Food and Beverage

Industrial Vacuum Solutions for Food Production

Food production demands the highest levels of hygiene and contamination prevention within the production. Industrial vacuum cleaners for applications in the food and beverage industries must ensure absolute hygienic standards. Such standards may include the need for HEPA filters, stainless steel construction, complete grounding, antistatic filters, and stainless steel accessories that are FDA approved. Collecting at high temperatures may also be a requirement. The NRTL certification adds a further level of security with NFPA 652 compliance.

Proper hygiene to reduce the risks of contamination

To eliminate these risks it is necessary to:

Critically analyze the various environments in which the production cycles take place, to identify each potential source of contamination
Define what the critical control points are, in order to verify and eliminate potential problems
Evaluate the corrective actions necessary to eliminate the risk of contamination
Establish hygiene verification procedures for each production cycle

Keeping your environment clean

Using an industrial vacuum or centralized extraction system is one of the most effective solutions available in the prevention of contamination. Vacuuming at the source to remove any dust or residue reduces the possibility of it coming into contact with products. The organic and flammable nature of raw materials that are used in the food industry can create a risk of explosion if not properly handled, as well as putting the workers health at risk.

Cleaning production lines and machinery

The greatest risk for the food industry is food contamination. Preventing potential microbial and cross contamination is essential to avoid paying the heavy economic sanctions faced by those who do not abide by the rules of good manufacturing practice (GMP) or who fail to implement the HACCP protocol when setting up production processes. There is no one model of industrial vacuum cleaner that can be used across the board. Each one needs to be configured according to the specific need.

To comply with standards, you may need:
NRTL Certification
AISI304-316 stainless steel construction for those parts in contact with food
Different types of filters such as NOMEX for high heat or Antistatic filter
Addition of pre-separators or hoppers to boost collection capacity and facilitate the handling of the extracted dust
Centralized extraction systems to enable several areas to be cleaned at the same time, or on board machinery

Combustible Dust

OSHA and other regulatory organizations continue to make strides to ensure the safety of workers exposed to potentially dangerous productions. You may not immediately associate food with combustible dust – after all, you consume it. But food and beverage operations house a spectrum of varying combustible dusts that have the potential to lead to catastrophe if left unchecked. We recommend using NRTL certified vacuum cleaners and anti-static filters in food and beverage manufacturing.

Pneumatic Conveyance

To further prevent the potentially disastrous effects of cross contamination in the food and beverage industries, many manufacturers will turn to pneumatic conveyors for an answer. These systems not only help you keep a hygienic operation but they can also assist with production efficiency. A properly set up conveyance system will keep substances separate via piping while smoothly moving the material where it needs to go.

Packaging Lines

Packaging machines often produce scrap, which needs to be removed on an ongoing basis if production downtime to remove the waste is to be avoided. The vacuum cleaners from the AS line can suck up large quantities of this type of material and compact it inside large, easy-to-empty bags.

Delfin Centralized Vacuum System

Food production operations with demands for regular cleaning upkeep will benefit most by having a centralized vacuum system (CVS) installed, especially in larger operations. Often, labor hours are unnecessarily used on sanitation when there are simple solutions available. Trivial tasks like tracking down the company vacuum or finding the proper hoses and attachments for machinery can be a waste of manpower. Not only that, but daily machine cleaning and general dust removal are made much easier with the help of a CVS. A standard CVS is typically made up of a suction unit, collection unit, and suction points complete with piping that leads back to the easy-to-use collector. These elements may be all your operation needs to create a more efficient process for everyone involved – and don’t forget about safety compliance.

Solution for a wide range of industries

At Delfin, we provide an extensive catalog of industrial vacuum cleaners, dust extractors, and accessories for the food production industry. Whether you’re looking for something heavy-duty with a continuous cycle or a simple and portable vacuum for intermittent use, we have what manufacturers need to maintain a hygienic and compliant production. Learn more by contacting us online or giving us a call.