Hi, my name is Brooke, and I used to run the HR department in a factory. I filed a lot of injury reports and helped a tragic number of people make claims for workers' compensation or WorkCover. In many cases, the accidents involved convener belts. By seeing what not to do, I really learned what should be done in terms of conveyor safety. I love writing and wanted to convey some good will to the world through a blog – I also love puns. In this space, I plan to post on conveyor belt safety as well as other posts related to a range of industrial equipment. I hope these posts help to protect you and your workers.
There are diverse advantages associated with the installation of a conveyor system in a food processing plant. This equipment will streamline processing and packaging operations and this will increase the total output of your products. In addition, the number of workers required will be significantly reduced and this will contribute to lower long-term operational costs.
Here are the main factors to consider when choosing the ideal food conveyor:
Sanitary
The food industry is highly sensitive so the installed equipment must promote cleanliness and health. A good food conveyor should be designed to reduce the risk of contamination from chemicals and microorganisms. The surfaces should be highly cleanable to discourage survival, growth and population increase of bacteria and mold.
Both the product contact and non-contact areas should not be prone to cracking, pitting, corrosion and recessing because this creates niches for microbial populations. Moreover, the material used to manufacture the conveyor surfaces must have a stable composition to prevent eventual release of dangerous chemicals. The best sanitary food conveyors are constructed using stainless steel.
Safety
The conveyor is a mechanical handling machine with moving components so there are potential risks for injury. These can become costly in terms of employee compensation so it is important to choose a conveyor system with proper safety features. You should ask for equipment with elements such as narrower conveyors for easy access, ergonomic stands, suitable guard features and emergency shut-off switches.
Low Maintenance
Ideal conveyor systems should have minimal requirements with regard to maintenance and servicing. This will translate in less total downtime and more savings compared to the more demanding alternatives. Ask your supplier for machines which are recognized as low maintenance by the manufacturers. Furthermore, these food conveyors should offer easy access into the components which require servicing.
Durable
The food industry is very demanding therefore the conveyor system should be able to withstand the strain without accelerated degradation. The machines are operated for multiple shifts so look for strong motors with short recovery time and which correspond with the potential power requirements. In addition, the material structure such as stainless steel should be high grade to limit the possibility of corrosion due to regular chemical and mechanical cleaning.
Throughput Capacity
The conveyor should be able to handle the food capacity requirements in your processing or packaging factory. If you purchase a light-rated machine for heavy products, the system will be strained and the operation will be slowed down. Additionally, you should consider ordering a custom food conveyor to suit your specific output goals.
To learn more, contact a company like Belle Banne Conveyor Products.
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