Bristol, PA: Versatility in food, chemical, and pharmaceutical processing has overtaken sheer speed among the most important factors in process equipment purchasing, according to Dave Nichols, senior sales engineer for pneumatic vacuum conveying equipment manufacturer Volkmann USA, Bristol, PA (https://www.volkmannusa.com). When specifying conveying equipment, that means paying close attention to easy cleaning and fast changeovers to switch from one product or material on a dime. Nichols offers key considerations for evaluating conveyors for changeover compatibility:

Defining Clean

Every company’s definition of cleanliness balances several factors such as the types of products, regulations, and the severity of consequences in the event of an oversight. A food processor conveying peanuts into a mixer, for example, needs to be especially careful about cross-contamination when switching to almonds due to the potential allergen risk. The ideal conveyor needs to prevent product contamination and protect particle integrity yet also promote complete cleaning and invite full access for inspection. Pneumatic vacuum conveying is often considered in these sanitary situations for its contained design, gentle conveying approach, and ease of disassembly for cleaning while open-air belt conveyors and bucket elevators may be better used in other situations.

Conveyors that Promote Versatility

In a process dedicated to a single product, a flexible screw conveyor may work well but for frequent cleaning and changeovers, this conveyor needs to be detached from the hopper and discharge, the screw removed – often using a hoist – then each flight cleaned and the pipe interior cleaned with long brushes. Similarly, emptying, cleaning, and inspecting each bucket in a bucket elevator is a task that may be too slow and cumbersome when selecting a conveyor based on cleanability. By contrast, Volkmann pneumatic vacuum conveyors, equipped with its patented Multijector® vacuum pump, are known for easy access, tool-free disassembly, quick exchange filter replacement, and fast, easy cleaning. These conveying systems may be switched from dense phase to lean phase on the fly for efficient transfer of nearly any dry material.

At a time when manufacturers need to produce multiple products on the same process equipment with varying levels of staffing, cleanability for frequent changeovers needs to be given consideration as a vital asset in a conveying system. Speed of disassembly, ease of cleaning, and access for inspection and verification are key factors.

For more information, contact Volkmann, Inc., 1900 Frost Road Suite 102, Bristol, PA 19007; 609.265.0101; [email protected]; www.Volkmannusa.com.