Vacuum Technology for the Food Industry

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

No food contamination
The materials used must be FDA-compliant and comply with EC Regulation No. 1935/2004. Schmalz suction cups made of the materials SI, SI-HD and SI-MD are suitable for food handling.

Metal-detectable suction cups
Suction cups made of the metal-detectable silicone SI-MD are particularly suitable for direct contact with food. The material SI-MD contains a small amount of metal oxide, which is recognized by commercially available metal detectors. If the suction cup enters the tray, it is quickly detected. This helps prevent contamination of food

Adaptation to surface texture
Food of the same type, such as chocolate pralines with or without topping or decorations, often differ in shape and surface texture. The suction cup used must be flexible enough to adapt to these variations in order to avoid leakage and securely grip the food.

Sucking in components of dry food
When handling dry food, individual crumbs are repeatedly sucked into the gripper. To prevent contamination of the gripper as well as other food items, the crumbs must be properly removed. We also offer a solution for this.

Cleaning the gripper
To prevent contamination of the food, regular cleaning of the suction grippers is recommended. Harmless cleaning agents should be used for this purpose.

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Inbound goods: Unloading, sorting, storage

• Flexible and dynamic handling of various containers such as bags, buckets, jugs, barrels or cardboard boxes
• Fast and precise handling without damaging the containers to prevent contamination and spoilage of raw materials
• Regular and easy cleaning of unloading and storage areas and work equipment

Handling in hygienic areas

• Transporting raw materials for weighing, dosing and feeding kneading and mixing machines
• Hygienic transportation of intermediate products to downstream processing machines
• Loading and unloading containers in accordance with DIN 55423 with fresh meat or finished products
• Compliance with GMP requirements (Good Manufacturing Practice)

Handling in explosion-proof areas

• Safe loading of kneading or mixing machines with scontainers holding combustible dusts such as flour, sugar, milk powder or spices
• Compliance with ATEX and IECEx directives
• Schmalz offers various crane solutions suitable for this area of application: free standing, wall mounting, existing pillar clasping or overhead crane systems

Outbound goods: Packaging and shipping

• Fast, precise positioning of cardboard boxes, crates or bags on pallets
• End-of-line packaging: Lifting products into cardboard boxes or crates
• Transferring packed products and picking for shipping