Keep workers at a safe distance
Proximity Trace provides proximity distancing alerts and contact tracing through a wearable device for workers across many industries, including food & beverage manufacturing. It offers added protection for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and helps companies get workers back to work safely, while addressing recommended social distancing practices. Proximity Trace devices are affixed to a hard hat or worn on the body with a lanyard and emit a progressively louder alarm, alerting workers when they are too close to each other. In the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19, an employer can conduct contact tracing using historical data captured passively by the worker’s device to identify who may have been exposed. Triax Technologies
Conveyor decontamination system
The Z-2000 conveyor decontamination system provides enables food processors to supplement existing procedures. The system exposes conveyor belts to rapid pulses of high-energy UV light, destroying microorganisms before they can grow and contaminate food products. It can operate during production to decontaminate food conveyors continuously as an integral piece of the “hurdle concept,” whereby a number of nonoverlapping treatments are used to destroy harmful bacteria. The system consists of a food-grade controller and lamp housing designed to meet IP67 and NEMA 4X standards. Constructed of stainless steel, it is safe for use in washdown environments. Xenon
Ultra-high-capacity bulk bag filling system
This sanitary bulk bag filling system features dual Swing-Down fillers fed by high-capacity weigh hoppers, achieving fill rates of up to 40 bulk bags per hour. The patented filler design lowers and pivots each fill head simultaneously into a vertically oriented position that places the inflatable spout connection collar, inflator button and four bag loop latches within reach of an operator standing on the plant floor. This increases the safety and speed of connecting bulk bags as the operator can connect each bag loop and bag spout without having to stand on a ladder or reach over equipment to secure the bag. Flexicon Corp.
Mobile inline rotor/stator homogenizers for high-shear mixing
These inline high shear mixers — from 1 through 250 hp — accelerate mixing, emulsification and homogenization in both recirculation and continuous modes. A mobile skid allows them to be used anywhere in a plant, eliminating the need for multiple mixers dedicated separately to each vessel or product. Easy to clean in place and relocate, the Model HSM-410 can handle different applications with viscosities up to 20,000 cP. A VFD or control panel can be mounted to the cart and wired to the mixer motor for complete portability. 3A-approved sanitary and ultra-high shear models also are available. Charles Ross & Son Co.
Food-grade contact cleaner
This food-grade contact cleaner is an NSF P1-registered cleaner suitable for cleaning sensitive electronics with exposure to incidental food contact. The cleaner removes dirt, light oils and contaminants quickly and easily from electronic equipment and is certified to leave surfaces effectively free of any substance that could be transferred to food being processed. It was developed for use where lower flash point solvents are permissible. The product evaporates quickly and leaves no residue, reducing downtime by eliminating the need for waiting, wiping and rinsing. The plastic-safe cleaner contains no Prop 65 ingredients. CRC Industries
On-site generation of cleaning and sanitizing products
The Klarion system produces cleaners and sanitizers on site and on demand that are as effective as conventional chemicals. The system mitigates the risk associated with supply chain disruption, enabling manufacturers to produce solutions as needed right in the plant. The solutions produced can be used throughout the plant for filling lines, pressure washers, CIP systems, equipment, tanks, work and break areas, floors and bathrooms. The sanitizer has demonstrated efficacy against human coronavirus and other viruses more resilient to disinfection than SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. The solutions are nonirritating to eyes and skin and fragrance-free. Spraying Systems Co.
Conveyor door
The Sure-Seal conveyor door is designed for automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) environments. Combining speeds of up to 100 in./sec. and an energy-efficient R-4 insulated panel, it helps maintain secure separation within and between storage areas and conveyor operations. Its high-speed functionality ensures minimal air infiltration while a perimeter sealing system provides secure closing. In addition, the standard I/O expansion board and System 4 programming versatility allow seamless integration capability with existing ASRS control and monitoring systems. The door is specially engineered for high-cycle applications in which reliability and energy savings are critical. Rytec Corp.
Interior 20-minute fire-rated doors
FireSafe20 interior fire-rated doors provide a 20-minute fire-rated option for demanding environments. They are pressure-tested and offer both smoke and intumescent seals. The doors come in several finishes and colors, including a stained contemporary wood grain finish (SLI-19-1FR), a stained rustic wood grain finish (SLI-19FR), a lightly textured sandstone FRP finish (SLI-20FR) and the durable SpecLite 3 pebble-grain FRP (SLI-17FR). These doors can be installed in a variety of framing options, including Omega interior aluminum framing, FR series fire-rated FRP framing and hollow metal framing. Special-Lite
USDA dairy-accepted self-cleaning magnet
The Mag-Ram self-cleaning magnet collects ferrous metal fragments without human interaction. The design retracts magnet rods pneumatically and then rotates the rods and wipes the magnetic materials to the end and into a collection chamber. Automatic, which can take place during, before or after production runs, eliminates the risk of bacterial contamination caused by human ingress. The magnet is extremely hygienic, with no sleeves for product residual to build up. Applications include the extraction of work-hardened stainless steel, wear iron and tramp metal. Units can be sized to suit existing chutes and hoppers and to replace existing low-strength or inefficient grate magnets. Powder-Solutions Inc.
Custom-configured noncontact radar level sensors
These level sensors are available in a variety of housings. Compact 1½-in. NPT housings can be used for existing fittings and are suitable for bins up to 98 ft tall. A durable plastic housing is an option for a bin with structure when used with a precisely aimed swivel mount. Aluminum and stainless steel housing materials are suitable for food operations. Mounting options include a custom carbon steel ball-and-socket mount for aiming flexibility; 4-in. ANSI mounting flanges in 0, 10°, 15°, 30° and 45° angles for angled roofs; and a variety of mounting flanges in various sizes for flat roofs. BinMaster
Single-channel weight processor
Operating within Profinet Conformance Class A (CC-A) as a single network device, the HI 6200 single-channel weight processor is designed for users of Siemens PACs. It can be used by OEMs and system integrators building machinery in which accurate, stable and fast weight data are critical components to successful designs. Ultracompact at 2 in. wide and 3 in. high (40 sq. cm), the series is designed for machine level integration in process skids or manufacturing equipment. A high-definition color TFT display provides intuitive operations and easy-to-read measurements and instrument status. An embedded webserver allows for setup, monitoring and control from any web browser on the user’s network. Hardy/Siemens
Phthalate-free PVC tubing
Clearflo 70 PVC tubing, a phthalate-free product, was developed in response to customer interest in fluid transfer products that do not contain leachable phthalates such as di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) or BPA (bisphenol A). The finished tubing meets USP Class VI requirements and is made from nontoxic ingredients conforming to FDA standards. It is NSF-51-listed for use with food equipment materials. Other features include glass-like clarity that lets users view fluid flow, smooth surfaces to aid flow and flexibility with light weight and abrasion resistance. The tubing handles a variety of chemicals, gases and liquids. NewAge Industries
Combustible dust explosion protection
Targo-Vent, an opening angle limiter developed for use with the company’s explosion panels, guides pressure relief specifically into areas in which there is no danger to the adjoining infrastructure. It absorbs the enormous repulsive forces of explosion energy and guides the flames and shock wave in the desired direction. Depending on the particular application or equipment, the flames and shock wave are diverted at a defined angle of approximately 30°-45° upward or to the side so facility operators can minimize the safety areas around the vent opening. The usable area also is increased. Rembe Inc.
Hybrid-design food extruder for plant-based proteins
The ZSK food extruder is available as a hybrid solution for manufacturing meat substitute products. The latest design accommodates both texturized vegetable protein (TVP) and high-moisture meat analogs (HMMA) with minimal retrofitting: The discharge can be changed over quickly from the ZGF centric food pelletizer used to manufacture TVP by cutting the product directly at the nozzle plate to the specialized cooling die needed for HMMA to make a product strand exhibiting a texture closely resembling that of genuine meat. The machine’s operator personnel can perform the changeover in a few minutes; no electrician is needed. Coperion
Robot solutions for food usage
This range of humid environment (HE) robots is designed for safe, hygienic processing of food products, including meats. The SCARA FAST Picker TP80 HE features up to 200 picks per minute. The TX2 90 HE six-axis robot provides waterjet and ultrasonic cutting. The TS2 60 HE four-axis robot is used for loading and unloading. Common features include a fully enclosed and pressurized structure to prevent micro-organism penetration and avoid condensation; a hygienic design that features smooth, rounded and tilted surfaces to eliminate liquid retention; protection against low-pressure jets of water (IP65) and immersion (IP67); and stainless steel crucial components. Stäubli North America
