PACK & EMBALLAGE Öresund2011

Press releases

• New modular belt for the food industry: Hanover, August 03, 2010 – Forbo Siegling now has a new, versatile plastic modular-belt series for all hygiene-sensitive applications in the food industry. The easy-to-clean modules provide exceptional tooth engagement, so are a huge advantage for complex conveying jobs and heavy-duty loads. Visitors to this year’s IFFA in Frankfurt caught their first glimpse of the new 6.1 series from the Siegling Prolink family at its first public preview. This series has been specially designed for meat-processing applications (but others too) and most of the planned product portfolio is now available. In addition to the closed flat-top type, there are also modules with flat and pointed studs (nub tops and cone tops). An open type, 400 mm in width and with 23% permeability, is also available and currently unique to the market. This type of module is ideal when lots of fluids are present, particularly during cleaning cycles – e.g. in fruit and vegetable production. All standard modules in the 6.1 series are obtainable in blue and white, as well as in polyacetal (POM) and polyethylene (PE). A particularly incision-resistant POM-CR type (CR = cut resistant) is provided for abattoirs too. Polypropylene and POM-MD are offered as special materials, with MD standing for metal detectable. In other words, this material can be identified by metal detectors. The standard modular width is 400 mm. However, narrower widths can also be supplied. Sprockets with round or square shaft recesses are also obtainable with 6, 8, 10 or 12 teeth. As of 8 teeth upwards, they also have extra large openings to make cleaning and rinsing efficient and easy. Impressive tooth engagement and durability One of the key aims at product-development stage was to enhance the shape of the modules and improve tooth engagement. The guide notch on the sprocket engages with the module and ensures smooth operation. The large flanks on the new sprockets enable unusually deep tooth engagement and therefore particularly high force transmission. As a result, even when centre distances are short (and pre-tension is low) tooth engagement is always superb. Series 6.1 has permissible effective pull of 30 N/mm and is particularly tough and long-lasting with backs that are all 8 mm thick. Easy to clean As well as the features mentioned, Forbo Siegling developers also focused on improving the design of the modules to make them easier to clean. They achieved their goal by including a number of small, but important details, some of which included: Consistently avoiding undercuts, or small corners and edges where dirt and residues can accumulate. Modules that open wide at the end of the conveyor, so that dirt is simply rinsed away. 10 mm wide drainage channels on the bottom of the modules, ensuring water used for rinsing is drained off. Lab tests verified the modules’ resistance to more than one hundred, commonly available (and sometimes aggressive) cleaning agents. All of which adds up to long service lives! EU compliant Similarly to all Forbo Siegling conveyor and processing belts for the food industry, Prolink series 6 also complies with all key international food standards, such as FDA directives and the EU 1935/2004 regulation. As a result, customers are on the safe side with Siegling Prolink series 6.1.