Hard-to-handle fruit , veg & poultry waste proves easy pickings for SEEPEX BTM pumps
A sophisticated chopping , pumping and waste removal solution from progressive cavity ( PC ) pump specialist SEEPEX UK is making light work of previously challenging by-products from whole chickens , potatoes and cabbages to peelings and fruit stones . The BTM range is not only cutting food producers costs , it ’ s also improving their standards of hygiene and health & safety .
Waste is an unavoidable part of the production process at fruit , vegetable and poultry processing facilities . Whether in the form of trimmings , wash residue and by-products , or as a result of off-specification batches , overproduction or expired goods , it must be handled within strict sanitary guidelines and quickly removed from production areas . Not only does this free capacity so that primary processing operations can continue , but waste and by-products can also create an additional revenue stream as animal feed or compost , or to generate renewable energy . This makes their efficient removal and swift onward transfer even more important to manufacturers ’ bottom lines .
However , some waste products are notoriously difficult to handle . Large , highly viscous or non-flowable foodstuffs can prove particularly challenging : for example , whole chickens ; chicken frames , heads , feet and necks ; whole cabbages or potatoes ; and fruit stones , seeds and peels from vegetables and fruit . As a result , some operators still rely on traditional methods to remove them from the production area . It is not uncommon to find conveyor belts , compressed air systems , vacuums , water flumes , and manual handling via waste containers such as tote bins being used even at large food production factories . These methods can be inefficient , unsanitary and expensive .
AUTOMATED , ALL-IN-ONE ALTERNATIVE
Fortunately , there are sophisticated , hygienic and cost-effective alternatives on the market . Seepex BTM pump range is one such option . The patented chopping and pumping solution , featuring an enclosed pipework system , is already being used in waste handling applications at many fruit , vegetable and poultry processing factories throughout the UK and Europe . Thanks to an integrated cutting unit that reduces particle size , the BTM effectively chops and pumps in a single operation , reducing the solids volume by up to 60 %. This creates a pumpable consistency , without requiring the addition of water , enabling whole vegetables and even entire birds such as DOA or off-specification chickens to be hygienically and efficiently removed off-site .
SEEPEX BTM pumps chop and pump in a single operation 46 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk
HYGIENIC WASTE REMOVAL
The benefits to food manufacturers of switching from conventional waste removal methods to an enclosed , automated solution like the BTM are three-fold . Firstly , it is more hygienic . Transferring waste products through a closed pipe system eliminates , for example , the need for dedicated cleaning of tote bins prior to re-entering high-care areas which prevents potential cross contamination .
IMPROVED HEALTH & SAFETY
Secondly , it is safer . Manual handling or conveying systems often result in waste product falling or being dropped onto the floor , presenting an immediate health and safety risk to operatives , who are in danger of slipping on it . Furthermore , this fully automated solution requires only one staff member to load product into the hopper . This leads to improved health and safety on the factory floor due to a reduction in traffic and hazards in high-risk areas – fewer forklift trucks , fewer operatives and fewer tote bins .
COST-SAVING SOLUTION
Finally , the BTM pump range is more efficient , generating significant cost savings . By chopping , pumping and transferring all-in-one as the BTM is able to create a pumpable consistency without requiring any additional water , resulting in savings from water usage . This has the additional benefit of reducing the volume of waste by up to 60 %, making it easier to transport and thereby cutting transport costs . The operating and energy costs of the BTM are considerably lower than vacuum or compressed air systems , generating savings there .