Are You Keeping Your Food Processing Plant Safe?

Key Strategies for Electrification Excellence

Thwart Corrosion from Harming the Electrical System

Corrosion not only compromises the structural integrity of a plant’s cable protection and wire management, but it also increases the risk of electrical failures and potential contamination. Industry-wide, corrosion costs food and beverage processors more than $2 billion annually.

Typically caused by acidity, alkalinity, and the presence of food components, corrosion can release metal contaminants into products and negatively impact quality and safety. It can also be accelerated by temperature, humidity, washdowns, and mechanical stresses.

Like liquid ingress, corrosion poses severe consequences for electrical systems, such as damage to equipment. It also has an adverse impact on a company’s productivity, safety record, compliance, and reputation. Additionally, it serves as a potential contaminant. Corrosion can also lead to increased maintenance, repairs, and replacements that can add to a facility’s operational costs.

Proper corrosion and control measures are crucial. These include scheduling regular inspections, using corrosion-resistant materials for equipment, implementing effective cleaning and sanitation practices, and monitoring the pH and chemical composition of processing environments.

Maintain a Hygienic Facility for Food Safety

A variety of factors contribute to food safety issues. Regarding cable protection and cable management, poor component designs and improperly rated systems can result in product contamination. The consequences of poor food safety include:

• Costly product recalls
• Brand and reputational damage
• Criminal liability of facility personnel

Food and beverage facilities need to use the correct cable protection and cable management products to effectively address food safety issues and adhere to strict hygiene standards. After all, a facility's food safety degree is only as strong as its weakest link.

ABB can help processing plants cut contamination risks. Their Ty-Rap^® TyGenic^™ cable ties are the industry’s first two-piece cable tie that is both antimicrobial^* and detectable. They are over 99 percent effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms and are detectable by X-ray, visual, and metal detection systems. Moreover, ABB’s T&B Liquidtight Systems^® Type A antimicrobial^* non-metallic conduit provides excellent corrosion and ingress protection. ABB is the industry’s only provider of these antimicrobial solutions.

*These products provide no antimicrobial inhibitory activity beyond the protection of the products themselves.

What’s at Risk?

How much could a poorly executed system cost a facility? Plenty!

• $10 million plus direct costs per recall
• $30,000 per hour cost when part of the process is down
• $256,000 per hour cost when the entire process is down
• $500 per maintenance event for change-over
• $500 per maintenance event for troubleshooting

Having the right cable protection and cable management is key to minimizing costs.

Protect Facilities with T&B Liquidtight Systems^®

ABB Installation Products is the only manufacturer to offer an entire flexible conduit and fittings system that is UL Type 4, 4X, 12, and IEC IP 69 rated for the demands of the food and beverage market.

Having a tested and UL-rated system of conduit and fittings helps ensure components are protected, operations remain running, and work environments are sanitary. The reliability and safety of T&B Liquidtight Systems® also provide processing plants with long-term cost savings. In contrast, mixing different types of components that are not rated and tested as systems can lead to big issues in a short time.

Have ABB and Wesco Assess Your Facility at No Cost

An ABB preventative maintenance walk-through is a confidential service for food and beverage processors. Conducted by their assessors, this evaluation averages two-four hours per 500,000 square feet and identifies existing and potential threats to your plant’s uptime and profitability. Afterward, ABB prepares a final value proposition (FVP). It matches your facility’s challenges with proven ABB Installation Products that can:

• Increase food, plant, and personnel safety
• Cut electrical system changeover/downtime by 40–50 percent
• Increase overall equipment effectiveness
• Extend electrical system service life by up to 300 percent
• Improve sustainability and revenue

While your facility is not obligated to implement the FVP, its recommended ABB Installation Products can help it or any other food and beverage processing plant prevent liquid ingress, thwart corrosion, and improve compliance with strict hygiene standards.

Contact your local Wesco rep to learn more about scheduling a preventative maintenance walk-through or view our full portfolio of ABB products.