23 October 2013 | Astec Conveyors Ltd
Honeytop Speciality Foods return to Astec for conveying solution
Following Astec Conveyors’ recent success at one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of quality naan and flatbreads, Honeytop Speciality Foods had no hesitation in appointing Astec to design and build a bespoke stainless steel conveyor system for their new production line.
The system was required to transfer naan bread from the oven discharge to a spiral cooler.
Astec Conveyors evaluated the application and proposed the use of wire mesh belt as the transport medium for this application. The open weave minimises product marking and allows for good airflow and even heat dissipation, whilst also maintaining maximum hygiene standards and durability in operation, which are critical requirements for the baking industry.
A 1600mm wide mobile ‘8 finger’ transfer conveyor accepts product from the oven discharge and transfers the same on to a narrower conveyor (965mm) running at 90 degrees. The design of the transfer conveyor spreads the product evenly across the discharge conveyor minimising build up of product in any one particular area and hence maximising the characteristics of the belt in respect of heat dissipation and product marking.
The transfer conveyor was designed to be mobile, enabling the unit to be effortlessly positioned and moved to provide for easy access to the oven as required for maintenance and cleaning.
From the finger transfer unit a series of wire mesh belt conveyors transport the product to the infeed of the spiral cooler. Individual conveyor modules are connected via live transfers to provide for a continuous and smooth flow of product.
Astec Conveyors worked closely with the customer to develop the conveyor design to provide for maximum hygiene, controlled and accurate flow of product, with the added benefit of easy access to the oven discharge.
Zizou Benchaoui of Honeytop Speciality Foods reported, “In the past we have designed and built our own bespoke production lines in-house, but after past experience of working with Astec Conveyors, we didn’t hesitate to invite them to provide us with a cost effective handling solution.
The equipment is superbly engineered and has performed successfully since being installed into the line.
Astec Conveyors evaluated the application and proposed the use of wire mesh belt as the transport medium for this application. The open weave minimises product marking and allows for good airflow and even heat dissipation, whilst also maintaining maximum hygiene standards and durability in operation, which are critical requirements for the baking industry.
A 1600mm wide mobile ‘8 finger’ transfer conveyor accepts product from the oven discharge and transfers the same on to a narrower conveyor (965mm) running at 90 degrees. The design of the transfer conveyor spreads the product evenly across the discharge conveyor minimising build up of product in any one particular area and hence maximising the characteristics of the belt in respect of heat dissipation and product marking.
The transfer conveyor was designed to be mobile, enabling the unit to be effortlessly positioned and moved to provide for easy access to the oven as required for maintenance and cleaning.
From the finger transfer unit a series of wire mesh belt conveyors transport the product to the infeed of the spiral cooler. Individual conveyor modules are connected via live transfers to provide for a continuous and smooth flow of product.
Astec Conveyors worked closely with the customer to develop the conveyor design to provide for maximum hygiene, controlled and accurate flow of product, with the added benefit of easy access to the oven discharge.
Zizou Benchaoui of Honeytop Speciality Foods reported, “In the past we have designed and built our own bespoke production lines in-house, but after past experience of working with Astec Conveyors, we didn’t hesitate to invite them to provide us with a cost effective handling solution.
The equipment is superbly engineered and has performed successfully since being installed into the line.