It’s a Green Light for Growing Lettuce

An operator can completely disassemble the 7400 Series without tools in less than three minutes. “In less than 30 seconds, you can open the conveyor for washing down and cleaning without removing the belt,” Wemmert says. “Each section is identical so it is easy to put back together and you don’t have to be mechanically inclined.” Dorner has engineered the 7400 Series for multiple daily cleanings, offering a variety of options to speed up the cleaning process.

“It’s quick to take apart and easy to clean,” DeBruyn says. “We hose it down everyday. In the food industry, you have to be clean. It takes about 10 minutes and we’re done.”

The less time employees need to spend cleaning the conveyor is more time they can give to other projects. “It’s been a really great conveyor for us,” DeBruyn adds. “If our applications call for additional conveyors, we’ll definitely consider going with another Dorner.”

Proper Food Safety – Adjusted Accordingly

When it comes to sanitation, there are a few different levels of need depending on the actual product.

“If you put baked goods, fruit and vegetables, chicken and dairy out on a counter and leave them there for a week, some of those products may or may not be edible when you get back,” says Wemmert. “But for the chicken and the dairy, there is no way you’re going to eat it.”

It’s the same way with sanitation.

The lowest level of sanitation needed is for baked and confection goods, mid-level is fruits and vegetables followed by meat, chicken and seafood, and the highest level is dairy, Wemmert says. “Baked goods don’t need heavy sanitation because the product itself does not require it. But the sanitation design has to be able to accommodate all levels.” The sanitation process is increasing and that includes conveyors, he points out. Most meat companies run production for two shifts and then shut down for an entire shift to clean, sanitize and then do a swab test. If a company is not diligent, its reputation can be jeopardized. “So, if it takes them so many hours to clean, and they are able to cut that time in half, their production time will increase,” Wemmert adds. “Our effective sanitation conveyor can help them clean faster.”