Food & Drink Process & Packaging Issue 22 2019 | Page 12

Going oil-free in the dairy sector Dairies that rely heavily on compressed Atmospheric air, if not treated when air systems to power their processes, used for compression, can introduce production and packaging lines contaminants like water vapour, airborne are turning to oil-free compressor dirt, non-combusted hydrocarbons, pollen technologies to avoid the risk of product and microorganisms into the distribution contamination, as BOGE's General network. While filtration can tackle Manager, Mark Whitmore, explains. these, the compressors themselves can Of all process resources in the dairy sector, compressed air is possibly the most ubiquitous. It is used in a host of process applications, including product add wear particles, while oil lubricated compressors will introduce small amounts of oil at the compression stage in the form of liquid, aerosol, vapour and hydrocarbon oxidation particulates. Removing oil from the compression labelling, bottle filling and packaging. In an effort to find a solution, compressor stage is by far the most important step Unfortunately, microorganisms and dirt manufacturer BOGE use the technology to take when embarking on a project to can be pulled into the compressed air in their EO scroll compressor range, which eliminate contaminants from a dairy’s system along with oil and liquids that can eliminates the need for oil altogether. compressed air network. With this is in seep through worn seals, posing real risks This whisper-quiet technology also mind, BOGE offers a selection of oil-free to consumer health. benefits from low-vibration and is 100% air compressors for the broader food and oil-free. Recommended for sensitive drink processing and packaging sectors, applications, it consists of one or more including the SO series of oil-free, easy- scroll compressors. Each operates to-maintain screw compressors. These with two compressor screws, with one ranges are designed so that the entire being stationary while the other rotates drive mechanism operates without any eccentrically. Although the two spirals lubricants at all, guaranteeing 100% oil- intermesh, they do not touch each other. free air delivery for sensitive downstream The air taken in is continuously forced processes. into an increasingly confined space, so BOGE Compressors Ltd. producing pulsation-free compressed air Telephone: 01484 719921 which is absolutely oil-free. Email: [email protected] handling, cooling, pasteurisation, In cases where such contamination is detected, the product has to be discarded at great cost to the manufacturer. But where a contamination issue isn’t identified, regulators can impose crippling fines due to non-compliance using recognised industry standards such as ISO 8573, or a company’s failure to conduct a more thorough Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) programme. 12 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk Website: uk.boge.com/en