When it comes to conveyors, bakers try to minimize the downtime cleaning and maintenance can cause. Bakers can select from hybrid plastic belts, which contain steel rods for sanitation, and stainless-steel belts, which are easy to clean. Plastic belts are trending toward smooth and seamless designs that are less likely to catch debris for easier cleaning and maintenance while limiting wear and tear on conveyor drives.

“I think the main focus of our customers is clean conveyor designs and reduced maintenance,” says Frank Achterberg, president, Capway Systems Inc. “We therefore design all our conveyors using the latest sanitary design specifications. We also incorporate shaft mount motors and plastic type belting that reduces maintenance requirements as well as noise.”

Keith Simpson, marketing manager for Spiroflow Systems, agrees. “Customers are looking for easier to clean solutions. Our Flexible Screw Conveyors, for example, can be made to easily dismantle without tools for thorough emptying and cleaning. Unlike pneumatic conveyors, Flexible Screw Conveyors do not have any filter housings to choke or harbor infestation,” he says.

Maintenance and sanitation time clearly translate to unproductive time for bakers. Terry Benda, president of Benda Manufacturing, includes clean material handling and labor savings as important topics to bakers when considering conveyor systems.

“We have experienced an increase of inquiries for cleaner material handling solutions. The low tension, sprocket driven seam-free belt system has filled that request,” Benda says. “As a result, we have been delivering the low-tension, seamless conveyor belting solution in our open frame design especially when transporting dough, bulk materials and toppings for many of our snack food and baking clients. Sprockets drive the belt and the low-tension design decreases belt stretching and negates the use of mechanical take-up devices.”

Shaffer Mixers & Processing Equipment, A Bundy Company, was incorrectly identified as part of the Henry Group in the July edition of Baking Management's Equipment Focus. Baking Management regrets the error.

MINIMIZE MAINTENANCE

Ashworth Brothers' testing on its new Omni-Pro 075 revealed it can withstand 125 lb. of tension for 100,000 cycles. The system retains the same design features that allow the belt to minimize cage bar wear, maintenance costs and downtime in the most demanding high-tension spiral applications. The shorter pitch of the Omni-Pro 075 is ideal for small products and closer transfers. By eliminating traditional “bridge” welding and using a patented 360° weld, the Omni-Pro 075 is capable of withstanding the highest loads in its class without failure.

Ashworth Brothers Inc.
540 662 3494
www.ashworth.com

BELT HANDLES HEAVY LOADS

Wire Belt Company offers Flat-Flex XT belting, providing extra strength and support for longer belt life. The XT belts are designed with unique “XT” spaces, increasing the number of “z-bend” joints and allowing it to handle heavier loads. Similar to all Flat-Flex style belts, XT offers lower belt mass than competitive style belts. Lower belt mass translates into lower power consumption, faster processing, and more product throughput, increasing profits.

Wire Belt Co.
603 644 2500
www.wirebelt.com

EFFICIENT CONVEYORS

Spiroflow Flexible Spiral Conveyors are a low cost, hygienic and versatile means of transferring bulk materials, like flour, or ingredients, such as salt, yeast and bakery mixes, from storage to process. The conveyor can be controlled volumetrically or gravimetrically from the source vessel or by “gain in weight” at the receiving end. Other types of conveyors, bag dump stations and bulk bag unloaders also are available to move materials to dough mixers and other types of mixing machines.

Spiroflow Systems Inc.
704 291 9595
www.spiroflowsystems.com

ELIMINATE TRANSFERS

SpanTech LLC offers the Intermediate Drive conveyor and Low Profile Idler Assembly as versatile new options in its Designer System® conveyor line. The Intermediate Drive conveyor requires only a 26-in. straight section, and allows gearmotor placement to be determined by the customer. The Low Profile Idler, with its nose diameter of 3-1/2 in., can often eliminate the need for transfers, even for products as small as 4 in. Low Profile Idlers may be used with an Intermediate Drive at both ends of the conveyor.

SpanTech LLC
270 651 9166
www.spantechllc.com