Lack of Conveyor Belt Cleanliness
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Loss of Production
The food manufacturing and beverage industry quite literally runs on conveyor belts – they are an essential part of manufacturing and processing. Plants need to consider production volume and intensity as well as food safety regulations and guidelines to adhere to food safety standards.
Without efficient cleaning of your production premises in place you are putting both your business and individuals in danger. If machines are not cleaned in a timely manner then there is a longer pause on production. If machines aren’t cleaned PROPERLY, it can lead to equipment damage, which costs you twice – the repair itself and the machine downtime. Beyond your facility, dirty production lines can lead to contamination of food and/or drink.
Production Problems Prevented by Better Belt Cleaning
Carryback
The material that remains on the belt after the manufacturing process is complete. It is a breeding ground for microbial life, but 'carryback' can also increase the wear of the belt and degrade components.
If not removed it can lead to...
Mistracking
Conveyor belts should always be centrally aligned, but when they ride unevenly on the rollers it is 'mistracking'. Buildup on the conveyor belt can cause the belt to misalign, getting off track or result in uneven belt wear.
This can result in...
Slippage
When the drive/pulley lacks adequate grip to turn the belt. Lack of, or improperly cleaned conveyor belts manually may cause belts to slip and work incorrectly, which compromises the entire system. This inevitably causes costly interruptions on the line.
- PRODUCTION STOPS
Health Concerns asccociated with Unclean Conveyors
- 1. Spillages refers to any material that falls from the conveyor belt anywhere along the production length. This can impact the operation's efficiency and performance, present hazardous working conditions, affect employee safety, cause equipment damage and costly downtime for cleaning.
- 2. Contamination is a huge issue. Washing and sanitizing conveyor belts will eliminate debris, bacteria, dirt, mould, and soil particles commonly found in food production/processing facilities and helps reduce damage, increases belt life and keeps the whole system running optimally.
Conveyor belt maintenance frequently gets shortchanged due to time constraints, budget restrictions and a shortage of labour and training. Cleaning and servicing is critical to a comprehensive conveyor belt maintenance program. Choose a belt cleaner that’s efficient and effective to sustain your conveyor belts, control contamination and remain food safety ready at all times.
Fully Automated Conveyor Belt Cleaning
Our specialised Belt Sanitising Units (BSU) serve as fully automated belt cleaning units which offer an incredible eco-friendly alternative to conventional cleaning methods. These can be fully integrated to operate during production, on top of the belt (process/feed) or underneath the belt (return/outfeed) or used for periodic belt sanitation - be it during product change over or daily/weekly/monthly deep cleans. The technology does not require any harsh chemicals to achieve a dry, fully clean and allergen free conveyor belt with nothing more than superheated tap water.