High Performance Systems Blog

Making Food Processing Industry Safe

by Jeffrey Smedley on 02/20/12

Food processing is big business worldwide. One key reason for this is food production is now scientifically based making it possible for food to be transported over long distances and delivered to consumers in a wholesome and safe condition.

Moreover, consumers worldwide have access to greater variety of food in greater quantities than ever before. Just imagine, the cross-border exchange of processed food in our country is upward of USD 500 billion. And still growing strong.

Therefore, the fundamental norm for any manufacturer is food should be safe and free from adulteration.

Fortunately, for the consumer, the Codex Alimentarius Commission has established the HACCP-based approach as the safety benchmark in food trade. HACCP is an abbreviation that refers to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, a methodical and preventive approach to food and pharmaceutical safety.

As such, a voluntary HACCP approach by the food processing industry always helps.

What are the benefits of implementing HACCP?

·         You are able to ensure that sufficient attention has been paid to safety of food supplied to consumers.

·         HACCP design considerations have been adhered to.

·         By ensuring confidence in food safety products, you are helping in promoting confidence in food trade and stability in food business.

We must understand that HACCP system is a proactive food safety management system that has shifted focus from intensive end product inspection and testing to prevention of hazards at all stages of food production. To this end, the spotlight is on food safety, which is good both for the manufacturer and the consumer.

Meat packing Floors

Meat packing floors play very important part in ensuring hygienic conditions in a food processing plant. So, one of the challenges for you is to choose the right type of flooring.

When it comes to meat packing floors, one of the most frequently asked questions relate to comparison of epoxy floor coatings systems with urethane floor coating systems.

Here is an attempt to answer this question.

 

Epoxy coating systems are available in three types of aggregates, namely, Part A, Part B, and Part C. Urethane-cement-based system also has part A, Part B, and Part C.

Some of the key issues to consider while selecting the flooring are durability and elasticity.

Epoxy systems are very rigid. This means they are not very adaptable to withstand thermal shocks. For example, if you are resorting to power washing in a meat-processing facility with 200 degrees Fahrenheit hot water, the floor will experience a thermal shock.

Epoxy-based floor will be unable to bear the shock. In contrast, the urethane-cement-based system will accommodate the temperature differential due to better coefficient of thermal expansion.

We can presume that it is for this reason urethane-cement-based flooring is the first choice for meat packing floors. Besides, the urethane floor has better chemical resistance and superior aesthetic appearance too.

The Right Type Of Flooring For Your Food Processing Unit

by Jeffrey Smedley on 02/13/12

Selecting a suitable floor for a food processing facility is not easy. Tolerance to heavy traffic volume, the ability to endure constant pounding of heavy-duty machinery, and easy cleaning of stains from oil, grease, food dyes, and spills make epoxy flooring the first choice of food processing unit owners.

Food processing floor have to face the brunt of corrosive nature of cleaning chemicals. Cleaning process is of a constant and aggressive nature in such units. High temperature water and steam is used to wash away stains from food droppings and raw materials. The floor coating must, therefore, be durable and thick to withstand thermal shocks and the harsh action of chemicals and pesticides.

Epoxy-coated concrete floorings are also known as polymer seamless flooring. They are very durable and are resistant to slipping, staining, and dirt. You can choose the color of the epoxy coating you want to have. They allow the flooring beneath to breathe which helps release the trapped moisture and heat. Their non-porous nature makes it the perfect flooring material for commercial kitchens and food processing units.

Installation of epoxy flooring is easy and swift and can be carried out in any environmental condition. It does not interfere with the business process and is ready for use in minimum time as compared to other flooring materials. The high durability of the epoxy flooring does not require ongoing maintenance. Epoxy flooring is scratch-resistant and can withstand the action of various chemicals and solvents.

Epoxy flooring allows for fast turnabout and is permanent slip-resistant. It is seamless and odor-free – requisites which work well for a place where hygiene and sanitation is of prime importance. Loose and peeling floors cannot be cleaned thoroughly and quickly. There are also legislations that require food processing units to follow strict norms of floor hygiene and maintenance.

If your floor harbors dangerous microorganism and pathogens, you are liable for strict action and heavy penalties. Food inspectors will not clear any flooring that has the potential to contaminate food and to affect the quality of products in your supply chain. A durable, well-maintained, and easy-to-clean flooring can pass the test easily and save you the hassles of dealing with strict food safety laws.

You must make sure that the epoxy flooring in your food processing unit is laid by licensed and approved professionals to mitigate the chances of faults creeping into the process. Reputable flooring contractors with experience in food industry must be engaged for the task.

Urethane Flooring – Perfect Flooring Material for Food Processing Industry

by Jeffrey Smedley on 02/06/12

Food processing industry flooring systems must be designed to handle aggressive thermal and chemical attacks and continuous pounding from ceaseless operations of heavy food machinery and equipment. They need to stand up to acid and alkaline spills, food dye stains, and must be tolerant to a variety of germs and bacteria that tend to thrive in moist conditions.

 

Urethane flooring systems are finding favor with food processing unit owners and commercial kitchen managers because of its ability to withstand high temperatures for prolonged periods. These also have tremendous capacity to hold out to harsh chemicals, detergents, abrasions, grease, stains, and acids. They are moisture tolerant and easy to clean and maintain.

 

Food processing unit managers find it easy to manage their hectic operations with urethane flooring systems because it supports the tough conditions that exist almost ceaselessly in such places. They allow for easy cleaning and do not hamper critical areas of operations, allowing you to resume business within the shortest possible time.

 

High temperature wash downs are not a problem with this tough-as-nails flooring which is engineered using a seamless technology to provide maximum resistance to impact, thermal shocks, and chemicals of all types. Its non-porous design creates a structure that closely resembles the expansion coefficient of concrete. The toughness and durability of urethane floorings provide unrivaled benefits especially to the food processing industry.

 

There are numerous benefits of using polyurethane flooring for the food industry. They have high resistance to chemical and bacterial growth. They are resistant to temperatures as high as 120°C and are easy to clean and sterilize. The flooring can be cleaned using steam cleaners and is non-tainting. It has high resistance to abrasions and has positive anti-skid properties.

 

Urethane floorings is safe for food processing industry as it is designed for heavy-duty environments and can withstand punishing conditions including aggressive cleaning through manual and mechanical means. The high-grade structure prevents slips and trips even when the surface is wet. The flooring meets the exacting food grade hygiene standards and does not welt under heavy traffic conditions which a commercial food manufacturing or processing unit is often exposed to.

 

Urethane floorings can also be used for the areas that store freezers and cold storages. The specialty floor coatings can be installed at low temperatures and can reduce turnaround time. They also meet food safety HAACP standards and have been certified as safe for food processing industry. They act as ideal flooring material for commercial kitchens and food production lines.

Epoxy Flooring – The Right Choice For Food Processing Units

by Jeffrey Smedley on 01/30/12

Are you in the business of food processing? Do you realize that apart from having state-of-the-art machinery and food equipment, you must also invest in a top performance floor for better return of investment? If your answer is yes, you are surely on your way to managing a hassle-free, smoothly functioning business. Most food processing companies typically pay scarce attention to the construction of their commercial floorings. This results in a barrage of problems as soon as the unit starts functioning at its peak level.

Be smart and save time and money by investing in flooring that is designed specifically for food processing. The best floor types are resistant to various chemicals and have the ability to withstand varying temperatures. They are designed to stand up to the incessant tough conditions that exist in almost all such units.

Floorings in a food processing unit are subjected to heavy traffic, spills, pounding, chemical attacks, hot and cold water washes, and abuse of practically every type. Most owners invest in concrete floorings because it is tough, cheap, easy to install, and durable as well. They do not attract heavy maintenance and come as a part of the establishment’s construction, so there is nothing extra you have to invest on it. When coated with special coatings such as epoxy material, it can add more life and provide long-term protection from germs and microorganisms that tend to breed in such environments.

Epoxy flooring systems are formulated specially to meet the high demands of a food processing floor. It can be easily and quickly installed over new concrete, wood, tiles, and other commercial types of floorings. The best thing about epoxy floorings is that it allows for fast application and does not affect your commercial kitchen operations adversely. Epoxy flooring is ready to receive traffic within 24 hours. It is convenient, easy to maintain, and delivers high performance even in the toughest of conditions.

Epoxy floorings are seamless and leave no scope for cracks and crevices to develop. Your food processing unit will have no place for insects to hide, obliterating the need to use insecticides. The floor does not entrap dirt and grime. Cleaning is quick and effortless and maintenance should be a smooth chore for your staff.

Epoxy floor does not contain solvents and is certainly one of the most environmentally friendly flooring options available in the food processing industry.

Epoxy Flooring To Meet The Tough Conditions In Food Processing Units

by Jeffrey Smedley on 01/16/12

Epoxy flooring in the food processing units have to endure tough conditions. Apart from the usual problem of heavy traffic, they are also subjected to hot water splashes, thermal shocks, stains, strong chemicals, and corrosive products. The continual presence of tough floor situations can quickly create unhygienic conditions which can turn dangerous for the people using them. Ordinary floorings simply cannot withstand such conditions. It does not take long for such floorings to breakdown and adversely affect downtime in the food processing unit. It can spell the end of your business if you do not look for better, long-term flooring solutions quickly.

Most kitchen floors often get installed in a rush with no consideration given toward its durability or adaptability to the tough conditions it will be subjected to. The rush to have a commercial kitchen up and running results in the equipment being hauled in even before the food processing area floorings are ready to receive them. What most administrators don’t realize is that poorly installed floors can cause the expensive machinery to malfunction frequently, causing a huge drain of resources by way of frequent maintenance, below-par performance, and operational problems.

Food processing industry needs to focus more on developing flooring that is customized to meet the demanding conditions that exist in such units. The flooring must have substrate protection to take care of the integrity of the concrete flooring. This can help avoid monstrous expenses later on, not to speak of the time needed to set it right or even replace it. Also, untreated concrete flooring is a ripe breeding ground for mold and bacteria which is certainly not the best of situations for a food-related business.

Hygienic work conditions in a food processing industry can be easily achieved using seamless and non-porous flooring. Floor coatings also allow for proper slope and drainage and are hugely recommended by industry experts. Floor material must be durable, and they must potentially minimize maintenance and downtime costs. High-quality flooring installed at the very onset can provide high return on investment as it cuts down the need for frequent repairs and maintenance.

Commercial kitchen floorings are under constant attack from various organic and inorganic acids. Successive exposure to steaming hot and icy cold water can subject the floor surface to thermal shock. You must have a tough and proven flooring to deal with such situations.

HPS industrial epoxy floorings are known for their high build, perfect gloss, and excellent durability. They resist chemicals and stains better than other type of floorings and offer maximum toughness. They offer the perfect flooring solutions for food processing industries where the need is for tough, seamless, and high-performance floors.