Every food manufacturing facility depends on the equipment they use daily. The equipment must be reliable, sanitary, and efficient. Unsurprisingly, it’s necessary to take care of the equipment if you want it to perform optimally and last over multiple years. You can learn how to extend the life of food manufacturing equipment in our guide below.
Develop a Cleaning and Maintenance Routine and Stick To It
The best way to keep your equipment operating at its best is through frequent cleaning and maintenance. Besides, the FDA and USDA require you to have a spotless facility; why wouldn’t you want clean equipment, too? Moreover, the moment you notice your equipment isn’t performing the way it normally does, you should find out why; call a repair service if necessary. The reason it’s vital to call repair service sooner than later is that, if something is wrong with your machine, its continued operation could cause further damage.
Use Quality Lubricants When Necessary
Most (if not all) food processing equipment includes moving parts that require lubrication. Make sure the lubricant you’re using is high-quality because it’ll perform better and cost you less in the long run. While the cheaper lubricant has a more attractive price, it won’t last as long, and you’ll only waste time and money with the more frequent lubricant changes.
Always Match Materials When Replacing Piping
The majority of food manufacturing facilities have process piping and plumbing that connect to their equipment. Over time, the piping may break down and corrode, requiring you to replace it. While it’s not surprising that you’ll need to replace the piping if you begin noticing corrosion, many people don’t replace the pipes properly. Specifically, most people don’t match the adjacent pipe materials, and dissimilar pipe materials can cause corrosion. In other words, if you replace a pipe or fitting with a different material, you’re actually speeding the corrosion process up.
Any time you perform regular maintenance, cleaning, or repairs, take the time to make a note of it. By keeping a record of all your efforts, you’ll be able to make better decisions regarding extending the life of food manufacturing equipment. For instance, you could compare how often you need to replace the lubricant when you use a low-quality lubricant versus a high-quality lubricant.
