Industry
Industrial Baking
Application
Cookie, bread, and pastry line
Product
FGP Food Grade Precleaner
Objective
Reduce carryback
Reduce clean-up and maintenance
Run product longer between cleanings
Conveyor Detail
One-ply, 1.5mm thick polyurethane belt with 60 P.I.W. rating
Problem:
A major industrial bakery in Mexico was experiencing extreme carryback on a line that is dry steam cleaned on a continual basis during the production process. Chocolate from the pastries and other baked goods was sticking to the belt and building up on the backside of the conveyor and the inline sanitizing equipment. This carryback was creating major production issues as conveyors were stopped to remove chocolate from the rollers, wash and sanitize the conveyor equipment, and clean the floors of product waste.
Solution:
The plant manager reached out to their local distributor for a solution. The distributor recommended a Flexco FGP Food Grade Precleaner because of its simple design, food-grade, metal detectable UHMW blade, and stainless steel components. The FGP was positioned in front of the steamer in the direction of the belt travel.
Result:
The maintenance crew was surprised that installation was so quick and easy and that disassembly and reassembly for cleaning was a snap. Most importantly, the FGP Food Grade Precleaner was able to effectively remove the chocolate from the belt and direct it into a waste container, keeping it from building up on the other conveyor components and from falling onto the floor. It also helped increase the efficiency of the steamer.
Thanks to the success of the cleaner, the bakery realized $22,000 in increased production because of the reduction in downtime for cleanup and sanitization.