Optimize the mixing operation with Air Motors

Read the Case Study inside the Magazine “Rassegna Alimentare”

In the food industry, mixing is a fundamental process adopted in several areas, allowing powders and/or liquids with different characteristics to be combined, just as different are the ways in which the mixture responds to the process, requiring the most appropriate mixing method for this.

An important category of compounds to be processed is delicate liquids, for which agitators working at a low and constant frequency are used. In this area, it is optimal to adopt a pneumatic motor unit, whose peculiarities perfectly meet the needs of the application: the features of the air motor, in fact, translate into a number of advantages conveniently expendable in the food industry.

1. INSTANT START

For mixing, so-called nonreversible motors are used, motors that turn in only one direction of rotation, whose nonreversibility is an ideal feature for optimizing the operation. In fact, non-reversible motors guarantee instantaneous and always assured starting, even at low supply pressures, as well as vibration-free operation.

2. USE IN HUMID, HIGH OR LOW TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENTS.

Fiam's range of stainless steel motors also responds optimally to the requirements of the food industry, as the motor can work in a temperature range of -20°C to +70°C.

The characteristics of stainless steel give the motor excellent resistance in environments with a significant presence of humidity and salinity.

Another key feature of the stainless steel version is the possibility of cleaning them with even aggressive detergents or by high-temperature steam, without causing damage to the motor unit.

All Fiam stainless steel motors are completely hermetic thanks to the sealants and gaskets used, allowing the motor to be preserved from the ingress of liquids, dust and fumes - IP67 certification, IEC standard 60529 - International Protection.

The internal components of the motor are then processed with special treatments, allowing the motor to be used in conditions of little or complete absence of lubricated air, and food-grade compatible grease is applied to the gears of the reduction unit.

3. SAFETY IN POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

Finally, the air motor is also the best solution in terms of safety: its prolonged use does not lead to overheating, and its structural features rule out any risk of short circuit.

Although mixing in the food industry is almost exclusively related to the processing or processing of a liquid, we should not forget that pneumatically powered agitators are optimal for processing powdered foods.

Specifically, the processing of powdered products carries the same risk as in a potentially explosive atmosphere, which is why Fiam air motors are Atex certified - in accordance with Directive 2014/34/EU - and meet the ExII2DExhIIICT5Db classification.

For the same certification, moreover, the air motor has significantly lower costs than those to be incurred for an electric motor, making them not only an advantageous solution in terms of application and performance, but also from an economic point of view.

Other advantages of the air motor over electric solutions of equal power are its much smaller size and weight, which, combined with its wide speed range, also make the air motor ideal for hand tool applications.

In addition to the countless customization possibilities guaranteed by Fiam with respect to application needs, thanks to important partnerships with successful companies active in the food industry, Fiam has also developed and expanded the product range with a version of motors enclosed in a plastic shell, ideal for the needs required by the Food Processing market.

Read the Case Study inside the Magazine “Rassegna Alimentare” from page 105 to 107.