Avoid These Five Mistakes When Choosing Food-grade Conveyors, Says Ultimation Industries

Choosing the right conveyor system is a critical step in maintaining a safe food supply

ROSEVILLE, Mich. (June 28, 2022)— Choosing the right material handling equipment for food manufacturing, processing and packaging is critical for maintaining safety, according to Ultimation Industries, the leading direct-to-consumer conveyor manufacturer for the food processing, vertical farming, warehousing, delivery and other industries. The World Health Organization estimates 600,000 people become ill after eating contaminated food and puts primary responsibility on producers for keeping food from becoming contaminated during the production and distribution process.

 

“Food-grade conveyors are one of the most important parts of the food and beverage industry because they transport raw ingredients, organic materials and other consumable goods within the facility and ultimately out to the consumer,” said Richard Canny, president of Ultimation Industries

 

Choosing the right conveyor system is a critical step in maintaining a safe food supply. Unlike regular industrial conveyors, food and washdown material handling solutions must be constructed of sanitary and hygienic materials to meet rigorous safety standards and must be easy to clean, maintain and inspect.

 

Ultimation Food Grade Conveyor Dog Treats

 

Here are five mistakes to avoid when choosing conveyors for food-handling applications:

 

Mistake #1: Assuming all stainless steel is food-grade. Just because a conveyor is made from stainless steel doesn’t mean it meets food-grade requirements. SAE 304 stainless steel is the most common type of stainless steel used in the industry because it resists oxidization and corrosion, is easy to wipe clean and does not easily breed bacteria.

 

Mistake #2: Using food-grade stainless steel for everything. While stainless steel is the standard bearer for food-safe systems, different materials can be used safely depending upon the amount of contact the food has with a conveyor’s surface. For example, food moving along a belt conveyor is always in contact with the belt so the belt material needs to meet or exceed requirements for contact with the food. Frame and guarding materials, however, can often have different requirements if they are not in direct contact with food materials. The choices between stainless steel or lower grade materials can have a large impact on the cost of a conveyor system.

 

Mistake #3: Selecting the wrong type of conveyor for the job. There are a variety of conveyor types for food-related applications, but the most common is the belt conveyor. Belt conveyors are used throughout processing and packaging because they offer a smooth, continuous surface and are easy to clean. But based on the application, wire mesh, troughed and roller conveyors could also be good options. Food-grade wire mesh conveyors can withstand high and low temperatures and products are less likely stick to them. Troughed conveyors keep bulk materials from spilling when conveying across long distances. Roller conveyors come in a variety of types and can be customized based on wash-down environment, specific temperatures and other variables.

 

Mistake #4: Choosing the wrong lubricants. Conveyors are always designed to ensure that any lubricants don’t get in direct contact with your product. But motors and bearings need lubricants or they will fail. Look for lubricants that meet the appropriate National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) grade. The ISO Standard 21469 is a voluntary standard that also provides more guidance in selecting lubricants.

 

Mistake #5: Not considering how the conveyor system will be cleaned. Cleanability is one of the most important factors for food-grade conveyor systems. To adhere to rigorous hygienic requirements, the conveyor should be designed to reduce the number of build-up points where residue can accumulate. When choosing a system, keep in mind whether the application requires dry, wet or sanitary cleanup. This will determine the type of rollers, frames, lubricants and electrical controls that should be used for optimal safety.

 

“Well-designed food and sanitary conveyors are a good investment and can provide many years of reliable service,” said Canny. “At Ultimation, we can help configure systems that meet safety requirements while creating lasting value.”

 

For more information about food-safe conveyors and conveyor systems, visit https://www.ultimationinc.com/.

 

About Ultimation:

Ultimation Industries, LLC is the leading direct-to-consumer conveyor manufacturer serving the automotive, food processing, vertical farming, heavy equipment, warehousing, fulfillment and delivery industries. The company offers a line of proprietary automation systems and is also the largest integrator of Jervis Webb Conveyor Systems. Ultimation’s e-commerce channel sells Ultimation, Interroll, Itoh Denki, Jervis Webb, and a wide range of other conveyor equipment. Ultimation was named a 2022 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. In 2020, Ultimation was recognized as one of Inc. 5000’s fastest growing private companies in America. Visit https://www.ultimationinc.com/ for the latest product information and news about Ultimation.

 

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For further information please contact:

Nancy Sarpolis for Ultimation Industries at nancy@scgmich.com.

Ultimation Industries Joins the Qimarox System Partner Network

Maximizing vertical space helps manufacturers add capacity without costly facility expansions

ROSEVILLE, Mich. June 8, 2022 — A new partnership between Ultimation Industries, LLC and Netherlands-based Qimarox will help manufacturers and distributors move totes, cartons and pallets from one level to another while maximizing the vertical space in their facilities. Ultimation is the leading direct-to-consumer conveyor manufacturer serving the automotive, food processing, vertical farming, heavy equipment, warehousing, fulfillment and delivery industries. Qimarox is a leading manufacturer of components for material handling systems specializing in vertical sorters and conveyors.

“Manufacturers and distributors who are growing need cost-effective ways to get more productivity out of their existing facilities,” said Richard Canny, president of Ultimation Industries. “Better utilization of vertical space through lifters and overhead conveyor systems is an affordable, effective solution that can be deployed relatively quickly.”

Qimarox MK9 Vertical Pallet Conveyor

Ultimation is now part of the Qimarox System Partner network for the Americas and can design, build and install lifting solutions that integrate with existing material handling systems. Qimarox specializes in material handling systems that combine high performance with low costs. Their modular designs offer quick and easy installation and modification, with multifunctionality to complete a variety of different tasks. Qimarox solutions are also durable, requiring little maintenance and a high degree of operational availability.
Ultimation offers Qimarox lifters with a variety of carrier capabilities to handle multiple load weights and sizes:

  • ProRunner MK1 is a “discontinuous” vertical lifter because it moves from one level to another, stops, unloads and then returns. It can move cartons, tote boxes, trays, crates, boxes or bags weighing up to 160 pounds. The floor-mounted, self-supporting system requires no additional civil or integration engineering. The MK1 can achieve up to 360 cycles per hour to support high-volume distribution center conveyor process speeds. It has a small footprint that will fit into even the tightest layout.
  • ProRunner MK5 is a continuous vertical conveyor which can handle the needs of high-volume distribution centers. Due to its standardized modular design, the ProRunner MK5 is affordable and can achieve faster lead times than many custom engineering vertical conveyor solutions. Each carrier can handle 200 products per hour with the option to add up to 9 additional carriers to achieve 2,000 products per hour capacity. This unit is suitable for ascending and descending product flows at full load and has carriage sizes from 10″ x 10″ up to approximately 24″x 24″. The ProRunner MK5 can be paired with an optional gravity or MDR roller conveyor for infeed and outfeed.
  • Pallet Lift Prorunner MK9 is a very compact, space-efficient pallet or vertical conveyor lifter. The carriage can be equipped with a gravity roller conveyor or motor drive roller conveyor. Its 3,300-pounds weight capacity can handle pallets, racks, large cartons for appliances, vertical farming trays and other heavy and large loads. Cycle times are 60 cycles per hour or faster, depending on load and elevation change. It can be paired with an optional CDLR or powered MDR roller conveyor for infeed and outfeed.
  • Pallet Lift Prorunner MK10 moves pallets and other large and heavy loads that would otherwise require the design and build of a custom automation solution. This heavy-duty vertical conveyor lifter can handle loads of up to 4,400 pounds and can be used for pallets, racks, large cartons for appliances, vertical farming trays and other heavy and large loads. Cycle times are 60 cycles per hour or faster depending on load and elevation change. It can be paired with an optional CDLR or powered MDR roller conveyor for infeed and outfeed.

Watch a simulation of Qimarox lift conveyors in action in this video.

Qimarox recently introduced two new modules to the ProRunner family, both of which are available through Ultimation:

  • ProRunner 12 is a new high-speed, precision vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) that can move automated guided vehicles (AGV) to different levels. It can lift 440-660 lbs. at vertical speeds of nearly 4 to 6.5 feet per second, depending on load size.
  • ProRunner 15 combines the best of the PR1 and PR5 modules. While the PR1 can be used as a movable PR5 infeed conveyor for emptying of all buffering levels with the same conveyor, it needs a PR sorter for high-speed sorting in a vertical buffering system. The PR15 is simpler option for emptying buffer lanes in batch mode and reduces component costs more than 50% compared to PR MK5 Sorter for a typical five-level buffer system.

“With the incorporation of Ultimation to the Qimarox System Partner network, we are strengthening our presence in the American markets. Ultimation’s capability to deliver turnkey solutions with both standardized as well customized components, results in extremely added value to end users ensuring always the best automation solution for their process challenges,” said Pieter Hannessen, owner of Qimarox.

 

Qimarox and Ultimation are members of Rolling On Interroll® (ROI), a network of strategic partners through global material handling leader Interroll®.

“Partnering with Qimarox was a natural fit because we were already using their lifters as part of a custom conveyor and materials handling system for the world’s largest indoor vertical farming facility,” said Canny.

About Ultimation:

Ultimation Industries, LLC is the leading direct-to-consumer conveyor manufacturer serving the automotive, food processing, vertical farming, heavy equipment, warehousing, fulfillment and delivery industries. The company offers a line of proprietary automation systems and is also the largest integrator of Jervis Webb Conveyor Systems. Ultimation’s e-commerce channel sells Ultimation, Interroll, Itoh Denki, Jervis Webb, and a wide range of other conveyor equipment. Ultimation was named a 2022 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. In 2020, Ultimation was recognized as one of Inc. 5000’s fastest growing private companies in America. Visit https://www.ultimationinc.com/ for the latest product information and news about Ultimation.

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For further information please contact:

Nancy Sarpolis for Ultimation Industries at nancy@scgmich.com.