ILAPAK’s Vegatronic 6000SD USDA-
compliant system is extremely quick to
clean, yielding dramatic reductions in
operating costs and increases OEE
EXTREME FINISHING frame VFFS, and two years ago, applied this
design principle to its HFFS series. Essentially,
on an open frame machine, the only enclosed
space is the electrical cabinet. The rest of the
machine is open, which means product debris
falls through the machine rather than getting
stuck and that accessibility is much better for
cleaning.
OPEN FRAME DESIGN On ILAPAK’s machines, the forming tube is
mounted on a swivel arm for easy removal,
reducing changeover downtime and
increasing machine efficiency. This also
means that the operator can remove the
forming tube out of the way of the discharge
conveyor and pick it up without any tripping
hazards.
All film and product contact parts should
have ‘extreme’ finishing and guarding should
be constructed from material that is highly
resistant to harsh cleaning detergents.
ILAPAK’s USDA compliant machines go
through a passivation process after welding.
This seals the porous stainless steel surface,
creating a super-smooth finish.
Historically, FFS machines were closed frame
in their design - in other words, all electrical
and mechanical components, motors and
drives were housed within a box or frame.
The closed frame design can lead to product
or liquid getting trapped in the closed box - a
breeding ground for bacteria. In 2007, ILAPAK
was one of the first to introduce an open
REMOVAL OF PARTS
FAN COVER DESIGN
Motors and gear boxes usually have fans on
them, which creates a contamination hotspot
as product can fall into the fans and collect.
ILAPAK uses motors which are sealed to IP66
or 67, with some motors up to IP69k rating,
preventing ingress of product and enabling
full washdown.
ILAPAK’s Vegatronic 6000SD incorporates all
of these features, which makes for a USDA-
compliant system that is extremely quick
to clean, yielding dramatic reductions in
operating costs and increases OEE (Overall
Equipment Efficiency).
www.ilapak.co.uk
Issue 42 PECM
67