Spiral belt technology from Systemate Numafa
products is claimed to substantially cut product waste and increase
energy efficiency for production plants. The idea is that food
products are less likely to stick on the new plastic belt compared
to traditional steel belt systems.
Manufacturer Systemate Numafa claims that the range features a number of interesting innovations. The new spiral freezers and spiral coolers feature evaporators, and sliding doors that act as air guiding panels.
Furthermore, the unit features with a hygienic belt support underneath a plastic conveyor belt, instead of the standard stainless steel belt.
Systemate Numafa claims that the combination of the new belt support together with the plastic belt is more hygienic because of the good clean ability, a less sticky and smoother surface and a spiral drum without any wear strips. In addition, a plastic belt is stronger and saves on energy costs for the belt and drum drives because it is lighter and causes less friction than a stainless steel belt.
Systemate Numafa believes that its new range therefore meets the stringent HACCP demands of the food production equipment market.
Food manufacturers are increasingly turning to spiral technology as a means of achieving production efficiencies. Spiral systems are designed to bring significant advantages to demanding production environments. The concept is used in food production to cool or freeze a product in a small amount of floor space, or to quickly move products from one floor level to another.
Intralox is another company to have replaced the traditional metal belt on its spiral range with a plastic one. "When you process frozen products you often get this clinging effect on metal," said Intralox European spiral team leader Stephen Hubbard. "Our belts eliminate the black specks, or metal wear debris, and the product sticking that eventually results in product waste."
The company also claims that the new Series 2600 Spiralox belt results in 75 per cent less maintenance than traditional metal belts. The modular designs make repairs and changeovers simple and easier for manufacturers to maximise their production time. The belts operate at very low tension, which prevents premature belt wear and greatly reduces belt replacement costs.
Another major selling point of the machine is its energy efficiency. "There is a lot of talk in the industry at the moment about energy consumption," said Hubbard. "Light plastic materials and the modular load sharing ability of the new machine enables it to carry more product and thereby increase throughput. You can run more product through for the same amount of power."
