GREENER, CLEANER COOKING WITH STEEL BELTS FROM BELT TECHNOLOGIES

Food processing industries across the globe are rapidly growing and changing with fast food production, in particular, experiencing many challenges. Amongst these challenges are a tightening of the already strict standards for food production; with greater emphasis on hygiene, coupled with the need to reduce the production costs and have shorter set up times, those companies involved in food processing seek new innovations and system improvements that may promote greater productivity and flexibility.

Belt Technologies Europe, the market leader in steel belt technologies, has worked closely with Justech of Sweden and partners, to produce an innovative method of cooking and transporting meat products.

Inducook operating principles and design features and benefits

The “Inducook” unit cooks the product between two induction heated non-stick coated stainless steel conveyor belts; these are heated with induction coils. Induction coils are positioned underneath both – upper and lower stainless steel conveyor belts. The quality and grade of stainless steel is integral to the success of this system. The grade of steel used in this case has excellent thermal properties, allowing rapid and almost instantaneous heat transfer, facilitating quicker cooking times and tight control of the cooking process.

The “Inducook” cooking method gives many important advantages over other heating solutions used nowadays:

Key benefits:

• Hygiene – the equipment meets the highest food industry hygiene standards.

• Cooked meat quality and systems productivity – by using induction heating, it is very easy to control correct temperature levels and rapidly cook food

• Non-stick - “Inducook''s” thin stainless steel belt has an FDA approved non-stick special coating. This makes it possible to cook a whole range of different meat products without them adhering to the belt.

• Green thinking and improved environment – unlike other heating methods, the “Inducook” system is both cost effective and environmentally friendly.

• Extended belt life – with similar cooking solutions, frequent replacement of cooking belts is often required. The steel belt system is designed to maximise the belt life as, in this system the steel belt life should be well in excess of 1,000,000 cycles. • Other benefits – no open flames, no odours from burning heating materials, and relatively compact units.