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MACHINE BUILDING

Stainless geared motors

reduce HACCP risks

GEARS & GEARED MOTORS

WHILE STANDARD GEARED MOTORS OFFER THE PERFORMANCE
PARAMETERS REQUIRED BY THE AVERAGE FOOD MANUFACTURER,
THE STRICT HYGIENE REGULATIONS MEAN THAT IN MANY
APPLICATIONS, SPECIALIST MOTORS ARE PREFERABLE

he Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) system is an internationally recognised
method for reducing risk factors in the
Tproduction or processing of food. As a
process for ongoing improvement, it requires
manufacturers to continuously evaluate each
process in its production line to identify possible
hazards and minimise risk at critical points.
Understanding the process of analysing risk in
the production line and making improvements helps
to explain the evolution in geared motor technology that higher cleanability of the
is favoured by the industry. Looking to the past, geared motor casing and prevents re-
motors were always recognised as a favourable drive infection of the local environment
system as they are efficient and reliable. However, as caused by air movement from a cooling fan.
regulations surrounding hygiene became tighter, it was For Rücker, one of Europe’s leading dairy producers,
soon necessary to source specialist solutions for the food reducing HACCP risk factors is a key approach for all
FAULHABER Precision Gearheads and beverage industry. developments along its production lines. Using this system,
Aseptic drives were developed for applications where it has progressed from standard geared motor technology,
Expand your washdowns are required to maintain a clean environment. through aseptic solutions, and now has the newest
Drives are typically painted using acid- and alkali-resistant
evolution stage of stainless steel. At each stage of
coatings, which can withstand chemicals with a pH range development, the new solutions offered distinct benefits to
possibilities of 2–12. As a result, they can withstand the cleansing the incumbent technology: improving efficiency, reducing
maintenance and reducing risk.
solutions and disinfectants that are commonly used within
the food industry without affecting their performance. A 60m-long coagulator, used for cheese curd
The new family of planetary Aseptic drive solutions therefore deliver all the processing, features several stirrers that keep the milk
performance benefits of a standard geared motor, while moving as the whey is removed from the curd. Each stirrer
gearheads FAULHABER GPT. eliminating some of the hygiene risks. However, with a moves along a section of the lane; once it reaches the end
Move up a gear where others HACCP system in place, a further risk assessment may of its section, the stirrer is lifted out of the curd and moves
downshift. identify that the coatings on aseptic drives are prone to back to the starting position.
damage. This would expose the motor’s surface to Rücker first approached Bauer when its engineers
faulhaber.com/GPT/en corrosive chemicals and risk the food product being identified that integrating the brakes into the housing of the
contaminated with paint fragments even when the coating geared motor would increase cleanability in the system and
is FDA approved. Therefore, many in the industry are now therefore reduce risk. Shortly after, Rücker began upgrading
specifying stainless steel solutions. its geared motors to aseptic drives to take advantage of the
NEW Stainless steel geared motors meet all of the regulations improved hygiene ratings. Now the first of the aseptic
NEW
set out by organisations such as the FDA and NSF without drives have been replaced with stainless steel units from
the need for specialist coatings. As a base material, Bauer. The stainless steel drives still offer the same
stainless steel is inherently resistant to corrosion and integrated brake feature from the original unit, but now
chemicals, ensuring that repeated washdowns do not with the added hygiene performance and mechanical
adversely affect the reliability or hygienic qualities of the resilience of a stainless steel housing.
Mr Krause, head of maintenance at Rücker, explains:
NEU
NEU geared motor. Further, when stainless steel is scratched, it “We follow a philosophy of continuous improvement for all
does not compromise the corrosion or contamination
resistance of the geared motor. of our production processes. Each update in geared motor
Stainless steel geared motors – such as the HiflexDrive technology has represented a real-world improvement, but
from Bauer Gear Motor – are designed so that a fan and we are always looking further ahead for what we can do
cooling ribs are not required, thereby allowing for a next. We already had very positive experiences with
completely smooth outer casing with a non-drive end Bauer’s products and were aware of their quality. When it
which is sealed. This allows the motor to be offered with came to specifying a further upgrade to stainless steel, it
up to IP69k rating, which protects against high-pressured was not surprising that the only supplier that offered a
washers and steam cleaning. The elimination of venting stainless option with built-in brakes was Bauer.”
elements creates a smooth outer surface, which provides a MORE INFORMATION: www.bauergears.com

WE CREATE MOTION INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY • April 2020