Automation is so ubiquitous in the modern industrial complex that we sometimes forget what things used to be like. Take the food processing industry, for example. At one time, workers had to pluck every apple, fill every sausage, and stuff every bag of bread rolls. Now, machines take care of a significant percentage of food processing tasks.
For the most part, automation in food processing is a blessing; it’s what allows food manufacturers to create enough food to feed entire nations. There are some drawbacks, however. Let’s take a deeper look at the pros and cons of automated conveyors in food processing.
What Is Food Processing?
Before we can cover how automation has changed the food industry, we need to explain what food processing is. In short, food processing comprises all the tasks related to food preparation for consumers. It can cover any or all of the following tasks:
- Harvesting
- Cleaning
- Sorting
- Portioning
- Cooking
- Baking
- Dehydrating
- Coating
- Freezing
- Packaging
- Shipping
The Processing of an Apple
Let’s go back to the apple example. While food production includes the stages of planting and growing the apples, processing really begins when machines harvest the apples. Different machines then sort the apples into those that will go to grocery stores and the ones that will receive further processing.
Typically, whole apples are frozen before being sent to grocery stores so that they can better endure the long journey—that’s one kind of processing. The apples that go on to become packaged apple slices, applesauce, and dried apples go through other types of processing, most of which happens by machine.
Conveyors in Food Processing
It’s not an overstatement to say that modern food processing couldn’t exist without automated conveyor systems. You may not realize it, but a bushel of apples is heavy. Conveyors take on the weight without complaint, sorting products and transporting items over long distances much more efficiently than people could. Below are some of the other major benefits of automated conveyors in food processing.
Larger Volume Processing
To elaborate on the point above, conveyor belts are far more efficient than people when it comes to moving products. A person might be able to carry a box of food from one end of a warehouse to the other in a few minutes. A conveyor system can carry hundreds of boxes at the same time so that new boxes arrive at their destination every second. Plus, conveyor belts don’t need to take breaks.
Better Treatment of Staff
Because conveyor belts can take on much of the physical labor, workers in food production can have more meaningful roles. This could mean supervising the machines or doing quality checks instead of walking up and down the cement floors of a warehouse doing the same task over and over. This leads to fewer workplace injuries and a happier workforce.
Improved Sanitation
One of the most important reasons to use automation in food processing is to minimize or eliminate the need to have people touching someone else’s food. Every time we touch a food product, there’s a chance of biological contamination. Contaminated food doesn’t last as long, and it can make people sick.
Finished Food Products
Thanks to the power of conveyor belts, food processing plants can create finished food products that are ready for consumption. Whether they’re transporting tortillas, chips, granola bars, or bread, conveyor belts make it possible to save consumers time in the kitchen. Think of how different things would be if you had to make a loaf of bread every week in order to have sandwiches for lunch!
The Drawbacks of Food Conveyors
While the advantages of using automated conveyors in food processing are many, there are also some negative aspects. Most food manufacturers continue to use food-grade conveyors, but these are the risks they must contend with.
Contamination and Carryback
Carryback is a term used in the belting industry to describe particles and debris that stay on the conveyor belt after the product moves on. Food has the ability to leave a lot of carryback on a conveyor belt, including crumbs, oils, grease, odors, and bacteria. Carryback is the reason why food packaging must state when a product is made in the same facility as a common allergen, like peanuts. For some people, even the dust from a peanut shell is enough to set off an allergic reaction.
Intense Belt Cleaning
Because of the dangers of carryback and contamination, food manufacturers must follow strict belt cleaning guidelines. These regulations require that belts be exposed to heat and antibacterial cleaners to ensure they don’t harbor bacteria. The rules also promote cleaning to remove oils and residue that, while harmless themselves, might collect bacteria.
Larger Outbreaks
When so much food is in once place and touching the same equipment, contaminations can have a much larger impact. That’s why it’s so important to prevent these issues from happening in the first place. When you see stories on the news about bacteria outbreaks that reach across multiple states, it’s because of the sheer volume of food going through some conveyor systems.
How To Choose Food-Grade Belting
If you have any hope of staying competitive in today’s market, there’s no way to avoid using conveyors in food production. That means you can’t really avoid dealing with the risks posed above. However, you can protect yourself and your consumers by rigorously following all sanitation regulations. You can also choose higher-quality belting.
Useful Belt Coatings
Texas Belting and Supply offers food-safe belting with special coatings. Some coatings include:
- Animal oil resistance
- Vegetable oil resistance
- Low moisture absorption
- Heat resistance
- Bacteria resistance
- Static resistance
- Cleaning solvent resistance
These coatings give your conveyor belts an edge when it comes to sanitation. Oil resistance makes it harder for grease and residue to stick to the belt, which speeds up the cleaning process. Solvent resistance means that you don’t have to worry about using professional-grade cleaners to remove food stains and bacteria.
Finding a Food Grade Belting Supplier
If you’re shopping for new, long-lasting belting to put on your conveyor system, check out our collection at Texas Belting and Supply. We carry dozens of different types of food-safe conveyor belts, many with the special coatings listed above. We even have light-duty belts for air slide conveyors and high-temp belts for baking applications. Not sure which type of belting is right for your needs? Just give us a call or send us an email—we’re happy to help.
