Reaching the Breaking Point - Safari - 6

PUTTING IT (BACK) TOGETHER
There several strategies meat
and poultry processors can
employ to minimize the risk of
contamination.
Processors should ensure
that sanitation chemicals are
being used according to the
manufacturer's instructions,
particularly, that the
concentrations are accurate.
The SDS for the chemicals will
indicate if the is suitable for
use on a specific surface (i.e.
plastic). For example, the SDS
for a chemical commonly used
for sanitation in beef plants,
indicates it's use on POM
(Acetal) surfaces causes the
POM to off-gas formaldehyde.
The best insurance against
chemical attack, is to utilize
plastic materials, like ULTRATUFF ™, which can withstand
exposure to wide range of pH
levels (both acids & bases).
Broken MPB in high impact
applications can be mitigated by
modifications to the conveyor,
like slides or 'impact beds', to
reduce the drop-impact force on
the belt. Impact resistant plastics,
like ULTRA-TUFF ™, should be
used for the MPB running in
these applications.
It is estimated that 80% of MPB
failures occur during the last
20% of the belt's "useful life".
Recognizing the signs that a

conveyor belt needs to be
replaced, is critical. Modular
conveyor belts which exhibit:
excessive space in the hinge
rows; cracked or broken modules
throughout the belt (not in
alignment); improper sprocket
engagement; and/or excessive
grooving from the wear-strip or
return shoes; are at high risk of
failure and should be replaced.
Engineered plastics, like
those often used for MPB,
are a specific combination of
polymers. The combination of
polymers used in the formulation
of the resin, is based on the
performance requirements of
the finished plastic part. For
example, PP is formulated to
withstand high temperatures, but
becomes brittle in temperatures
below 40 °F. The MPB
material choice should take
into consideration: operating
environment, line speed, load,
product, and chemical exposure.
Choosing a material on the basis
of price, alone, can prove to
be the most expensive choice,
in the context of "total cost of
ownership". The "wrong" choice
of material can result in higher
maintenance costs, frequent
downtime and increased risk of
foreig matter contamination.
Excessive, in-line wear or broken
modules are often an indication

that there is an issue with the
conveyor. Plastic wear-strip
or return shoes/rollers, with
imbedded dirt or grit, will strip
away plastic like sandpaper.
Consider replacing stationary
returns with rollers to minimize
this risk. Conveyors should be
inspected for exposed bolts/
sharp edges which may snag
the belt and result in excessive,
in-line, damage to the belt.
Additionally, shafts that are not
squared may cause the rod pins
to "walk" out of the belt causing
the belt to snag on the conveyor
frame and "unzip".
Belt lifters should be installed
to give sanitation easy access
to clean underneath the belts.
Modules should have fully
radiused edges and the rod pin
should be visible between the
'knuckles' on the bottom of the
belts.
Utilizing innovative new
materials like HALT ™, which
prevents the formation of
biofilms, and ULTRA-TUFF ™,
which reduces foreign matter
contamination, gives processors
new tools for the prevention
of both microbial and foreign
matter contamination and all of
the costs associate with these
issues.

S A FA R I B E LT I N G S Y S T E M S , I N C .
After spending 17+ years as a top sales representative for Intralox, founder and
President, Chris Smith started Safari Belting Systems, Inc. in 2005, with the goal
of providing solutions to common belting problems in the meat industry. With
Meat and Poultry processors as its core customers, Safari Belting focused its R&D
efforts on improving the food safety performance of MPB. Molds were redesigned
to maximize module strength and new formulations of specialty materials were
developed.
ULTRA-TUFF ™ and HALT ™, developed to address the root causes of foreign matter
and microbial contamination, are successful outcomes of Safari's investment in food
safety technologies.
Located in Olathe, KS, Safari Belting has grown from a company with four product
lines, to a company with over 400 belting solutions. Iits products can be found in
plants around the world.

S A F A R I B E LT I N G S Y S T E M S , I N C & H A LT, L L C .
2 2 0 N . M A H A F F I E | O L AT H E K S 6 6 0 6 1
W W W. S A F A R I B E LT I N G . C O M


http://WWW.SAFARIBELTING.COM http://WWW.SAFARIBELTING.COM

Reaching the Breaking Point - Safari

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Reaching the Breaking Point - Safari

Reaching the Breaking Point - Safari - 1
Reaching the Breaking Point - Safari - 2
Reaching the Breaking Point - Safari - 3
Reaching the Breaking Point - Safari - 4
Reaching the Breaking Point - Safari - 5
Reaching the Breaking Point - Safari - 6
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