In this month’s “Ask The Powder Doctor”, the Doctor offers advice to Al Ergic who seeks a way to avoid downtime for equipment cleaning, without increasing the risk of food allergen cross contamination.

Dear Powder Doctor,
My plant handles several food products that are known allergens, and we often switch product on the same lines to meet customer demand.  As many in the bulk powder industry know, food allergies account for an estimated 30,000 ER visits each year, and approximately 150 to 200 deaths!

Currently, there is no known cure for a food allergy.  Avoidance is the only way to prevent a reaction so, needless to say, it’s an important consumer issue, with increasing and necessary regulation.

To minimize our cross-contamination risk, we spend enormous amounts of downtime taking equipment apart for cleaning and sanitizing.  We need equipment that can be quickly disassembled, cleaned and replaced by our operators, without the use of tools.

As it is, I see my operators struggling with screwdrivers and hose clamps on the flexible sleeves connecting our process equipment.  If a hose clamp galls and seizes, they call maintenance to cut it off, and that’s even more downtime.

How can I improve my plant’s efficiency by shortening my cleaning downtime?

Sincerely,
Al Ergic

Dear Al,
The Powder Doctor is not immune to your concerns! But connecting your process with old style hose clamps? Nausea, tightening chest, and difficulty breathing…I feel a reaction to hose clamps coming!!!

There are eight foods that account for 90% of allergic reactions: peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.), fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, soy and wheat – and most of these foods are handled in bulk powder processing. Approximately 7 million Americans are estimated to suffer from a food allergy. As you point out, the consequences can be fatal.

So how can you minimize the risk from allergens, without all that downtime?  Thorough cleaning and sanitizing your process lines certainly reduces your potential for cross contamination, and the BFM® fitting from Powder-Solutions, Inc. makes it a snap!

The BFM® fitting is comprised of two basic elements: the flexible sleeve with integral top and bottom stainless steel snap bands, and two matched formed spigots (welded in place).

The tool-free BFM® sleeve snaps into place using only your hands.  Installation and removal is so simple, all your operators will be able to do it accurately and quickly.  Cleaning and sanitizing are no longer a time consuming hassle.  Also, the BFM® fitting is dust tight, keeping your process equipment clean on the outside, which will also lessen your cleaning downtime.

Order the BFM® fitting - the ingredient for food allergen avoidance and efficient process connections!

Thanks for making the connection!
The Powder Doctor

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