Improving food plant efficiency, hygiene, and safety throughout food production facilities is made easier when operations has access to durable, cleanable, efficient, ergonomically-designed systems that complement their food processing lines.
Whether processing meat and poultry, plant-based foods, fruits and vegetables, pet food, snack foods, bakery goods or fish and seafood, innovatively designed stainless steel food plant hygiene and handling equipment is needed to minimize the chance of bacterial contamination.
What type of stainless material is used to manufacture food handling & plant hygiene equipment?
Stainless steel is the most common and versatile material used in the manufacturing of industrial food handling equipment. In fact, Type 304 and Type 316 stainless steel are the most common grades due to their superior forming and welding characteristics. A smooth stainless finish and food grade welds are also important as any cracks and crevices provide places for bacterial growth. Using good manufacturing practices and following sound sanitary design principles leads to world-class designs for stainless hygiene and food handling equipment. Sanitation standards for equipment used in a food processing environment are established by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and equipment should be designed accordingly.
Sanitary design is important for food product contact surfaces
In terms of sanitary design, all stainless food contact surfaces found on plant hygiene and food handling solutions should be:
- Smooth
- Impervious
- Free of cracks and crevices
- Nonporous
- Nonabsorbent
- Non-contaminating
- Nonreactive
- Corrosion resistant
- Durable and maintenance free
- Nontoxic
- Cleanable
From the materials to design, fabrication, construction, and performance, following food industry sanitation standards is important for safer food production.
What type of food handling & plant hygiene equipment is most commonly used across all food industry segments?
From ergonomically designed rock over dumpers and lifts that minimize operator strain and injury, to customer built trolleys, trucks, and racks that maneuver with ease and maximize handling, food handling and transfer solutions should be designed for the harshest environments with long lifespans in mind. Marlen, a global manufacturer of highly engineered food processing equipment and systems, has over 60 years’ experience with a broad range of stainless food plant hygiene and handling solutions ranging from loading hoppers, dumpers, cart lifters, dump buggies and vats to floor drains, molds and automated molded product systems – all which are custom engineered to protect product integrity while maintaining hygienic design.
Safer food production comes with proper food plant hygiene equipment
Active controls such as boot washers and hand wash sinks should be in place between areas of production so all employees must pass through them. In addition, water accumulation should be controlled inside of the facility. Ensure that all water positively drains from the process area through utilization of properly positioned stainless floor drains and curbing. Facility and equipment design principles are the foundation for effective and efficient sanitation, food safety, and product quality. Proper stainless steel food plant hygiene equipment and food handling solutions result in safer food production. The choice is yours.
