IT is becoming increasingly important to maintain food integrity and to do what we can to minimise food shortages. The devastating effects of droughts, floods and fires show food insecurity to be a major concern globally. Every one of us in agriculture and industry has an important role to play in making a difference during this time of crises and uncertainty, says Ken Mouritzen, manager, BLT World.
“One of our most critical responsibilities is to preserve the quality of food products in every stage after harvesting. The use of substandard or incorrect grain handling equipment results in kernel damage and deterioration of the grain and seeds. Large grains, like corn, can be particularly susceptible to physical damage during handling and is more vulnerable to fungi and insect infestation.
“Dust is a major problem associated with conveyor systems in all sectors, particularly where workers have prolonged exposure to the hazards of dust particles. Apart from the negative effects of dust on one’s health – like irritation to the eyes, skin and respiratory tracts, as well as serious lung diseases – some types of dust can also form an explosive mixture with air, which is extremely dangerous.
“It is therefore crucial that the correct conveyor skirting is used to offer maximum safety to workers and to ensure minimal deterioration of foods and to maintain the desired level of quality.”
Specialists in post-harvest processing are continually looking for more efficient, dependable systems to alleviate problems associated with product damage in bulk handling. It is also important for industry to be able to cope efficiently with the challenges of handling moist and sticky materials.
Common difficulties of bulk conveyor systems include dust, spills and contamination at the transfer points of conveyor systems. Misalignment, abrasion and subsequent belt damage are other problems in food conveying.
The BLT World team has installed a highly effective system on a conveyor system at a food production plant – comprising the ScrapeTec AirScrape, TailScrape and PrimeTracker belt tracker – and feedback from the customer is positive.
Extreme dust development at the plant caused damage to belt components, due to jamming and spillage. In addition, friction from dust caused wear and tear on side and rear seals, allowing the escape of materials and dust.
According to the plant manager, since the installation of the ScrapeTec system over three years ago, dust levels around transfer points are significantly reduced, ensuring a safer and healthier working environment. In addition, running costs are lower because there are no longer the costly energy requirements of extraction fans. This highly effective system also minimises the risk of explosions at critical sections along the conveyor route and transfer points – an important safety feature. The plant manager also notes there is reduced need for extensive cleaning operations and maintenance work on the conveyor belt is minimal.
Prior to this installation at the plant, the team had to spend hours each day, cleaning the belt periphery and all transfer points, from unplanned material spills and the remnants of product. The plant manager had previously tried various methods to cope with costly material spills in the plant’s moist and sticky environment, without success. This efficient conveyor system enables the team to now spend more time on productive work at the plant.
Studies in other projects show, that even after five years after installation and with continuous use in harsh conditions, BLT World’s ScrapeTec systems hardly show any signs of wear.