Hygienic packaging sells safely

Anyone who produces food must adhere to many rules and guidelines - with good reason, as this involves safe products for the end consumer. Accordingly, the machines used must also meet high standards and be able to withstand cleaning with high-pressure equipment and aggressive cleaning agents, for example. The precision of processing and process reliability must always remain the same. "These requirements also apply to a wide range of applications, from freshly harvested vegetables and sweets to yogurt and other dairy products," says Ralf Heldenberger, Strategic Account Manager at SMC.

Packing large quantities of food

In food packaging, it is also often important to pack large quantities - as hygienically, quickly and safely as possible. Customized, fully automatic FFS systems - Form-Fill-Seal - meet these requirements. The machines first form the required packaging independently, fill it with the product and close it securely at the end. Ralf Heldenberger: "Some FFS machines can achieve up to 130,000 portion packs or up to 80,000 cups per hour. All types of liquid to pasty foods can be packed, from yogurt, chocolate pudding with vanilla sauce, butter or jam to mayonnaise and fruit salad."

Product safety is particularly important throughout the entire production and filling process. "Special FFS machines therefore work without chemicals and only with superheated steam," explains Heldenberger. "In this way, they achieve an aseptic packaging process and ensure that the food stays fresh for longer - even outside the cold chain." At the same time, the systems are robustly designed to withstand thorough cleaning. High water pressures and aggressive cleaning agents are used during operation. At the same time, high temperatures are generated in the process itself, which can affect the precision of the machine in the long term.

SMC has developed reliable cooling and temperature control solutions such as the stand-alone HRSH150 series for this purpose. "Although our cooling and temperature control units, which are equipped with their own housing, are not usually located in the direct cleaning area, they still have to be able to cope with splash water," says Heldenberger. "They should also offer a cost advantage over other systems and consume as little energy as possible. An individual solution is needed for these complex requirements."

Cooling unit control controls motor, fan and pump depending on load

The stand-alone HRSH150 unit pumps the coolant into the machine circuit and cools the system's stations. With a rated output of 15.7 kW, the temperature control unit keeps the temperature stable at ±0.1 °C. Ralf Heldenberger: "The housings of our HRSH150 series are designed in accordance with protection class IPX4 and thus protect against splash water." This means that the devices can also be placed directly next to the machines during cleaning. A flow rate of up to 180 l/min effortlessly supplies the machine circuit with coolant. Equipped with a frequency-controlled regulator, the HRSH series also controls the motor, fan and pump individually and load-dependently - this saves energy and reduces the weight and size of the appliance. The low noise level of just 68 decibels makes working in the vicinity of the temperature control unit pleasant.

High availability in continuous operation is also one of the requirements in dairy product packaging in particular and the food industry in general. Here too, the HRSH150 shows its strengths: its seal-less pump is particularly low-maintenance, and with a charge of less than 3 kg of refrigerant, there are no legally prescribed maintenance cycles for the temperature control unit. This increases availability and saves maintenance costs.