In the food industry, the requirements for manufacturing processes are particularly high: hygiene and quality standards have top priority. At the same time, waste and rejects must be minimized – both for economic reasons and to improve sustainability performance. Processing stages, which currently account for around 15% of total food losses (according to the German Federal Statistical Office, 2022), still offer significant potential for improvement.
Optimizing hygiene measures and reducing the use of cleaning chemicals on functional surfaces provide multiple opportunities. Efficient systems and solutions open valuable possibilities while ensuring cost-efficient production and maintenance with minimal downtime and maximum plant availability.
Vibration technology offers numerous opportunities for food manufacturers, always tailored to the unique characteristics of the processed products. Equipment and systems from NetterVibration are used in a wide range of high-quality food industry production plants. These often include drive systems, conveyors, screens, and dosing troughs made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, customized to specific needs.
NetterVibration also offers its pneumatic stainless-steel vibrators and most standard devices for operation with oil-free compressed air, preventing potential oil contamination and further reducing maintenance requirements. Screening, separating, dosing, and loosening of food products take place within the framework of hygienic design, ensuring easy cleaning – even with powerful cleaning agents – and efficient maintenance.
For particularly demanding applications, manufacturers rely on proven vibration technology from NetterVibration: for example, plastic designs for dairy products, equipment for ATEX zones and/or high-temperature areas, or especially hygienic fastening solutions using adhesive or vacuum mounts. Just as the variety of foods differs, so must the vibration solutions be tailored.
The results are numerous optimized applications and advantages for food manufacturers. Five examples illustrate this:
Example 1: Separating/Screening Fruit
The task
At a jam manufacturer, rose hips must be separated from their seeds. The seeds then need to be freed from fine hairs and residues to ensure pure oil pressing.
The solution: Vibrating screen trough
NetterVibration developed a customized trough driven by two side-mounted NEG electric vibrators. Additionally, an NCT pneumatic turbine vibrator ensures continuous shaking of the screen plate so that the screen holes remain unclogged.
The sustainable result
Rose hips can now be almost completely utilized for sustainable production of jam, fruit pulp, and oils, reducing waste to a minimum.
Example 2: Conveying/Cleaning in Meat Processing
The task
A meat and sausage producer needs to transport sticky ham strips from a processing station to a container. The sticky surface complicates transport and requires intensive cleaning.
The solution: Stainless steel conveyor trough
A stainless-steel conveyor driven by an NTS pneumatic piston vibrator ensures gentle, uniform transport of the ham strips. Thanks to its perfectly linear vibration, the NTS is ideal for conveying sticky bulk goods.
The sustainable result
Unlike conventional conveyor belts with many moving parts, this stainless-steel trough is easy to clean and dries quickly, saving energy and cleaning chemicals. Fewer moving parts also mean less maintenance.
Example 3: Releasing/Dosing Ingredients for Potato Chips
The task
In snack production, paprika powder must be precisely dosed onto potato chips. Its hygroscopic properties cause clumping and bridging in the hopper, leading to flow disruptions and costly downtime. Traditionally, blockages were cleared by hammering, which damages the hopper over time.
The solution: Dosypack dosing station
A PKL 190 pneumatic interval hammer gently loosens build-up on the hopper walls. Netter Vibration’s Dosypack system ensures precise distribution of paprika powder via a consistently adjustable flow. Made of brushed stainless steel, the system meets strict hygiene standards.
The sustainable result
The company benefits from smooth, interruption-free production, accurate dosing, and minimal downtime. Materials and containers remain intact and durable.
Example 4: Conveying/Packaging Biscuits
The task
A food company wants to automatically package salted biscuits in large quantities. The biscuits must be precisely positioned without breaking, requiring gentle but accurate movement.
The solution: Pneumatic piston vibrator
An NTS 250 HF pneumatic piston vibrator is integrated into the existing conveyor system.
The sustainable result
With low amplitude and adjustable frequency, the biscuits are transported gently and positioned correctly for automated packaging. This improves efficiency, product quality, and reduces rejects.
Example 5: Conveying/Emptying Feed Meal
The task
A producer of edible oils, fats, and margarine processes pressed, dried sunflower seeds into feed meal stored in silos. When emptying, bridging and blockages occur.
The solution: Pneumatic piston vibrator
A PKL 5000 pneumatic interval hammer automatically and regularly breaks up product bridges, ensuring smooth discharge. It can be retrofitted during operation using an adhesive mount without emptying or welding the silo.
The sustainable result
Residues and cleaning work are avoided, as is manual hammering, which often damages silos.
