Stainless steel motors prevent product contamination and save money

31 October 2022

Enhanced hygiene combined with reduced operating costs were the key rewards from swapping painted motors for smooth bodied ‘Marlin’ stainless-steel ones for a bakery producing savoury pastries.

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The savouries (meat pies, pasties and sausage rolls) travel along a moving conveyor belt that transports them through a tunnel where they are coated with an egg wash prior to entering the ovens. As product travels through the tunnel, egg is dispersed across it by fans or discs driven by the electric motors.

At the end of each day this equipment had to be cleaned. This was particularly arduous because of the inherent adhesive characteristics of the natural egg. The egg also has the tendency to bond the mild steel shafts of the motors to the driving mechanisms connecting the motors to the dispersal fans.

Previously, the painted motors, together with the mounting manifold and dispersal fan, had to be removed for cleaning. The motors were then cleaned by hand to ensure that all egg residue is removed. A fiddly task that involved cleaning all the cooling fins, air intakes and any other nooks and crevices where egg deposits could accumulate. The motors were then covered for protection whilst the other components were steam cleaned.

This process inevitably resulted in paint peeling and flaking creating a potential risk of product contamination. Consequently, motors needed to be repainted at frequent intervals and have catchment trays below them to prevent flaking paint falling onto product.

Now, with the Marlin stainless steel motors from Lafert, the manifold and assembly (no egg guard) are simply removed, and steam cleaned as a unit. The cleaning process has therefore become easier, quicker and more efficient.

The IP rating and proven CIP design (Clean In Place) design features of the Marlin motors also mean they are extremely resistant to moisture ingress. This can be a problem experienced with the standard motors where, despite the particular care that was taken during cleaning and application of additional epoxy coatings, can still often reduce their working lives to less than two months.

The replacement Marlin motors in this case are TENV (Totally Enclosed Non -Ventilated) machines which avoids any issues with moisture ingress and, because they are true IEC machines, are simple bolt on replacements. They are available from 0.18kW in 63 frame and go up to 1.1kW. Marlin motors are also available as TEFC (Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled) units with ratings ranging from 1.1kW up to 22kW and 160 frame.

Lafert Electric Motors Ltd

T. 01270 270022

E. motors@marlinstainless.com

w. www.marlinstainless.com