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Cool conveyor solutions for coldrooms

25 January 2024

Colin Crowley discusses the challenges that face conveyor systems used in coldrooms

Cold storage is widely employed in both the food & beverage manufacturing and distribution sectors as well as in the warehouses used by e-grocery businesses.

Typical operating temperatures in cold storage applications can range from 0°C to -30°C, which can present challenges for any equipment operating in these environments, over and above what would be encountered in ambient conditions.

In particular, conveyor systems need to be able to both start up and then operate consistently, even at the very lowest end of this temperature range.

Meanwhile, any motors which are in use must be able to maintain stable torque and power output without overheating to the point that the temperature in the coldroom would be impacted. 

The maintenance of a stable external temperature on a motor is also important in order to minimise the build-up of condensation.  If left unchecked, condensation could corrode both the motor and other system components.

Another consideration is that the drive belts must also be able to maintain both the correct operating tension and friction, all while delivering the required service life with consistent performance at low temperatures. Frost build-up is a constant issue which can cause a loss of traction in the event that the correct product is not specified.

As well as the equipment itself, suitable products must also be selected when it comes to the area of maintenance. In the case of conveyors, this applies particularly to the lubricating products which are applied to components. These products must be able to maintain optimal viscosity and lubricating performance when machinery is being started up at low temperatures.

Transition areas
Careful consideration must also be given to the specification of systems and products for use in ‘transition’ areas. These refer to zones where products exit the coldroom and find themselves, however briefly, in an area of ambient temperature before finally leaving the facility.

Once again, in these instances, the risk of condensation is also very real and, in many cases, specifiers would be well-advised to select IP65 water-resistant products which are, typically, made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel and so offer strong resistance to the effects of moisture build-up.

In terms of operations, control of product flows must be optimised to minimise the risk of shocks or collisions. This is achieved by maintaining a constant minimum distance between each tote or carton.

The good news for specifiers is that all of these challenges can be met by modern 24V DC motor driven rollers (MDRs) some of which are designed for extended use in coldroom environments while also offering a number of core benefits when it comes to conveying and sortation. 

Much of the maintenance of these systems can be carried out by in-house technicians, saving on time and cost, while being powered by standard 24V DC power allows for more economical and safer operation.

Colin Crowley is Technical Sales Engineer UK & Ireland at Itoh Denki Europe.


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