Food Safety in the Automation Age
Automated equipment helps bakers control the cleaning processes better and with less human error. It’s also time, water, energy and chemicals-saving, which means it allows manufacturers to achieve their sustainability objectives easier.
According to the ‘Codex Alimentarius’, 600 million people fall ill every year as a result of around 200 different types of food poisoning. These illnesses affect in particular the poor and young sections of the population, and are also responsible for 420,000 preventable deaths each year. That is why safety is paramount to food production.
Safe food is not only the result of suitable industrial processing methods. The machines and equipment used must not only be easy to clean, but they also have to be washed down quickly and reliably with minimal use of energy, water, cleaning agents and disinfectants, says the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association in Germany, one of the largest European professional associations. Sensors to detect the hygiene status of critical areas of machines and systems or the quality of rinsing water, or camera-supported, automated container cleaning with rotating nozzles or jet cleaners are just a few examples where research and mechanical engineering are jointly driving forward important developments.
Automation for Employees’ Sanitation Devices
Sanitizing footwear soles and hands can be a challenging process and vulnerable to human error, even with the best practices and intentions. Meritech, a leader in automated hygiene technology, created equipment that helps with eliminating risk, such as the CleanTech EVO Stations. The next evolution of CleanTech includes intuitive sensors, state-of-the-art solution cartridges and a full-color interactive display to help enhance the perfect automated hand wash that is effective, easy to use, and environmentally sustainable.
The CleanTech EVO line consists of four systems that are all produced at Meritech’s Colorado HQ: the EVO One which is a free-standing single station system, the EVO Wall which is a wall mounted system, the EVO Three which is a high-throughput triple-station system and the EVO In-Counter which is a system that fits into an existing countertop.
“EVO is the result of a two-year effort by our talented and dedicated team to develop the next evolution of our hand washing technology,” says David Duran, Chief Executive Officer. “Our goal with this new generation of systems is to increase the depth of our engagement with the user, improving the experience, driving higher levels of hygiene compliance and minimizing our environmental impact.”
CleanTech EVO is the world’s only automated handwashing station clinically proven to remove more than 99.9% of pathogens with each hand wash. The stations have 2 cylinders with 40 nozzles each that rotate around the hands during the 12 seconds automated hand wash, whisking away harmful pathogens.
Intuitive sensors on the CleanTech EVO systems ensure that the temperature, flow, pressure, and overall water conditions are ideal for the highest level of compliance and efficacy. There’s also zero touch points or cross-contamination between users thanks to a photo-eye sensor and closed-loop drainage system. The recyclable materials used in the CleanTech EVO solutions cartridges not only help in reducing landfill waste but also contribute to a sustainable environment. Additionally, the new display screen features an interactive countdown timer for users and a compliance monitoring screen that offers detailed usage data at different intervals.
The EVO systems can be configured with additional EVO Enhancements such as the Sole Clean Low-Moisture Automated Footwear Sanitizing Pan. This groundbreaking solution sanitizes any style of footwear in just 12 seconds, with a fast-drying footwear sanitizer specifically catering to dry or semi-dry production facilities.
Read the rest of the story in the forth issue of European Baker&Biscuit!