Custom Shaft Seals For Food-Processing Machinery

Meco Shaft Seals from FTL Technology offer clean and cost-effective sealing solutions for a variety of food processes. Originally developed for sealing dry powders in screw conveyors, Meco seals have evolved to fill sealing needs for a variety of food-processing machinery. Meco seals handle dry powders, pastes, slurries and liquids in most food-processing industries.

FDA-approved materials are used and some models can be configured for explosive atmospheres and certified, if needed, for Atex service. Meco seals permit 6mm diametric shaft eccentricity (runout), ensuring product containment in mixing equipment. The seals eliminate packing and associated abrasion, product leakage and product contamination. The Meco seals' low purge air consumption keeps loss in weight systems accurate and can increase process efficiency by improving vacuum containment.

Designed for quick and easy cleaning and sanitising, Meco seals help maintain product purity. Seals and rebuild components are available fully-split for bench sanitising or rapid repair on-site. Seals can be flushed in place or equipped with third-party automated CIP systems. Retrofit split seals can usually be fitted to existing machinery, with few modifications required.

SICK UK Publishes Food-Processing Sensor Guide

SICK UK's 'Efficient Automation for Food and Beverage Production' guide features sensors that have a positive effect on operating safety, availability and economic efficiency of facilities. The 72-page guide describes the best sensor or scanner for differing applications.

It addresses hygiene design issues and resisting clean-in-place and sterilise-in-place regimes; hygiene legislation and certification; temperature; and environmental and ingress protection. Further sections cover the extensive support services provided by SICK for food and beverage manufacturers and a comprehensive overview of SICK sensor products.

Adept Handling Robot Showcased At Food Expo

Adept Technology has announced that its USDA-accepted robot for high-speed food handling will be showcased at the Worldwide Food Expo in Chicago, Illinois on 28-31 October, 2009. The Quattro s650HS is said to be the only USDA-accepted parallel robot available for food processing. It is also available with an optional fixed platform addressing high-payload applications.

The Quattro line is designed for high-speed manufacturing, packaging, material handling and assembly applications. It features a four-arm kinematic, enabling higher speeds and faster accelerations. The Quattro is suitable for flexible packaging, material handling, kitting and assembly applications where performance is of paramount consideration.