HaF Equipment, Author at HAF Equipment

December 1, 2023July 11, 2024

The Crucial Role of Precision and Accuracy in Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing

Pharmaceutical production line - Precision and Accuracy in Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing - HaF Equipment

by: Jared Beaupre and Ben Kozmik

Success hinges on every measurement in manufacturing. Accuracy and precision in material handling equipment are essential to achieving success. They must be a top consideration when deciding which equipment to choose. HaF Equipment, a leading industrial equipment manufacturer, understands the pivotal role these factors play and ensures their focus on the reliability, safety, and performance of their products.

Understanding Accuracy and Precision in Material Handling Equipment

Accurate measurements reflect how closely a value aligns with the true or actual measurement, while precision indicates the consistency and reproducibility of a measurement. In the context of material handling equipment, such as feeders, weighing, and metering devices, achieving accuracy and precision is paramount for seamless operations.

EXAMPLE: Imagine you are throwing darts at a target. If all your darts hit the bullseye, your throws are accurate and precise. However, if your darts consistently land on the same spot, but that spot is different from the bullseye, then your throws are precise but not accurate. Conversely, if your darts are scattered all over the target, they are neither accurate nor precise.

The Importance of Tolerance in Measurement

Tolerance, allowing for deviations from specified values, is a critical concept in manufacturing and engineering. For HaF, setting agreed-upon limits within feeding systems ensures everyone involved understands the parameters, fostering successful collaboration in system design and functionality.

Tolerance is crucial in ensuring that components fit together accurately and adhere to specified standards in manufacturing. Without tolerance, minor measurement discrepancies could result in unsuitable or hazardous products. By accommodating a certain level of deviation, manufacturers can produce top-quality products that meet the required standards while allowing for some variability in the manufacturing process.

Rotary Airlocks: Factors Influencing Accuracy and Precision

When designing systems that include rotary airlocks as metering devices, HaF acknowledges the multitude of variables that can significantly influence accuracy. By prioritizing the evaluation of factors like pocket size, rotor speed, and blow by air, HaF ensures the attainment of the desired accuracy rate through meticulous sizing and design, taking into account variables such as leakage, particle size, material, pocket full percentage, rate, bulk density, flowability, and head pressure.

Challenges in Precision Manufacturing

Challenges in precision manufacturing extend to various components, such as screw feeders and load cells. Using different types of screw feeders introduce variability, affecting both precision and accuracy. Load cells, susceptible to factors like balance points, supports, rigidity, air force, and flex connections, necessitate careful calibration with certified test weights. Storage silos, subjected to environmental elements like wind and rain, can cause movement, which can change pressure around silos, and require consideration of variables affecting load cells.

Precision in Manufacturing Across Industries

Precision manufacturing is a universal need, extending beyond material handling to aerospace, medical devices, electronics, and automotive industries. Even slight deviations from specifications in these sectors can have profound implications for safety, performance, and reliability. By leveraging advanced technology and processes, manufacturers can achieve greater product accuracy and consistency, resulting in improved performance, reliability, and safety.

HaF’s Commitment to Operator-Centric Equipment

Precision and accuracy are the cornerstones of success in the competitive landscape of material handling equipment manufacturing. HaF Equipment stands as a testament to the commitment to these principles, offering products and comprehensive solutions that ensure the highest standards of quality, reliability, and safety.

For your current or upcoming project, trust HaF to deliver excellence. Contact HaF today to experience the difference accuracy and precision in material handling equipment can make on your operations.

By keeping our finger on the pulse of the tire industry, HaF Equipment is ahead of the curve. The manufacturing of our equipment focuses on operator-centric designs and our proven processes for success to support our major markets, making HaF Equipment more than just a great equipment manufacturer. Our systems are equipped with advanced automation features that minimize human error and increase overall production speed further. We are your partner in excellence, committed to your success through service with integrity, purpose, and ingenuity. By designing innovative solutions for bulk material handling, we meet today’s manufacturing challenges head-on to break through the status quo.

HaF has the expertise and experience to accommodate a wide range of needs when it comes to material handling and equipment manufacturing. We’re Ready to Connect with you and offer a customized solution and discuss your specific project needs.

Contact a HaF account manager today to discuss your options.

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July 14, 2023June 29, 2024

Exploring HaF Equipment: The Machinery Behind Quality Tire Manufacturing

by: Mitch Lund and Abby Wendt

The tire industry is one of the most important manufacturing industries in the world. Every year, millions of tires are produced to meet the needs of consumers, both domestically and internationally, and new tire concepts – including electric vehicles, smart tires, and sustainability – will drive future growth in global tire sales. As a result, Smithers forecasts future growth will continue at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% (by value) through to 2026, pushing global value to $325.6 billion (at constant prices) and volume to 2.80 billion tires.

The World's Largest Tire Manufacturers

As of 2021, Michelin is the world’s largest tire manufacturer, followed by Bridgestone (Japan), Continental (Germany), Goodyear (United States), and Sumitomo (Japan). Despite their dominance, there are hundreds of tire manufacturers around the globe that make up the global tire industry, and each manufacturer has their own unique production system. As tire technology continues to evolve, manufacturers must strive to create better-performing tires while reducing their environmental impact and adhering to specific regulations set by governing bodies like the Tire Industry Association (TIA).

Machinery for Tire Manufacturing

Tire manufacturing is a complex process that requires specialized machinery and methods for safety, efficiency, and quality assurance. The tire manufacturing process is highly variable as tires are composed of many different raw materials, such as rubber, steel, fabric, and other chemicals. To ensure consistent production of a high-quality product that meets international safety standards, manufacturers must choose the right tire manufacturing equipment for efficiency.

Industry-recognized tire manufacturing machines play an essential role in streamlining production while increasing safety on the factory floor. All parts of the tire-making process must be accounted for, including mixing ingredients, molding, and curing rubber strips together with other components of the tire structure. Highly automated systems allow manufacturers to produce large volumes of tires in less time with fewer errors than manual operations.

How HaF Machinery Helps Tire Manufacturers

In the ever-evolving world of tire manufacturing, the incorporation of cutting-edge equipment is crucial to meet growing demands for efficiency and quality. With HaF equipment, tire manufacturers can experience enhanced efficiency in several key areas.

Storage
Unloading and Transport
Batching of raw ingredients for different rubber compound recipes
Dust Collection

By keeping our finger on the pulse of the tire industry, HaF Equipment is ahead of the curve. The manufacturing of our equipment focuses on operator-centric designs and our proven processes for success to support our major markets, making HaF Equipment more than just a great equipment manufacturer. Our systems are equipped with advanced automation features that minimize human error and increase overall production speed further. We are your partner in excellence, committed to your success through service with integrity, purpose, and ingenuity. By designing innovative solutions to bulk material handling, we meet today’s manufacturing challenges head-on to break through the status quo.

Contact a HaF account manager today to discuss your options.

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March 14, 2023March 29, 2024

A Sticky Situation: Manufacturing Snacks and Confections

Manufacturing Snacks and Confections - HaF Equipment

Revenue in the Confectionery & Snacks segments is estimated to amount to US$299.50bn in 2023 and is expected to grow annually by 3.00% (CAGR 2023-2027). Most revenue is generated in the United States. (Statista) As the confectionery and snack manufacturing process continues to expand, driven by America’s love for chocolate bars, doughnuts, marshmallows, and other popular treats, the need for confectionery and candy processing equipment in the market has never been more critical. Manufacturers must adapt to this rising demand by ensuring their snacks and confectionery manufacturing machines can efficiently manage sticky, gooey ingredients without compromising on quality.

America's Sweet Tooth

The demand for sweets and snacks has never been higher, and with the growth of e-commerce and global marketplaces, manufacturers of confectioneries and snacks have had to scale up their operations. To ensure the production of high-quality confections, however, manufacturers must invest in reliable snack manufacturing machines that meet the specific needs of their product line.

The equipment essential for the snack manufacturing process is designed with strict hygiene protocols in mind, ensuring consistent output to maintain flavor and texture standards. Additionally, snack and confectionery manufacturing machinery should be easy to clean and maintain, supporting sanitary conditions and the production of high-quality products.

To maintain consistency in product quality, manufacturers in the confectionery and candy processing equipment market must choose durable machinery capable of enduring extended use. Investing in the right snacks manufacturing machine and confection processing equipment enables producers to maximize efficiency while delighting consumers with their favorite treats.

In addition, manufacturers must also consider food safety regulations when selecting the appropriate equipment. That selection must include equipment designed with food safety standards in mind so that products remain clean and safe to consume. By maintaining these standards throughout production, manufacturers can ensure their customers receive a product they can trust.

Equipment Used to Manufacture Confections and Snacks

The equipment required to manufacture confections and snacks varies depending on the specific production process and may include:

1. Mixing equipment: used to blend the ingredients, such as sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin, together.
2. Cooking equipment: used to heat and cook the mixture to a specific temperature and consistency.
3. Whipping equipment: used to aerate the mixture and create the fluffy texture of the marshmallows.
4. Depositing equipment: used to deposit the marshmallow mixture into molds or onto a conveyor belt.
5. Cutting equipment: used to cut the marshmallows into desired shapes and sizes.
6. Packaging equipment: used to package the marshmallows into bags, boxes, or other containers.

Some manufacturers may also use additional equipment for specific production processes, such as extruders or enrobing machines. Additionally, production equipment for confectioners and snacks may include:

Bulk Bag Unloaders
Bag Break Stations
Blower packages
Bin vents
Filter Receivers
Piping
Liquid skid/tote
Extrusion

HaF Equipment Does Its Part

Custom-engineered material handling equipment systems are in greater demand now, more than ever. Increasing demand for safe and hygienic processes drives growth within the snack and confection market.

By keeping our finger on the pulse of the industry, HaF Equipment is ahead of the curve. The manufacturing of our equipment focuses on operator-centric designs and our proven processes for success to support our major markets, making HaF Equipment more than just a great equipment manufacturer. We are your partner in excellence, committed to your success through service with integrity, purpose, and ingenuity. By designing innovative solutions to powder handling, bulk material handling, dust collection, and batching systems, we meet today’s manufacturing challenges head-on to break through the status quo.

Contact a HaF account manager today to explore our customized solutions tailored to your specific snack manufacturing and confection processing needs

For Fun: The History of Marshmallow Q: When were marshmallows first enjoyed? A: 2000 BC, Ancient Egypt. They were rare and a special treat reserved for gods and royalty. Q: How was it originally made? A: It was made from the root sap of the mallow plant, which grew in marshy areas, and mixed with nuts and honey. Q: What else can you use the mallow plant for? A: Heal sore throat, anti-inflammatory. The leaves can be used as a laxative. The plant contains mucilage, which the plants use to store water. That helps with these medicinal effects. Today, you can find the mallow root in teas, tinctures, capsules, ointments, creams, sodas, and cough syrups. Q: When was the modern marshmallow created? A: 19th century France. By this point (1927), the mallow root had been replaced by gelatin and/or egg whites. By 1950, Alex Doumak created the mass production extrusion process. Top two producers today: Kraft Heinz Company, Doumak, Inc.

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February 25, 2023May 28, 2024

Soft Drink Production: The Role of Material Handling Equipment

Material Processing in Soda - Manufacturing Equipment

Authors: Sarah Wagner and Hunter Kloes

Long before the soda industry brought us drinks as a refreshment, pharmacists prescribed “soda pop” to patients. Initially, pharmacists served carbonated water at the pharmaceutical counter to patients for medicinal purposes. Soft drinks were not limited to the medical industry, however. They were also commonly accepted to drink with dinner.

By 1820, flavoring was added to carbonated beverages – from salt to ginger. In 1830, soft drink producers started adding lemon; by 1858, they added tonic. Yet, it wasn’t until 1886 that John Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia, invented the first cola drink.

John Pemberton was a chemist and druggist before serving in the Civil War. During the war, Pemberton suffered a major wound and became dangerously addicted to the pain reliever morphine. To defeat his dependency on morphine, Pemberton created Coca-Cola. He heard another doctor used coca (cocaine) to cure opium habits; Pemberton combined the coca leaves with kola nuts. His bookkeeper convinced him to call it “Coca-Cola.” Nearly 140 years later, soft drinks make up over a $430 billion industry. (Grand View Research)

Steps in Soft Drink Production

Water Treatment. Flocculation is the process where solids form larger clusters, or flocs, for removal from water. Aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride are examples of what’s pulled. Monochloramine is used to kill germs, yet it is still safe to drink.
Extraction of Raw Goods. Raw materials for producing goods and services may include vanilla bean, apricot seed, and lemon. An example of extraction used in soft drinks is the brand, Dr. Pepper. It contains extract of cherry, licorice, amaretto, almond, vanilla, blackberry, apricot, caramel, pepper, anise, sarsaparilla, ginger, molasses, lemon, plum, orange, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, coriander juniper, birch, and prickly ash. Whew!
Sugar or High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) Handling. Sugar is extracted from beets, corn, and cane. Raw goods are then mixed with the sugar sludge. The concentrate is typically made at the soft drink plant headquarters using a variety of ingredients like those listed above.

The Role of Material Handling Equipment
in Soft Drink Production

Soda production is a complex process requiring sophisticated material-handling equipment to ensure efficient processing and production. To produce high-quality soda, raw materials such as sugar, yeast, and water must be loaded into equipment designed to manage the ingredients for further processing. This includes specialized machines for weighing, blending, and pasteurizing the ingredients in a precise manner.

Then, additional soda manufacturing equipment is needed to move the processed material from one station to another within the facility. For instance, conveyors are often used during storing and transporting bulk materials like sugar that need to be directed onto other processing equipment with little manual labor involved. Robotic arms are also commonly used to automate assembly lines, while pallet jacks can help streamline loading processes at different stages of production.

Sanitary Design in Soda Manufacturing

The importance of sanitary equipment design in soda manufacturing cannot be overstated. The demand for safe food and beverage products has never been greater, and sanitary equipment is essential to meet these requirements. Sanitary equipment design involves using materials, components, and methods that eliminate contamination risks during production. This includes using hygienic surfaces, minimized crevices, effective drainage systems, and avoiding cross-contamination between different production steps.

Choosing the Right Soda Production Manufacturing Equipment

Quality control protocols must be implemented when choosing soda production and manufacturing equipment to ensure all materials used meet health standards and minimize potential hazards associated with the production process itself. In addition, all components should be easy to clean and maintain while being corrosion-resistant from any liquid or chemicals used during the manufacturing process.

When it comes to soda manufacturing, there is no room for shortcuts. The selection of the right soft drink manufacturing equipment is essential in ensuring a safe, efficient, and profitable operation.

At HaF Equipment, we understand that the quality and performance of your process equipment can determine the success or failure of your business. That’s why all of our products are designed to meet and exceed industry standards while providing maximum efficiency and reliability. Our team has decades of experience engineering high-quality solutions that have been tested and proven to perform in challenging manufacturing environments.

Contact a HaF account manager today to discuss your options.

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October 28, 2022February 9, 2024

Are There Risks of Using Wood Pellets in Manufacturing?

by Maria Buss and Will Aldrin

As the world looks for ways to become more environmentally friendly, many industries are turning to renewable energy sources. Manufacturing is one of them.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using renewable energy sources in manufacturing. One of the most promising renewable energy sources is wood pellets in manufacturing. Wood pellets are a type of biomass used to create heat and power. Manufacturing plants that use wood pellets can reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. In addition, there are other advantages of wood pellets being used in manufacturing.

Wood pellets are biomass, a renewable resource, so they can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Wood pellets are relatively inexpensive and easy to transport.
Wood pellets have a high energy density and can create a lot of power without taking up much space.

However, there are some disadvantages of wood pellets being used in manufacturing, and if you’re a wood pellet manufacturer, or a manufacturer using wood pellets as an energy source, here are some things you should know.

Wood pellets as an alternative fuel source for manufacturing

Challenges for Wood Pellet Manufacturers

As a renewable and sustainable energy source, wood pellets in manufacturing have been gaining popularity in recent years. But there is a downside to this otherwise environmentally friendly fuel: it can damage manufacturing equipment.

Wood pellets are made by compressing sawdust into small, hard nuggets. This process creates a lot of heat and friction, which can cause wear and tear on equipment. In addition, the high pressure needed to compress the sawdust can result in corrosion and other problems for manufacturing equipment. Therefore, the equipment used must be designed to sustain these especially harsh conditions.

Sawdust is very fine, sometimes almost like a powder, and there can be challenges from plugging and buildup. As with any manufacturing that involves powder, special considerations need to be made when handling wood pellets. Otherwise, particles can easily get trapped in the nooks and crannies of equipment, causing equipment damage and potentially becoming airborne, contaminating the air.

Disadvantages of Wood Pellets Being Used in Manufacturing as An Energy Source

While there are several advantages of wood pellets being used as a fuel source, manufacturers must be aware of the potential for damage to their equipment. Proper maintenance and care can help minimize the risk of problems, but it’s important to be aware of the potential issues before switching to wood pellets.

Wood pellets can be difficult to store and handle.
Wood pellets are made from compressed sawdust and other wood waste products, creating powder-like dust. The dust from the pellets can build up on surfaces and eventually cause problems with the equipment.

HaF Equipment’s H-Series is ideal for manufacturers using wood pellets as an energy source and for wood pellet manufacturers.

The H-Series is high-quality pre-engineered equipment. This line of Ready-To-Go equipment features “Tool-Free Quick Take-Apart” which is designed for dependability, efficiency, and the capability for it to be easy to clean.

HaF’s Ready-To-Go Equipment includes:

If proper material handling of wood pellets or other biomasses is a critical part of successfully processing your products for commercial use, HaF Equipment is Ready to Connect.

Contact a HaF account manager today to discuss your options.

2022 Best in Baking Recipients Pioneering the Bakery of the Future

A beautiful award for the IBIE Best In Baking 2022

Grupo Bimbo’s sustainably baked Supán & OroWeat 100% Whole Grain Organic Bread, Dawn Foods’ Women’s Leadership Development Programme and Apex Motion Control’s Baker-Bot are among the raft of recipients to receive the coveted Best in Baking Awards at IBIE Bakery Showcase 2022. HaF Equipment is honored to be among these leaders in the baking industry and to be recognized for sanitation design with our Moovinator Horizontal Load Filter Receiver!

Visit us at our booth at the International Baking Industry Exposition, in Las Vegas from September 18 through 21, 2022. where we will showcase our innovations in bulk material handling design, including the Moovinator.

Schedule an appointment and come see us at the Bakery Showcase 2022!

Material Handling Challenges When Handling Salt

By: Caleb Meyer and Caroline Harrington

Every day people use salt, and most people associate salt with baking or cooking at home. Perhaps they associate it with deicing roads during an icy winter if they live in colder climates. However, in manufacturing, we associate salt with bulk processing and its importance to industries ranging from food manufacturing, animal feeding, pharmaceuticals, chlorine production, textiles, and oil.

Salt is a common ingredient in many industrial and manufacturing processes but can be corrosive to machinery. When salt comes into contact with metal, it causes the metal to oxidize, leading to rust and other damage. Moisture accelerates this process and is particularly damaging to machinery used in wet or humid environments. Over time, salt corrosion causes parts to break down and fail, leading to costly repairs, replacements, and downtime! To prevent salt damage, regularly cleaning and lubricating machinery is necessary to remove salt from work areas as soon as possible to extend the life of the manufacturing equipment and avoid loss of revenue.

Use of Salt in Manufacturing

Salt handling in manufacturing is not uncommon, and interestingly, the decision to use salt is made based on how its chemical structure will interact with the materials used. For example, salt interacts with water to lower its freezing point. When used on roads, it results in safer roads. Salt is also used to prepare textiles before dying, in oil drilling as a lubricant and cooling agent for the drilling head. Of course, everyone knows that salt is a common ingredient in baking and cooking to add flavor to our favorite foods and desserts! However, there are material handling challenges when it comes to salt in manufacturing. When used extensively, salt breaks down the oxide film of metals resulting in pitting. Its abrasive nature also wears away at materials and tends to clump up in humid environments presenting a material handling challenge.

Material Handing Challenges in Production When Using Salt

Salt is formed from the reaction of an acid and a base to create an ionic salt and water. In its solid-state, salt forms crystals in the face-centered cubic close packing atomic crystal packing structure. This arrangement allows the salt to be a good conductor of electrical current. When salt is dissolved in water, the positively and negatively charged ions dissociate to create a brine. When the brine is in contact with iron-rich metals it not only puts oxygen atoms in close contact with the metal but also provides an ideal environment for free electrons in the iron structure to bind with the oxygen resulting in the formation of rust and eventual corrosion.

What Manufacturers Should Know When Handling Salt

From a material handling equipment manufacturer’s point of view, we know the destructive nature of salt on equipment; poorly made and maintained equipment allows that destruction to escalate. Salt can quickly wear manufacturing equipment down and ruin products when mismanaged—understanding the frustrations and challenges of the manufacturing industry drives HaF Equipment to design solutions to material handling systems that can handle related material handling problems when using salt in manufacturing. At HaF Equipment, we address salt’s corrosive and abrasive nature in our designs by:

using the best choice of stainless steel for all equipment.
designing tool-free-take-apart equipment that’s easy to clean
designing to minimize nooks, crannies, and crevices where corrosive materials can lodge.
keeping the system dry

In a process where ambient humidity will ruin the product, HaF can integrate a dehumidifier and design all welds in either food grade or USDA grade standards when necessary. HaF also incorporates a series of pistons as flow enhancement tools to blow cool, dry air over the salt to reduce ambient humidity and uses pneumatic thumpers to break up clumps so that they will not form due to settling.

HaF has the expertise and experience to accommodate a wide range of needs when it comes to the material handling of strong chlorides such as salt. We’re Ready to Connect with you and offer a customized solution and discuss your specific project needs.

Contact a HaF account manager today to discuss your options.

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August 19, 2022September 13, 2022

IBIE, Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery announce 2022 BEST in Baking top honors & qualifying companies

Program recognizes leading exhibitors and suppliers driving progress in the baking industry.

The International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE), commonly known as the Baking Expo, in partnership with Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, announced the 2022 BEST in Baking Program top honors and qualifiers who will be recognized and celebrated during the triennial trade show Sept. 18–21, 2022 in Las Vegas.

HaF Equipment is honored to be among these leaders in the baking industry and to be recognized for sanitation design with our Moovinator Horizontal Load Filter Receiver!

https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/99269-ibie-snack-food-and-wholesale-bakery-announce-2022-best-in-baking-top-honors-and-qualifying-companies

August 9, 2022November 15, 2024

See the Latest Baking Industry Technology at IBIE Show Las Vegas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Industry leader in bulk material handling will showcase the latest technology for manufacturing and production in the baking industry.

HaF Equipment will display a variety of products to demonstrate capabilities that support industry bakery manufacturers with raw ingredient handling systems using proven processes and engineered equipment for bulk material handling at the 2022 International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE).

MAPLEWOOD, MN, August 2, 2022. HaF Equipment is excited to announce its attendance at the 2022 International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE) and invites participants to visit its display in the exhibit hall. IBIE Show Las Vegas takes place from September 17 to 21, 2022, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. HaF Equipment will be located at booth 7305 in the exhibit hall.

HaF Equipment plans to display a variety of products to demonstrate its capabilities to support industry manufacturers with proven processes and engineered equipment for bulk material handling. Some HaF Equipment products that attendees can expect to see at IBIE include:

Low-height bulk bag unloader, which fits 12-foot ceiling heights and features a tool-free quick take apart for convenience
Horizontal load filter receiver, which features an operator-centric design and convenience and sanitation features such as a pulse jet cleaning system
HaF Equipment’s new wet skid, which offers automated dosing and supports heating and cooling options

“We’re excited to demonstrate how our equipment can save manufacturers time and money,” said a HaF Equipment spokesperson. “We work to stay ahead of the markets and provide solutions that support efficient operation and mitigate issues like equipment fatigue.”

International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE) is a large convention, and HaF Equipment expects a lot of interest in its booth and displays. It encourages individuals interested in its products to schedule a meeting at IBIE with a HaF representative ahead of time. Industry professionals that want to take advantage of that opportunity can schedule a time via HaF’s form at http://pny.9d6.myftpupload.com/ibie-baking-show/. A name, email address, phone number, preferred date and time is required, and a brief statement of the topic is encouraged to ensure HaF Equipment can connect people with the right representatives at IBIE Bakery Show Las in Vegas.

The Las Vegas Convention Center is located at 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89109. Through September 21, 2022, interested individuals can get a 20% discount on exhibit hall passes by using HaF Equipment’s marketing code, which is EXH305. The Expo Hall at the International Baking Industry Exposition is open from September 18 through 21, 2022.

HaF Equipment will have representatives in the Expo Hall who can speak to its products and how modern bulk processing solutions plus old-fashioned customer service can help manufacturers create bigger bottom lines and meet other business goals. Individuals who are interested in hearing more about HaF Equipment’s solutions but can’t attend the IBIE Las Vegas 2022 can reach out to learn more via phone at (651) 653-5098 or email at [email protected].

Meet Us At The Baking Expo

Enjoy a 20% discount on exhibit hall passes on us! CLICK HERE

This discount code is valid from 3/9/22-9/21/22. Marketing Code: EXH7305.

July 23, 2022February 23, 2024

Flour Production: Material Handling

by Will Aldrin And Spencer Evans

Flour is an important ingredient in baked goods, pasta, and many other foods, and wheat flour is one of the most universal ingredients used in food production worldwide. In 2018, of the approximately 765 million tons of wheat crop, 53% (or 402 million tons) were used to make wheat flour. More wheat flour was produced than sugar (166 million tons), salt (290 million tons), and soybeans (349 million tons).

The flour-making process is fairly simple; however, the flour production process on a large scale is complex and labor-intensive, and proper material handling of flour is a critical part of successfully processing flour for commercial use. An efficient flour handling system will help to reduce production costs and improve product quality. Flour production best practices include:

Easy to clean equipment: The use of material handling equipment that is designed with minimal crevices and grooves and can easily be cleaned
Automation: The use of material handling equipment with sensors and automation to control the flow of material
Implementing strict cleanliness protocols
Safety: Design systems that are safe and train employees in safe lifting and moving techniques

EASY-TO-CLEAN EQUIPMENT IS CRITICAL!

What do you mean flour is raw?!

This might surprise some of you, but all that flour is a raw ingredient. Flour isn’t “raw” because it is a product component the way sand is the “raw” ingredient of glass. Flour is “raw” in the same way that uncooked meat and poultry are “raw.” Flour is minimally processed during its creation, meaning there is still lots of bacteria in the flour, even in the bags you buy at a grocery store. None of that matters once the flour is used, as many applications of flour heat the flour to the point where most, if not all, of the bacteria are killed. But this means that the flour is highly susceptible to spoiling if not properly stored.

To make sure that flour successfully goes from field to food, there are a variety of important requirements that must be met so that the flour is moved and stored in a safe and sanitary manner.

Flour handling systems equipment needs to be cleaned regularly. The HaF Moovinator is a filter receiver that is designed in a pneumatic conveying system to be easy to clean. Below is an image of the HaF Moovinator. When the filter bag access door is opened, there is easy access and a good “line of sight” for the operator to clean out the equipment.

Safety and Sanitary Measures When Handling Flour

Considering humidity levels is one of the most important factors when storing or moving flour. Bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli can quickly propagate in flour when exposed to even mildly humid air. That’s why dehumidifiers and airtight storage are necessary when storing flour for commercial food processing, especially in tropical climates near the equator. Humidity can also cause the flour to clump, leading to difficulty transporting it through pneumatic systems and improper mixing when producing products where flour is used.

When designing a flour handling system, several things must be considered.
1. The construction materials and the equipment’s sanitary design level. Stainless steel and food-grade construction are critically important.
2. The flour equipment build must be checked to ensure no pits, crevices, or holes where material can stagnate, spoil, and infect the rest of the flour. This includes checking for airtightness on flour storage equipment. Imperfections will allow humid air to enter the system, raising the chance of bacteria growth in the flour.
In a facility that handles bulk flour production, there are many elements present for a dust explosion or fire to occur: fuel, confinement, dispersion, oxygen, and a spark. An effective and properly operating industrial dust collector and dust collection system minimizes the risk of fire or explosion and must be considered when designing a flour handling system.

Summary:
Proper flour material handling is a critical part of a successful flour production process for commercial use, and an efficient material handling system will help to reduce production costs and improve product quality. Commercial manufacturers can help protect the consumer, their output levels, and ultimately their bottom line by investing in high-quality flour processing equipment.

HaF Equipment specializes in the design and supply of flour processing systems, focusing on the details of sanitary design. We call it “tool-free-quick-take-apart” equipment. Our flour handling systems can also incorporate explosion mitigation equipment.

Contact a HaF account manager today to discuss your options.

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Program recognizes leading exhibitors and suppliers driving progress in the baking industry.

Meet Us At The Baking Expo­

What do you mean flour is raw?!

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Feeders

Air Pollution Control

Dust Collection

Liquid Handling

The Role of Material Handling Equipment
in Soft Drink Production

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