When it comes to maintaining sanitary equipment in the food and beverage industry, operators need to be proactive about the overall cleanliness of their respective facility.
In the winter of 2011, President Obama signed into law the biggest overhaul of American food safety laws since the 1930’s. The Food and Safety Modernization Act directs the FDA to issue new regulations designed to shift the agency’s focus from responding to food safety problems to actually preventing them from ever happening.
The industries with the largest impact are food and beverage manufacturing, which require the ultimate in sanitation to prevent potentially catastrophic food problems. Computer systems that operate conveyors and tools/utensils that come in direct contact with food products are at high risk for contamination. Food recalls are not a new occurrence, but they can be prevented with well-planned and sanitary practices. Keeping surfaces clean in a plant that produces products that are for human consumption is extremely imperative. According to Peter Wood’s article, ‘Improving Hygiene and Sanitation of Food-Grade Conveyors’ on the Powder & Bulk Solids website, “Food processors around the world are looking to improve equipment hygiene. Some are motivated by new government guidelines or the desire to reduce exposure to product liability claims. Others want to improve manufacturing efficiencies by speeding sanitation routines or maximize food safety, knowing the most effective way to reduce the risk of product contamination is through prevention.”
Being proactive about cleanliness can eliminate a potential headache in the future. Building a clean production line starts with sourcing a NEMA 4X computer enclosure that is perfectly designed for wash down applications. Mr. Woods also discussed the importance of NEMA 4X, “Food processors require different degrees of sanitation, with meat and dairy processors often relying on the most stringent high pressure wash downs that use caustic cleaning agents that minimize the risk of bacterial growth. To withstand high pressure wash downs, the equipment should feature NEMA 4X- or IP 66-rated electrical enclosures and components, while wipe-down sanitation routines demand less water ingress protection.”
What is the most hygienic workstation a manufacturing plant can use?
Choose an enclosure solution that will not harbor microbial contaminants during the sanitation process. The computer enclosure should feature a sloped top and clean edges to allow for excessive water runoff. Sanitary leg kits are also a popular feature for ensuring that water does not collect under the enclosure and also provides clearance between the NEMA 4X enclosure and the floor. Other popular features include lift off hinges with removable pins and a minimum of 304 stainless steel construction (316 stainless steel may also be required).
Additional considerations include water temperature and chemical mixes and rinses that are used during the wash down process. These items can impact various components that are installed on the computer enclosure, such as gaskets, locks, and window materials.
If feasible, it is recommended that a manufacturing facility make the necessary upgrades to their production line to keep everything sanitary and safe from harm and contamination. It can be detrimental if one area lacks the cleanliness over another. Food contamination or a safety recall will have you regretting not installing the correct NEMA 4X computer enclosure plant wide.
Not sure where to start? Speak with an enclosure expert that has experience deploying computers and various electronics in a wash down environment.
For More Information:
NEMA 4X Computer Enclosures in Food Processing
Essential Features for NEMA 4X Computer Enclosures
3 Considerations for Choosing a NEMA 4X Enclosure
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