CONVEYOR AND DRIVE SOLUTIONS
POSITIVE DRIVE BELTS
HYGIENE, EFFICIENCY, ECONOMICAL
THE HYGIENIC CHOICE
IN STOCK NZ
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FT570
surface, and the build-up would
cause such tension between the
cleaner and the belt that the force
of tension would eventually cause
the cleaner to flip over. Often, this
problem occurred during a shift
where the counterweight system was
tied firmly in place.”
The counterweight system did not
work well in the application, with
the blades needing to be cleaned
every 15-20 minutes, causing
production to stop three or four
times per hour. The main reason for
excess stoppage in production was
the counterweight system, which
was extremely difficult to tension,
explains Mueller.
The excessive amount of carryback
also meant that whole cuts of meat
would bypass the cleaner, travelling
onto the return side of the belt and
drop to the floor, making it unfit for
human consumption. The company
was losing hundreds of dollars
per week in lamb that was being
dropped onto the floor because it
wasn’t able to be sold and contribute
to the profit of the company.
IN SEARCH OF A
SOLUTION
In search of a solution to these
production-halting issues, Mueller
visited the Flexco stand at the
Foodtech Packtech tradeshow in
Auckland, New Zealand in 2016
where Flexco was exhibiting the
Food Grade Primary (FGP) Cleaner.
As mentioned, the product offered
a solution to fill a gap in the market
space, where no solution of the
same calibre was available.
IMPLEMENTING A
SOLUTION
Mueller made the decision to
implement the Flexco stainless steel
FGP cleaner, which features an FDA
approved, and USDA certified metal
detectable blade. After installing the
cleaner, the company saw an almost
complete and immediate reduction
in carryback, with 20kg worth of
product being saved per day, just on
the one conveyor. The cleaner was
installed in 2016 and two years later,
the results still stand.
By reducing carryback, the company
salvaged “up to 20kg per day,
depending on cuts and room speed,”
Mueller says. The company was
able to add to their stock levels,
instead of constantly throwing spoilt
meat in the bin. This meant added
profitability for the company. By
installing the new cleaner, Flexco
also eliminated the need for the
cleaning system to be constantly
cleaned and maintained. As Mueller
explains “as long as the tension
is set correctly, they do not need
clearing all day,” allowing production
to be constant throughout both eight
hour shifts without interruption.
By eliminating the need for constant
maintenance, the company saved
labour charges of over $2,500 per
year. Apart from monetary savings
in wages for the excess labour
required, the company also gained
time and increased productivity as
staff were now free to perform other
productivity-boosting tasks instead
of constantly reacting to the same
problem. Flexco’s FGP Cleaner
was able to increase productivity
by reducing the amount of labourintensive
hours spent cleaning and
maintaining tension on the previous,
ineffective cleaner and save the
company a considerable amount of
money.
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