The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) will take place 28-30 January 2014 in Atlanta. At its booth (7767) in Hall B, Sandvik Process Systems, the world’s largest producer of stainless-steel belts, will focus on the hygienic benefits of its conveying technology in the meat processing environment, while also highlighting the commercial advantages of reduced cleaning costs and less downtown.
The company will showcase the advantages of steel belt conveying through its latest free-standing conveyor design. Key features include an endless steel belt with no visible joint, easy to clean stainless-steel frame, open design for easy access, and IP65 standard protection on gear motors for cleaning by sprayed water. The unit also features small diameter drums, leaving space beneath the unit for storage.
Sandvik’s stainless-steel conveyors have been at the heart of meat cutting and deboning operations for almost 60 years, the completely flat surface of the belt ensuring that there is nowhere for bacteria to collect and breed. While other belt materials have grown in popularity due to lower initial investment costs, many operators are now returning to stainless steel as part of an overall upgrade to health and hygiene standards.
Research carried out by Finnish food laboratory VTT Expert Services has shown that bacterial build-up on meat conveyors can be reduced by upgrading to a stainless-steel conveyor.
As a flat, smooth, hard and inert conveying medium, steel belts can be cleaned and sanitized using heat, pressure, brushes, detergents or chemicals. Quick and easy cleaning offers a number of other benefits too. Low water consumption and reduced use of cleaning chemicals or detergents means lower costs and less impact on the environment, while faster cleaning results in less downtime – important in multi-shift operations.
The inherent strength of the material also means it is more resistant to knife or bone damage, and therefore less likely to suffer cuts where microbes can develop.
While meat conveying will be the main focus of the stand, Sandvik will also highlight applications for its belts in other areas of meat processing – including freezing – and across the broader food industry where its versatile products are used for everything from baking and cooking to steaming and drying.
Senior management and specialist engineers will be on the stand throughout the fair to provide full details of Sandvik’s design, engineering and installation services.
