Food Handling Conveyors

Food Handling Conveyors

Food handling conveyors are used in the food processing industry to transport food materials to and from cargo cars, trucks and railcars well as through various processing stages within facilities. Food handling conveyors differ from typical pneumatic conveyors mainly due to the emphasis on hygiene, since food handling conveyors transfer products that will eventually be ingested. In addition, food handling conveyors must meet various food grade standards in order to be used in industries such as confectionery, poultry, seafood, dairy, RTE, bakery and meat. Food grade standards are defined by agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Science Foundation (NSF), Baking Industry Sanitation Standards Committee (BISSC) or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Typical materials that are transported by food handling conveyors include rice packets, bread, beverages, pasta, beans, nuts, formulas, dough, sugar, flour and cereal. As a result, food handling conveyors must be prepared to deal with finely powdered, sticky, liquefiable or delicate materials. With the primary goal being the avoidance of product contamination, food handling conveyors are also ideal for the pharmaceutical industry due to similar hygienic standards.

Food handling conveyors must be constructed from materials that are capable of meeting food grade standards. Generally belt conveyors, although they can also be chain conveyors, food handling conveyors must have a belt that is resistant to both staining and retaining small food particles. The frame of the conveyor should also be resistant to staining, corrosion and penetration or adhesion of organic liquids or oils and food particles. As a result, the most common belt material for food handling conveyors is polyurethane belting because it is anti-bacterial and resistant to chemicals and abrasion. In terms of the frame, typical materials include stainless steel and plastic, since both are extremely stain-resistant as well as being standard food grade materials. In addition, pneumatic conveyors in general offer sanitary handling of materials since their power is driven by air and not through less-hygienic conveyor-types such as screw conveyors. Overhead conveyors are another option for food handling because they are cost-effective as well as being very adaptable to the specific work environment; however, overhead conveyors require drip trays in order to maintain sanitary conditions and may end up being more difficult to maintain than a floor-based conveyor.