Food Prod 

Manufacturer Spices it Up

Seasonings and spices are used to enhance the flavor of food.  Chefs have been using a blend of seasonings for centuries.  In fact, the characteristic taste of any region's cuisine began with its very own signature blend of spices.  Whether in fresh, whole dried, or pre-ground dried form, all seasonings must be fresh in order to be effective.  Their freshness is reliant on proper packaging; poor packaging can result in stale seasonings.  

A manufacturer of custom blending and packaging of end-use dry food ingredients added seasonings and spices to their expanding product line.  This growth and increase in production caused their existing dry dust collection system to overload.  Coupled with frequent equipment wash downs, the dry filter media began to clog.  The high pressure across the filter resulted in reduced airflow velocity, allowing dust to settle in the ducts.  

The customer turned to AAF® for a solution that would allow them to keep up with the increased production without clogging and overloading the filter media.  AAF® recommended the stainless steel Food Quality RotoClone® W due to its ability to handle sticky dusts, while ensuring performance is maintained without interruption or downtime.  Unlike barrier filters, such as pulse-jet filters which have to form a dust layer or cake to build resistance, the RotoClone® W requires no dust build up for immediate efficiency.

Challenge

The addition of the new product lines caused an increase in production, resulting in the overloading of the current dry dust collection system.  The reduced airflow, caused by clogged filter media, increased maintenance and housekeeping times, considerably affecting production.  Dust emitted from the overflowing filter media settled in the ducts, resulting in an increase of equipment wash-downs.  The customer wanted a single system to serve their five processing rooms, as opposed to a separate system in each room. 

Solution

AAF® conducted a room-by-room refit with a single all-stainless steel Food Quality RotoClone® W.  Designed to operate automatically and require minimal maintenance, this unit met all of the requirements presented by the customer.  The bearing pedestal eliminated flat surfaces that attract material build-up, making it easier to clean.  Additionally, the RotoClone® W was capable of being plugged into the existing plant systems with a minimum amount of disruption.

Benefits

The RotoClone® W is able to handle the high dust loadings that result from the handling of their dry food ingredients.  Its access doors allow easy access to clean and inspect the unit.  The maintenance manager reported that unlike their old unit, the RotoClone® W continuously maintains constant exhaust volume and requires almost no maintenance.