The Importance of Industrial Washdown Stations in Food Processing Facilities

Industrial washdown stations are often used in manufacturing, chemical or petrochemical, and food processing facilities as part of cleaning and sanitation procedures where maintaining hygiene is crucial. A bucket of water with a mop and a cleaning agent does not effectively sanitize a plant the way food processing cleaning equipment can.

Cleaning and Sanitation Procedures in the Food Industry

Food assembly workers on Plant Line

Using industrial washdown systems for food processing is important because they help to keep the facility clean and sanitary. They also help to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Authoritative agencies like the FDA have defined sanitation requirements that each facility must adhere to such as identifying hazards that could impact a production facility.

Food production and detergent residue, liquid, and airborne contamination, transient soil, and microorganisms often are present in food production facilities, which is why washdown stations are recommended in these corporations.

While the hazards present on a production line vary from facility to facility and depend primarily on the specific products produced, they all must be effectively and routinely removed to preserve sanitation and product quality.

Using food processing cleaning equipment can help to reduce costs, too. Regular maintenance and repair of equipment can help to reduce downtime, saving your facility time and money. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of surface areas can also help to reduce labor costs while following a daily process.

Food Processing Cleaning Equipment Limits Downtime

Industrial washdown stations can be used in both commercial and industrial production facilities and are described as stationary equipment that produces a high-pressure and high-temperature stream of water to remove debris while cleaning. However, when used in production facilities such as food processing for meat and dairy, this cleaning equipment offers a fast and efficient cleanup while maintaining sanitation standards.

Food processing cleaning equipment for food processing typically utilizes stations that produce water temperatures at 150°F (65.5°C) or above to quickly cleanse and sanitize surfaces like processing equipment, walls, floors, and other surfaces.

To properly follow cleaning and sanitation procedures for food processing, a washdown system frequently includes a mixing valve that combines hot and cold water along with an industrial-use cleaning agent, if needed.

Using Food Processing Cleaning Equipment Sanitize

Having efficient cleaning equipment in a food processing facility can provide several benefits. By keeping the facility clean, the risk of food contamination is minimized. Food allergies and foodborne illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses can be avoided.

ThermOmegaTech created several washdown systems that offer high-temperature sanitation and maintenance equipment necessary for industrial and food facilities, including steam and water washdown stations with hot water mixing unit hose stations.

To be even more effective, ThermOmegaTech created a specific mixing valve that combines steam and cold water to create a steam water mixing station that lowers the decibel sound in facilities while producing a flow of user-defined stream of water to efficiently sanitize, clean, and kill bacteria.

Choosing The Right Equipment for Food Plant Sanitation

Choosing the right washdown station for your facility can be a challenge. A few key factors should be considered when choosing the equipment for food plant sanitation. Staff should receive proper training on the washdown station when using it, such as donning the correct clothing and protective gear and regularly inspecting and cleaning the equipment.

The ThermOmegaTech® STVM® Washdown Station is used in many processing facilities requiring a high-temperature washdown. Using its proprietary mixing valve, the STVM® industrial washdown station combines steam and cold water at a user-set temperature.

STVM Steam and Water Washdown Station for Talking With TOTS for Industrial Sanitation

STVM® Steam & Water Washdown Station

The unique Venturi valve throttles open and closed, using a scouring action that minimizes the buildup of minerals. This offers a quieter wash without the ‘water hammer effect.’ Plus, the in-line cartridge is easy to replace or clean, requiring no special tools and taking just a few minutes.

Ultimately, food processing cleaning equipment is an essential component of food-processing plants. They offer a dependable, safe, and easy-to-implement way of keeping these facilities clean and sanitized.

By following the correct processes and safety protocols, companies can ensure that their food-processing facilities are well maintained and properly sanitized and sustain production line schedules.

Questions? We can help! Find more info here or contact us.

ThermOmegaTech Launches New Safety and Maintenance Content at Safety Show ’23 in San Antonio

ThermOmegaTech’s highest priority is safety. We have developed tepid water solutions for emergency showers and eyewash stations to meet OSHA and ANSI requirements. We also prevent water lines from freezing or overheating to protect personnel and ensure a safe working environment.

ThermOmegaTech recently attended the ASSP Safety Show in San Antonio, Texas, and launched new safety and maintenance content. Andy Reichlin, Industrial Sales Manager, and Tim McCollum, OEM, showcased their thermostatic solutions for maintenance and safety with the STVM® Washdown StationTherm-O-Mix® Tepid Water Delivery StationESS Tepid Water Heater, and Thermal Relief Valves for pumps.

ThermOmegaTech Products

Federal regulations require that any facility where workers may be exposed to hazardous or corrosive materials must have immediate access to a tepid water emergency drench system to protect the eyes and body in the event of accidental exposure.

The Therm-O-Mix® station consistently supplies tepid water on demand to these fixtures to meet OSHA and ANSI Z358.1 safety requirements.

Tepid Water Delivery System, Therm-O-Mix® station

Therm-O-Mix®

Read more about ThermOmegaTech’s Therm-O-Mix® station here.

Factory-packaged with ThermOmegaTech’s Therm-O-Mix®, the ESS combines cold and tank-heated hot water to deliver a constant 85°F tepid water outlet temperature at the point of use. The unit is completely mechanical and requires no outside electricity, making it ideal for explosion-proof industrial environments.

See how the Therm-O-Mix® station works here.

ThermOmegaTech recently launched a new STVM video in their video series, Talking with TOTs, that speaks to the effectiveness of the STVM® Washdown Station. In the video, Senior Product Specialist Glenn Quinty takes the viewer through the ease of maintenance and the safety of the washdown station. “It’s so important to maintain a clean environment in food processing, chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical facilities,” Quinty says.

STVM Steam and Water Washdown Station for Talking With TOTS for Industrial Sanitation

STVM® Steam & Water Washdown Station

See the STVM® Washdown Station Talking With TOTs video here.

ThermOmegaTech supplies an innovative solution to the challenge of difficult-to-maintain steam and water mixing stations used to provide a high-temperature washdown for sanitization procedures at processing plants.

See how the STVM Washdown station works here.

Food Industry Executive tells us more here!

 

 

Questions? We can help! Find more info here – contact us.

Case Study: Georgia Snack Company Improves Washdown Safety Procedures with STVM®

For over 20 years, a Georgia snack company has struggled with a number of problems when using steam-heated water hoses during their facility cleaning and sanitizing processes. The biggest issue with these systems was that steam would bore out of the inner working components, creating a steam backdraft to release through the spray nozzle.

These random bursts of steam and hot water became a huge safety risk for their associates. Their existing washdown stations also required 36 internal parts to be replaced which added time and a headache to their maintenance processes. To tackle these pain points, they knew it was time to upgrade and improve their washdown processes.

M. G. Newell Corporation, a distributor of ThermOmegaTech’s food and beverage channel partner, ACE Sanitary, presented the STVM® Steam and Water Washdown Station to the Safety Manager at the snack company.

The STVM® Washdown Station utilizes a proprietary silent type Venturi mixing valve that combines steam and water for a constant stream at the operator’s set temperature. Safety being their number one concern, they were pleased to learn about the STVM® safety feature that is designed to reduce steam flow should the temperature rise above the factory set point and automatically shuts off steam 15°F above that.

In addition to its automatic safety feature, the Safety Manager was very impressed with the ease of cleaning and switching out the cartridge. The STVM® system utilizes an interchangeable cartridge that can be easily replaced or cleaned out, while only using a wrench and a few minutes of time.

STVM Steam and Water Washdown Station

Highly impressed with the overall operation and features of the STVM® Washdown Station, this implementation will no doubt solve their safety problems, as well as minimize downtime due to maintenance.

Read the full case study here.

To learn more about ThermOmegaTech®’s STVM® Steam and Water Washdown Station, click here.