FOOD & DRINK PROCESSING ENSURING OPTIMUM HYGIENE
INMOCO
Optimising actuator hygienic design for food & beverage production
Food and beverage manufacturers are requiring cleaner , safer machine designs from their OEM machine builders . As the linear mover in many production applications , it ’ s crucial that actuators are designed to ensure optimum hygiene , preventing the build-up of bacteria with the ability to withstand aggressive washdowns . When specifying an electric actuator , it ’ s also vital that they ensure lasting use without the need for extensive , time consuming maintenance .
Gerard Bush of motion specialist , INMOCO , explains the key considerations in actuator design .
Within food & beverage production , when linear motion is required , actuators are commonly present . As such , linear actuators are used in applications from packaging to handling the product itself , with processes such as forming , cutting , and slicing . The trend from food & beverage manufacturers to increasingly require cleaner , safer designs from their OEM machine builders , particularly within higherrisk processing environments , such as meat , cheese , dairy , seafood and poultry , is in turn pushing this demand to machine component manufacturers . For actuator designs , this means they must be optimised for hygienic use , while ensuring accurate performance , reliability , and long-life .
The design entry benchmark is to ensure legal compliance . Depending on geographical markets and end use , typically this will include adherence to the European Hygienic Engineering Design Group ( EHEDG ), as well as the 3A sanitary standards that represent the United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) and the Food & Drug Administration ( FDA ).
However , before looking at the specifics of actuator design , the first consideration is how the actuator should integrate with the wider machine in order to optimise hygiene . Open-frame machine architecture enables optimisation of the clean in place ( CIP ) principles , ensuring visibility for effective cleaning , as well as the ability to clean all required areas , in particular those in contact with or proximity to the product .
Coinciding with open machine design , the actuator requires stainless steel construction , with 316 stainless steel considered ‘ food grade ’ for its qualities in resistance to corrosion . Actuators such as Tolomatic ’ s RSH design can withstand regular washdown with aggressive chemicals without developing corrosion blemishes that could harbour bacteria . In addition , the design form must avoid crevices and sharper angles that can accumulate bacteria and debris . Instead , rounded edges prevent food particles from collecting and pooling , while sanitary solutions can easily drain away after washdown .
The first consideration is how the actuator should integrate with the wider machine in order to optimise hygiene .
For further information , please visit www . inmoco . co . uk
96 PECM Issue 58