echnical report of FLEXCO: Clean solutions for conveying food

Clean solutions for conveying food

Flexco offers reliable, effective fastening systems, installation tools

and cleaners for belt conveyors in the food-processing industry

Belt conveyors are used in the food industry to move goods between

different processing steps such as washing, mixing, grinding, separating,

cutting, portioning, weighing and packaging. Belt fastener systems play an

important role here. By making the right selection, operators can

significantly extend the service life of their systems. Belt conveyers

also have to meet stringent hygiene requirements, which means they must be

made of materials that are easy to clean. Meat and fish in particular are

excellent growth media for bacteria and fungi. If the right equipment is

used, fasteners can be installed very quickly, ensuring high system

availability. Flexco Europe GmbH offers innovative solutions that are

specially designed for this sector.

The belts used in the food industry are generally made of thermoplastic

materials such as PVC or PU. The ends can be joined mechanically or

spliced to make endless belts. In an endless belt the two ends are welded

together, creating what seems to be a continuous unit. When the splice is

cooling down, the material is becoming homogeneous. Joins of this kind

ensure operation of low noise level; they are also extremely sturdy and

durable. And because they are seamless, residues cannot accumulate.

Flexco's new Novitool Amigo splice press lets users create such splices

quickly and easily without removing the belts from the system. The process

is clearly defined, and the results are uniform and accurately controlled.

The important rule is to align the belt ends perfectly when joining them.

This prevents irregularities and guidance problems that could amplify

long-term wear on the belt. The Novitool Amigo allows the use of custom

templates for easy insertion of the belt ends. This eliminates the need

for advance positioning and saves lots of time. The press also has a

preheat function to remove any moisture from the belt ends before

splicing. In the welding process, heat is applied in a controlled manner

to the belt ends without physical contact from the heat source. The user

has a secure, high-quality splice in only a few minutes.

Simple and versatile: mechanical fastening systems

There are also a number of mechanical fastening systems for light duty

conveyor belts. The choice depends on the type of food product and the

associated hygiene requirements. These connections are likewise rugged and

secure. They are easier to create than splices for a continuous belt

because they only require manual dexterity and a few tools. Even worn

belts can be joined mechanically, because the degree of wear does not

affect the quality of the splice. This is an advantage, because worn belts

cannot be glued or vulcanized. Operators can replace mechanical fasteners

quickly and easily, and they don't need to remove the belt from the

system. Hard-to-reach system components can be cleaned more easily,

because the belt can be opened and taken off if necessary. Fasteners made

of plastic or hygienic stainless steel are particularly favoured in the

meat-processing industry. Besides being corrosion-proof, stainless steel

is resistant to cold, heat and industrial cleaning agents.

The mechanical fastening systems offered by Flexco, such as Anker belt

fasteners and wire hooks, can easily be installed by operators on site.

Only a few tools are required. Anker belt fasteners are economical and

durable. Thanks to their low profile they can be used on pulleys that are

as small as 25 mm. They are arranged in strips and secured either by

cardboard or a crosswire. Flexco provides a handy, compact tool for use

with them. Defective fasteners can be replaced by a technician in just a

few minutes. Anker G series fasteners are an additional alternative. The

points of these flat, abrasion-resistant fasteners are arranged in up to

maximum four levels, increasing the strenght by up to 50 percent. They can

be used with pulley diameters of 20 mm and more.

Alligator Ready Set Staple Fasteners are another important Flexco product.

These have a firm grip on the belt. A hammer and a small special tool are

all that is needed for installation. These fasteners are suitable for

belts with thicknesses of 1.5 to 6.4 mm. The pulley diameter should be at

least 50 mm. Thanks to the special shape of the plate interiors, these

fasteners are especially strong. The stainless steel staples are

pre-inserted and ensure long-lasting clamping strength. All of the

fasteners are interconnected, allowing them to absorb strong compression

forces and reduce irregularities in the splice.

For low belt tensions Flexco offers fastening systems made of plastic.

With the help of a special tool, users can attach the plastic fasteners to

the ends of the belt and then join them with a hinge pin. It's fast and

easy.

Quick belt cleaning

Flexco has developed a new belt cleaner for the food industry that meets

stringent hygiene standards, minimizes product losses and requires little

maintenance. Made of stainless steel and polyethylene (UHMW-PE) that is

certified for use with food, it can withstand high dynamic loads and has

excellent shape recovery. The cleaner has outstanding antifriction and

wear characteristics, permitting hygienic transport in food processing. It

is designed in such a way that parts cannot break off and contaminate the

product. The entire system, comprising the pole, tensioning system and

blade, is approved for contact with food. A spring tensioner presses the

cleaner with the necessary force against the belt and allows easy

adjustment of the blade by the user. The cleaner can remove wet or sticky

residue from the belt even if it has already hardened - a job that would

otherwise have to be performed by personnel.

Flexco's solutions thus allow food producers, especially those who process

goods under strict hygiene conditions, to operate in conformity with FDA

rules. Rugged, dependable belt splices keep downtimes to a minimum. And

when maintenance is necessary, operators can do the job quickly and

easily.