Page 10 - Industrial Technology EXTRA - 29th June 2020

GEARED MOTORS...

Specifying geared motors to

reduce HACCP risk factors

Markus Kutny, Director of Sales Vertical Markets for Bauer Gear Motor, a premier

brand of Altra Industrial Motion Corp., examines how specifying geared
motors in stainless steel design or specialised finishes
can help reduce HACCP risk factors

eared motors are found
throughout food and beverage
production sites, used to
Gdrive conveyor belts, stirrers
and agitators, packaging machinery and
other equipment along the production line helps to
line. The geared motor design lends itself to explain the evolution of
energy efficiency and reliability, a must for any geared motor technology used
modern production facility. However, the food and within the industry. Specifically, it explains why the
beverage industry also requires strict hygiene industry requires that geared motor manufacturers
compliance, meaning that specialised geared invest in R&D for aseptic solutions – developing
motors are a wise choice for such facilities. specialist coatings and even stainless steel variants
The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points of their latest products.
(HACCP) system is an internationally recognised Aseptic drives are designed to deliver all the
method for reducing risk factors in the production or performance benefits of a standard geared motor,
processing of food. It works on the principle of on- while also protecting the drive from harsh
going improvements, encouraging manufacturers to washdown cycles and preventing the build-up of
continuously re-evaluate each of the processes in its microorganisms. Drives are typically painted using
production line to identify possible hazards and acid- and alkali-resistant coatings that can
minimise risk. The primary purpose of the system is withstand chemicals with a pH range of 2 – 12.
to protect people from food-borne illness, though it These drives will also usually offer high levels of
is also recognised as a 'best practice' approach to ingress protection and be designed with a smooth
improve quality and consistency in the final exterior to prevent dirt build-up.
product. The HiflexDRIVE range from Bauer Gear Motor
Understanding the importance of the processes is an example of geared motors with design
surrounding the analysis of risk in the production evolutions specifically aimed at improving

June 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA! • p10