Process Equipment Update


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n recent months, the world has been exposed to a paradigm shift; previously described ‘low risk foods’ are being implicated in wide-spread food-borne pathogen outbreaks as the vehicle of contamination. In these instances, the reliance on water activities <0.85 and a pH of 4.6 is thrown aside to more adherent programmes such as environmental monitoring and evaluation. The duty we have to our consumer’s lies in our ability to proactively evaluate our environments. By following strict, robust monitoring schemes in all areas of our facilities, we can identify, correct and eliminate potential microbiological concerns prior to product adulteration and possible recalls. How does a facility begin this monitoring process? The main goals of any monitoring program are proper facility zone-planning management, pre-assessing your microbiological burden level, proper data trending and historical representation, as well as verification and validation of the program. In order to objectively understand the ‘where-


tos’ of environmental monitoring, it is essential to prepare a zoned map of your facility. For zoning purposes, the standard rules are as follows: n Zone #1: Product Contact Areas. Example:


Environmental sampling: proactively evaluating your future Bake Pans, Candy Moulds.


n Zone #2: Objects and areas directly adjacent to Zone #1. Example: Oven Rack, Drains, Conveyor Belt, utensils, aprons.


n Zone #3: Surrounding Areas. Example: Walls, Drains, Air Emission System


The goal of any environmental monitoring program is to avoid any contamination from occurring in Zone #1 by critically evaluating zones #2 and #3. Emphasis on examination of microbiological bio-burden in these areas will allow the facility to manage probable contaminations more efficiently and quickly, compared to testing in zone #1 itself or on products themselves. The pre-assessment, or bio-mapping, facilities directly fall in line with zoning procedures. Once the facility is properly zoned, an initial assessment to gain insight into the specific areas and their microbiological ‘potential’ can be evaluated. Typically this is done by a preliminary intense swabbing and surface sampling of locations within each zone. The swabs are microbially analyzed for items such as aerobic plate count, pathogen testing that is relevant to the product and environment, as well as yeast and molds. Once the swabs, sponges and samples are


analysed, the data can be used to understand where environmental issues may be occurring, where pre-requisite programs may be failing, and what the basic level of hygiene is within each area. The data can be trended to determine area microbiological targets, and to understand what your facility ‘specifications’ can be set for monitoring maintenance.


The most important evaluation of


environmental monitoring is program verification and validation. Verification and validation of zone testing frequency, personnel training involved in sampling procedures and analytical report evaluation are critical to the success of these programs.


Adherences to proactive processes are paramount in controlling food-borne contaminations. Proper design and training, as well as utilisation of the information will aid in a world-wide approach to combating food-safety at the facility level. n


Enter 21 or ✔ at www.engineerlive.com/epe


Flexitallic Ltd is based in Cleckheaton, UK. www.flexitallic.eu


Rising to an engineering and marketing challenge


O


ver the years Flotronic Pumps successfully refined an innovative double diaphragm design.


Refinement has included the development of a range of pumps that are ideal for handling aggressive chemicals but they are expensive to produce. This means they are not cheap to buy – and so you have little if any penetration of the lucrative lower flow rate aggressive chemical duty range market where budgets can be tighter. “It’s a classic engineering and marketing dilemma,” says Leighton Jones, Director of Technical Sales and Service at Flotronic Pumps. “We were struggling to produce a smaller version of our standard Chemflo pump at a competitive price which was frustrating for customers preferring Flotronic’s air-operated double diaphragm ‘ONE-NUT’ pumps over competitors’ traditional designs.” Chief Engineer Peter Wheal knew that a reduction in production costs would need


radical re-thinking of Flotronic’s existing design and that he also needed to produce a stylish and functional pump that would overcome the inherent mechanical instability of


PTFE as a load bearing material. The answer was to machine the new pump – named ‘Minichem’ – out of one solid block of PTFE. “This removed the need for separate manifolds and a steel outer casing,” says Peter. “The Minichem is not only cheaper, but also extremely safe with any leakage contained


internally. Challenge met!” n Enter 21B or ✔ at www.engineerlive.com/epe


Flotronic Pumps Ltd is based in Bolney, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK. www.flotronic pumps.co.uk


Rupture disc is a scored reverse acting rupture disc


T


he HPX rupture disc is a scored reverse acting rupture disc. This differential pressure relief device features an full-open relief area for protecting equipment, vessels, systems and people from an overpressure condition. The disc offers in excess of


250 000 cycles at a 95 per cent operating ratio.


Features of the HPX include: extreme cycling durability - proven performance in excess of a quarter million cycles, high precision - choice of 90 or 95 per cent maximum recommended operating ratio and a range of burst pressures, materials and sizes. n


Enter 21A or ✔ at www.engineerlive.com/epe


Continental Disc Corporation is based in Liberty, MO, USA. www.contdisc.com


www.engineerlive.com 21


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