Packaging
Great savings with LAC – new Automatic Cleaning System from Lagafors
Wednesday 04. March 2009 - Thanks to an innovative steering system, which can be fitted onto existing Lagafors equipment, the cleaning process for conveyors can easily be automated, with great savings as the result.
The automatic cleaning system, LAC, not only decreases the use of man-hours and the amount of water, but also reduces considerable amounts of chemicals and disinfection; at the same time as decreasing the bacteriological level on the equipment in production.
The new automatic cleaning system (LAC) is made up of the steering unit, i.e. the operator terminal from where all settings are made, and maximum two valve stations which regulate the flow of water, as well as chemicals and disinfection respectively. The valve stations are in direct connection with the Lagafors chemical center (VCC) and any of the Lagafors central pump systems (e.g. the LWP), in order to simplify the process and maximize the use of existing equipment.
How it works
The operator uses the wall mounted steering unit to make all desired settings for the cleaning process, i.e the number of conveyors to be cleaned, the length of the cleaning time, which might vary for the different conveyors, and type of cleaning (e.g. only flush or total cleaning with water, foam and disinfectants). One steering unit can control up to two different sets of valve stations and each valve station is made up of two stainless steel units. This means that you can clean up to 30 different conveyors with the help of one single operator terminal, depending on the width of the belts.
Savings
The Swedish slaughter house Scan in Uppsala has used the prototype of the conveyor cleaning system for many years and has seen the direct benefits of the unit in its production. “With the introduction of the steering unit we estimate that we decreased the cleaning time with approximately 31% and considerably reduced the use of water and chemicals, says Thomas Levin, Quality Manager at Scan. “Already by looking at the conveyors after the first automatic cleaning you could see a difference”, he continues, “a difference which was confirmed later by the bacteriological tests which we carried out”, Thomas Levin concludes.
Continuous updates
The LAC comes with standard cleaning programmes but tailor-made versions can easily be created according to the customer’s different needs. After sales a modem is provided on request, which allows for easy updates of new cleaning programmes or new technical developments, even on equipment which is located at distance.
Hygiene design
The automatic cleaning unit LAC has been developed according to the Lagafors hygiene design standards and features the same benefits which characterize all Lagafors equipment, such as user-friendliness, easy access for service and maintenance as well as robustness in shape.