BELTS & CONVEYORS
explained some of the many benefits that a stainless-steel conveyor belt can offer in confectionery processing applications, including the ability to handle sticky and delicate goods. “Stainless-steel is an extremely versatile conveying medium. It can be used to create solid form conveyors, for use in applications such as caramel casting or chocolate forming, or in a perforated format for enrobing and similar applications,” he says. “Cooling is just one area in which IPCO has end-to-end
process expertise, working with machine manufacturers to ensure optimum productivity and return on investment,” continues Marko. Typical applications could include chocolate, sugar mass and caramel, but steel belts are particularly suited to conveying sticky and/or delicate confectionery products. Belt-based cooling operations can make use of the
exceptional heat transfer properties of stainless-steel to ensure quick and controlled solidification. In a typical system, the molten product is deposited onto a continuously running steel belt and transported through a cooling tunnel. Cooling is carried out either by means of chilled air applied from above the product, chilled water sprayed onto the underside of the belt, or a combination of the two. The inherent smoothness of stainless-steel ensures clean
and easy discharge of even sticky products at the end of a processing line, leading to a better-quality product and reduced waste. “This ease of release means that delicate products – such as decorative chocolate shapes – can also be processed successfully,” points out Marko.
The same principle of controlled cooling is also widely
used for the pastillation of ingredient products such as chewing gum base, fats, emulsifiers and additives. Steel belts are also often chosen for use in zoned conditioning systems for slab and bar casting applications such as caramel and sugar mass. “In terms of cleanliness and hygienic food handling, the
smooth, flat surface of stainless-steel, means there are no joints or crevices in which germs can hide,” continues Marko. “This makes cleaning easier, which in turn equates to improved production uptime. “Stainless steel can be subjected to any method of cleaning
– steam, pressure, detergents, brushes, chemicals, even aggressive scrapers – to ensure high standards of hygiene. There are benefits in terms of sustainability too – faster belt cleaning also means savings in water, detergents and chemicals.” Of course, there are also a number of generic benefits of
using stainless steel as a processing medium. Firstly, it is corrosion-resistant by design, reacting with oxygen from water and air to form a very thin, stable film that consists of metal oxides and hydroxides. This acts as a barrier to limit oxygen and water access to the underlying metal surface, preventing corrosion. Secondly, it is an extremely durable material, which means solid or perforated steel confectionery conveyors are more resistant to damage by abrasion or impact than any other belt type, ensuring a long working life and an attractive return on investment compared with other types of conveyors.
54 Kennedy’s Confection May 2023
ction August/September 2023
KennedysConfection.com
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