling hot, messy waste oil from fryers can be one of the most dangerous workplace hazards in the foodservice industry. Carrying full buckets and pouring oil creates the potential for burns, slip-and-fall accidents, and other injuries. Frontline International, the creator of Smart Oil Management systems for fresh and waste oil, offers flexible and customizable waste oil containment solutions for increasing workplace safety while dramatically minimizing employees’ contact with oil.

Frontline International systems for waste oil handling were designed to filter, empty, and store waste oil from fryers. With three different options to choose from—and the ability to customize a solution to fit available space—kitchen managers can find an option for improving waste oil containment practices for almost any restaurant. 

Not only will a Frontline International system help eliminate the risks of having employees filling and toting buckets, but it can also save labor and time, reduce the risk of liability related to injuries, and contribute to environmental safety. 

Frontline International offers three different waste oil containment systems. The constant is a containment tank that safely and securely stores the waste oil. Tanks range in size from 100 gallons to 350 gallons and can be located indoors or outdoors or accessed via a remote inlet system from a tank in another room or even on another floor. Frontline International’s waste oil containment tanks can be used with any of the three systems and are fully upgradeable if volume needs change. 

Which option is best for your operation?

The fully automated Direct-Plumbed® waste oil system is the easiest to use and ensures zero contact with waste oil. Oil flows directly from fryers to the waste oil containment tank with just the push of a button. The system comes in many sizes to meet any kitchen’s needs, from small store spaces to freestanding, fast-paced restaurants—including those with a busy drive-thru.

The semi-automated Waste Oil Pump Station system is ideal if your fryers don’t have a built-in filtration pump. An external pump controls the flow of waste oil. Using a flexible, high-temperature hose and suction wand with a permanent filter, used oil is pumped out of the fryer by a wall-mounted pump station. The oil is transferred from the fryers through the heavy-gauge stainless steel pump to a containment tank via the PumpFlow™ system.

The least expensive option, the manual CaddyFlow™ system, uses a stainless steel waste oil caddy and a flexible high-temperature hose to transfer waste oil. This system is compatible with any low-profile fryer and takes up little space, so it’s ideal for small or crowded kitchens. With the manual system, the caddy is wheeled to fryers to collect waste oil using the flex hose. Then the caddy is wheeled to the containment tank, where oil is transferred via the hose. This is a dramatic improvement over workers having to hand-carry buckets and be exposed to potential spills or splashes of hot oil.

All Frontline International tanks can be equipped with the company’s proprietary M3 data management system that lets you monitor, measure, and manage oil use. With M3, you can track usage by store unit with the ability to monitor collection volumes and compare statistics on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. 

“No matter what your volume or store layout, we have a way to improve employee safety when it comes to waste oil handling,” says Giovanni Brienza, vice president of Frontline International. “With three options to choose from, and each customizable to your space and needs, handling waste oil need no longer be messy and dangerous. We are proud to say that our equipment is popular and easy to use; you can find it in the kitchens of foodservice facilities across the globe.”

All Frontline International equipment is backed by a one-year warranty. 

About Frontline International 

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: http://www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.

If you’ve searched for a safer, cleaner way to get both fresh and waste cooking oil to and from your fryers, you’ll find a hands-free solution in Frontline International’s cost-effective, highly efficient Smart Oil Management systems. The company offers a choice of automated, direct-plumbed systems for both fresh and waste oil, which send the oil directly to its destination with minimal or no handling by employees.

Direct-plumbed systems lower the risk of potentially dangerous spills, burns, or slip-and-fall injuries. And no more heavy buckets to haul or drag.

For fresh oil, Frontline International offers its EZ Oil™ System for Standard Packaged Oil, which stores and manages fresh oil that you purchase in boxes or jugs. Boxes are placed upside-down on racks to ensure complete emptying, increasing yields by up to 10%. The boxed oil can be directly plumbed to the fryer for a fully automatic connection, so fryers are filled with a simple push of a button — not by pouring by hand out of a bulky box or jug.

For waste oil, Frontline International’s fully automated direct-plumbed system helps ensure worker safety and easier oil collection. With a push of a button, used oil leaves the fryers and flows into the system’s secure waste oil containment tanks — inside or outside your facility. Frontline International’s stainless steel waste oil tanks also have collection ports equipped with an integrated locking anti-theft valve, part of the company’s available web-based M3 data management system that allows users to monitor, measure, and manage oil usage and collection 24/7.

Frontline International’s direct-plumbed solutions for both fresh and waste oil make handling hot oil obsolete. That means potential savings on insurance, workers’ compensation, and employee downtime; greater employee safety; and cleaner floors and grounds. The equipment is modular and customizable and can be adapted to nearly any size space, even small and complex store layouts.

All Frontline International equipment is backed by a one-year warranty on both parts and labor. Call today to learn more about their Smart Oil Management systems for fresh and waste cooking oil.

About Frontline International

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: http://www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.

Frontline International, a leader in cooking oil management solutions, offers a Flexible Filter System as part of their approach to Smart Oil Management. The company’s systems help customers manage all aspects of restaurant cooking oil for quality and profitability through equipment designed for efficient fresh and waste oil management and oil filtration — the key to longer shortening life.

The Flexible Filter System is a standalone oil filtration system growing in popularity with customers. Since proper filtration is so important, Frontline International makes it easier with a system that lets users easily change to different types of filter media according to the restaurant’s needs and oil usage.

The Flexible Filter System offers a choice of two filtration media: stainless steel or paper. You may even choose different media from store to store, or you can switch filters depending on the type and quantity of foods being fried.

Each filter type has its advantages and benefits. A stainless screen is the most affordable of the filters. It’s continuously reusable and won’t rust or tear under normal usage. Paper filters can increase the quality of fried foods because less oil is absorbed into food, making food taste better and oil last longer. Frontline International’s paper filters have no loose powder; it’s impregnated into the pad to control destructive chemical reactions in the oil. 

With the Flexible Filter System, you choose the filter that works best for you and your operations. A removable bucket makes cleanup simple and safe. And best of all, this system can be used with any type or size of fryer.

All of Frontline International’s fresh and waste oil management systems are modular, flexible, and upgradable. Their equipment includes a one-year warranty on both parts and labor.

About Frontline International

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: http://www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.

A new foodservice equipment installation in a quick-serve restaurant chain located in Kuwait was heralded by three days of collegiate-level product training and system indoctrination. The intensive training sessions were balanced by a 48-hour open house atmosphere, complete with celebratory dinners and attendance by all levels of chain employees, including operators, purchasing, customer service and quality control staff, and executives. And what was creating such a buzz? A cooking oil management system for fresh and waste oil, the first of its kind in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The goal was to implement an automated fresh oil dispensing and waste oil collection system to reduce the expense and human injury toll associated with oily messes, spills, and burns that are often (and unfortunately) assumed to be a routine part of foodservice operation. The restaurant chain’s management worked closely with the system’s manufacturer, Frontline International, for almost two years to develop and customize the equipment solutions.

From the depth of the training to the festivities that surrounded the training, the focus was always on employee safety and quality of life. Operators and owners from a great number of other stores were on hand to see the system at work.

“This installation was special. There was so much excitement surrounding this modern, hands-free solution to oil management. It was celebrated like a grand opening,” said Giovanni Brienza, vice president, Frontline International. “The equipment managers really understood how the system would benefit everyone in the chain and approached the training with such great enthusiasm,” said Brienza.

The custom oil-management system designed for the Kuwaiti installation will dispense fresh oil to the fryers and collect and store the waste cooking oil for eventual pickup or disposal. The automated system means that employees don’t have to handle hot and messy cooking oil, chicken fat, and grill grease. The chain’s managers see the system as a big win because it will give them huge safety, environmental, and cost-saving advantages.

The system is equipped with some of Frontline International’s most advanced technologies, including an application that calibrates the condition and volume of the oil automatically. As oil is lost — or naturally absorbed into the fried product — the system automatically tops off fryers with fresh oil, which maximizes consistent taste and quality. Oil filtering is also completely automatic and hands-free.

“It was really enjoyable to see the customer finally ready to reap the benefits of their plan to reduce injuries related to hot oil use,” said Brienza. “And they’re loving the idea of managing their oil supply and making the food taste even better.”

Frontline International plans to expand installation of this equipment in restaurants throughout the region, cascading sales through other locations in Kuwait. Plans also foresee implementation of equipment in select neighboring countries that will include Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

About Frontline International

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: http://www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.

M3 (Monitor, Measure and Manage) is an available web-based add-on system that works in concert with all of Frontline International’s waste oil management systems. M3 makes it easy to track all statistics concerning your restaurant’s waste oil data across any given time period. The system can be accessed online any time, from any computer, digital tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection.

Using the M3 electronic dashboard, you can compare statistics daily, weekly, or monthly. You can also track oil usage and filtration, schedule oil pickups, and perform other diagnostics. Alarms can be set to automatically trigger emails or texts to headquarters, franchisees, oil collection companies, or multiple entities before your waste tank ever reaches the full status. As an added benefit to prevent oil theft, the M3 system allows you to lock the storage tank collection ports remotely via activation of the anti-theft valve, making it impossible for thieves to drain out the stored oil. If problems with your tanks ever arise, diagnostic warnings are sent simultaneously to both you and Frontline International’s service technicians.

The M3 system was a winner of the prestigious Kitchen Innovations™ Award from the National Restaurant Association in 2013.

All Frontline International equipment comes with a one-year warranty on both parts and labor, and extended warranties are available. Call today to learn more about their Smart Oil Management systems for fresh and waste cooking oil.

About Frontline International

Frontline International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes superior commercial foodservice equipment for the storage, handling, and disposal of cooking oil. Customers own their own equipment, negotiate their own oil rebates, and have the freedom to choose their own oil vendors. Frontline International and its Smart Oil Management systems offer users more freedom and more control over their processes and their profits. For more information, contact Frontline International, Inc. at 187 Ascot Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223. Phone: +1 330-861-1100. Toll free: 1-877-776-1100. Web: http://www.frontlineii.com. Email: info@frontlineii.com.