Delivering hygienic precision for bottle feeding and packaging production
Versatility , hygiene and precision are all key to food and drink production . The effective management of fluids is central to this , which is why a series of highly engineered stainless steel and transparent pressure vessels from UK manufacturer SR-TEK are taking the industry by storm . SR-TEK founder , Loris Medart , outlines the key challenges his firm is helping manufacturers and packaging producers overcome .
PROCESS One of the biggest and most overlooked challenges with any form of fluid production , and particularly in the food and packaging industry , is process . When things aren ’ t going to plan , all too often , the focus is on a piece of equipment in isolation . Understanding the whole process and knowing how fluid is managed and stored on the production line will quickly pay dividends .
Three of the quickest inter-related wins are :
1 . Size of the vessel – In the past it was typical to have large vat like vessels no more technical than a paint pot . This approach is not only dated but highly wasteful . The majority of the vessels we supply to the food and packaging industry are sized from 0.5 to 2 litres , with the option for going as high as 25L in the steel ST Series and 5L in the transparent CT Series .
2 . Top to bottom effect – The top to bottom effect explains why there is a reduction in the flow rate as fluid levels decrease and air levels increase . This becomes more pronounced the bigger the differential between a full and near empty vessel , meaning a tank sized to the production needs will ensure a more consistent result .
3 . Production time – The nature of fluids is that they can change over time . We tend to recommend limiting fluid use in a pressure vessel to one or two productions cycles to reduce variation .
AGITATION AND MIXING For certain fluids performance and quality will be influenced by movement . Fortunately , both the ST steel and CT transparent series can be designed with agitation . The right level of agitation or mixing ensures fluids aren ’ t damaged and helps with consistent delivery on the production line .
TRACEABILITY AND HYGIENE As an independent manufacturer we provide full traceability for all parts used in the production of our pressure vessels . Manufactured from 304 or 316 grade stainless steel , all SR-TEK vessels can be supplied with FDA approved wetted parts , including seals . For food and drink applications there is also the option of specifying a high-grade mirror finish to meet standards and requirements .
12 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk
To find out more about SR-TEK steel ST-Series and transparent CT- Series pressure vessels visit : www . smartreservoirs . com . To download SR- TEK ’ s free to access whitepaper on fluid management visit : www . bit . ly / fluidmanagement .