MATERIALS HANDLING
exposure to contaminants and pathogens from outside the system when properly maintained,” says Kerr. “Because it is closed, it is less susceptible to aerosols and over-spray from adjacent lines.” Cablevey Conveyors is a speciality
conveyor company whose product can be as small as powdered material or as large as whole potatoes, and is increasingly used to convey coff ee, cereal, nuts, produce, pet food and speciality foods. “When we conducted trials and
verifi cation testing, we found that tubular cable conveyors maintain greater repeatability cleanliness over a longer period of time than open systems due to the controlled environment within the enclosure,” says Kerr. Additionally, Kerr notes that closed
conveyors signifi cantly reduce potential harbourage points for contamination. “Tubular drag cable conveyors are very simple in construction, without standard joints, threaded bolts and plastic-to-metal connections,” says Kerr.
SUPERIOR CLEANING
Kerr points out another advantage: the enclosed conveyors also enable a “wet cleaning” process without wetting the surrounding areas, in which the systems can be quickly and eff ectively fl ooded with water and sanitised without disassembly. Although not all food processing
materials are suited to wet cleaning, such as hygroscopic materials that readily absorb and retain moisture, the process minimises potential contamination for other types of food. T e wet cleaning procedure begins with a water rinse followed by foaming agent, a sanitising rinse and a fi nal water rinse. Once the system is thoroughly fl ushed out, drying is achieved by attaching urethane wipers to the tubular conveyor’s discs, which act like a “squeegee” to remove any residual water.
“Within the tubular
system, all wash factors can be repeatably controlled – water chemistry,
Protecting against recalls is critical for food processors
Testing shows that tubular cable conveyors maintain greater repeatability cleanliness over a longer period of time than open systems
temperature, physical action and time – so every surface is equally cleaned,” says Kerr. He notes that clear tubes are available that off er the additional benefi t of visual inspection or verifi cation.
Since a complete and thorough
cleaning can be accomplished without disassembly of the system, the entire process only takes 20-90 minutes, depending upon the layout, product and desired level of cleanliness. T is can substantially reduce disruptions and downtime during production changeovers and eliminate the need for additional dedicated conveyor lines. Regular cleaning can be automated through the plant’s distributed control system.
“A benefi t of Cablevey products is the repeatability and verifi cation of surfaces cleaned and the ease of maintaining them,” says Kerr. “You can do verifi cations against cleanliness and hold [the cleanliness] over a greater period of time.”
When a food processor wants to ensure that a conveyor will meet its sanitation requirements, equipment suppliers often allow quality assurance teams to perform tests prior to purchase. “Sometimes
customers come to our test lab so they can run product and conduct swab tests before and after wet cleaning and review the results for themselves,” says Morgan Bailey at Cablevey Conveyors.
In the food processing industry, the stakes are high when it comes to preventing safety issues. With the threat
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of contamination from harmful pathogens always a concern, processors are seeking to protect both the public and themselves from the massive costs and operational issues associated with recalls. As a result, quality assurance teams are analysing the type and design of conveyance systems more closely. Enclosed conveyors that are capable of automated wet cleaning can help mitigate risk and prevent many safety issues. T ese conveyors provide an extra level of protection by keeping debris and pathogens from collecting. T ey also save on costs by eliminating the need for manual cleaning. As processors continue to seek ways to improve safety, enclosed conveyors will become an increasingly popular choice.
An enclosed conveyor provides a controlled environment that, when properly maintained, reduces the risk of exposure to contaminants and pathogens from outside the system
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