FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY FOCUS CLEANING UP IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY


the relevant health and safety regulations. The food industry has special


requirements concerning the control of components and equipment used in production, with a special focus on migratory risk, surface finish and antistatic properties. As the harmful properties of dust are


better understood, businesses are taking steps to control and confine areas in the workplace where excessive dust is created, but the necessary cleaning required often takes a considerable amount of time, money and resources. Research Dustcontrol carried out found


James Miller, director at Dustcontrol UK, explains how the food industry can save time, money and resources on cleaning by implementing food compliant source extraction systems


D


ust is a major issue in the food industry thanks to the


presence of airborne allergens, which, while a problem for workers’ long-term health, can also pose issues further down the line for consumers. Failing to undertake


appropriate cleaning measures and tackling dust in hard to reach areas can affect product quality, while also running the risk of cross contamination – with potentially fatal consequences in the event of an extreme allergic reaction. For the workers themselves, exposure to


fine dusts from flour, cotton and pollens can cause inflammation of the airways, which can develop into infections such as bronchitis. Overexposure to hazardous dust for a prolonged period of time can also cause permanent disabilities, and even death. It is therefore


essential that efficient measures are put


in place within the food industry to


ensure the protection of workforces and the quality of products, while adhering to


Streamlining cleaning processes and using the optimum equipment ensures businesses are utilising resources and saving valuable time and cost on creating a safer working environment


that a third of UK food businesses spent between 11 and 20 per cent of their annual turnover on cleaning, with a further one in six claiming to spend even more than that. On top of unnecessary costs, one in four


food companies spent more than 21 hours a week cleaning, while a third assess their cleaning processes at least once a week, in addition to the time they spend cleaning. It’s a snowball effect - not having the


equipment to effectively capture dust at its source, both where and when it’s created, leads to an accumulation of dust, which in turn will naturally increase the time and money spent to combat it. Streamlining cleaning processes and


Dustcontrol’s Good For Food (GFF) brushes are colour-coded and autoclavable


CUSTOMISED TRAY WASHER AVOIDS STICKY SITUATIONS


Bennett Opie is a family-run food manufacturing business located in Sittingbourne, Kent. The company produces a variety of preserves, jams, pickles, chutneys, syrups and sauces found in supermarkets. One of the company’s biggest challenges in recent times has been finding a machine to clean and sanitise the trays used for the fruit, vegetables and syrups, that would be reliable, easy to use and environmentally friendly. “We had been using a tray washer that was not quite up to scratch, so we realised we needed a customised


solution,” explained James Jennings, engineering manager at Bennett Opie. “We recycle 90% of the water used during our cooling processes in production and wanted to do the same for our tray washers. To help us find a better way of washing the trays, we got in touch with IWM and explained to them what we wanted, and they devised a solution that fits our needs.” The engineering team at IWM developed a customised version of the T400e High-Care single-lane


continuous-wash tray washer, which can handle up to 400 trays per hour whilst being operated by one person. The tray washer’s compact construction means it is easy to accommodate even where space is restricted, while its low maintenance requirements and operating efficiency make it economical to run. To suit Bennett Opie’s requirements, the IWM team moved the control panel of the machine to fit the shop-floor layout more conveniently and provide easier access. IWM also arranged for the machine to be steam-heated and for the fresh rinse to be done at high temperature. For maximum economy, the wash water and detergent are re-circulated via a filter system. A fresh water


rinse is provided, and the rinse water is recovered to the wash tank to minimise water usage from the mains. “We initially went to see IWM and took with us heavily soiled trays that we had used for manufacturing


pickled walnuts, stem ginger and cherry syrups,” said Jennings. “We wanted to show IWM exactly what we are up against by purposely leaving the contamination to dry and see what they could do about it. They did not disappoint! In the past, running the trays multiple times though the wash used 10 cubic metres of water for one batch of trays. The T400e uses less than 5 cubic metres thanks to IWM’s innovative design. And it also greatly reduces the time needed for the washing operations.” IWM


www.indwash.co.uk 


using the optimum equipment for each scenario plays a large part in reducing time consumption, as well as unnecessary costs. Source extraction systems are one of the most effective ways of achieving safe and hygienic food production, as they are designed to ensure food processing areas are the cleanest they can be – keeping the potentially serious side effects of dust to a minimum. A complete source extraction system


can be fully integrated into the production process for recycling or used as a centralised vacuum cleaning system. At Dustcontrol, we’ve just launched a


new Good For Food (GFF) process extraction and general cleaning range that, when integrated with our GFF components, includes flap valves, suction brushes, flat nozzles, hose connectors, tubing system, joints, pre-separator, automatic shutter valves and filter units. In addition, all material is approved for food contact and several have been designed to be installed in Zone 22, according to ATEX Directives 2014/34/EU. By combining safe food contact,


autoclavable, colour-coded, detectable, antistatic and FDA compliant properties to fully integrate a comprehensive system, food processing companies can yield higher quality products, whilst making savings on factory-wide cleaning costs.


Dustcontrol UK dustcontroluk.co.uk


PROCESS & CONTROL | OCTOBER 2019 27


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