With over 240 production plants worldwide, a global leader in providing quality ingredients to a broad range of manufacturers was constantly looking to improve their operational efficiencies.
When their production plant in Valencia (Spain), encountered difficulties with traditional hose-clamp fittings regularly coming loose on a rotary sifter, they turned to BFM® fitting to provide a solution that would reduce the downtime they encountered during regular product changeovers.
Hose clamps difficult to replace during regular cycle changeovers.
A security screen sifter processing flour in a clean-room environment at the Valencia plant required regular disassembly and reassembly during process shifts. The hose-clamp connections attaching both the sifter inlet and reject outlet (shown adjacent) were difficult and time-consuming to position correctly.
Another problem they faced was caused by the fact that there are different operators doing the changeovers and the hose clamps were re-fitted in varying ways, often not being fastened tightly enough. After reassembly, the hose clamps would regularly come loose with the movement of the sifter, causing product to leak out into the clean-room.
This was not only wasting product but significant production downtime was being experienced for both clean-ups and further re-fitting of the failed hose clamps. There was also a hygiene concern with a potential build-up of product in the crevices between the clamped connector and pipe.
They needed to find a solution that would ensure that the connectors could be taken out and refitted in a fast, consistent way by all operators so that there was no more risk of product leakage or build-up. This in turn would reduce the need for excessive down-time for both product changeovers themselves as well as the associated clean-ups.
BFM® fitting seen as the perfect solution
A decision was made to upgrade both the sifter inlet and reject outlet to be a BFM® fitting flexible connector system - and the result has been impressive.
Now, with the fast and easy snap-fit installation of the BFM® sleeves, the security screen can be disassembled and reassembled frequently without unnecessary production downtime while operators re-attach the time-consuming hose clips.
“Staff love the simplicity of the snap-fit connectors – they are so much easier and faster than the hose clips and are always in the correct position every time,” said their Process Technology Leader at the Valencia plant.
“We are also really pleased with the reduction we’ve made in downtime in the flour line.”
The BFM® fitting flexible connector system is a safer option for workers too. “There is less risk to staff potentially injuring fingers with difficult, screw-fastened clamps, which is an extra benefit,” he said.
The engineering team like the hygienic continuous design of the BFM® fitting system which has removed the problem of product build-up in crevices experienced with the old hose-clamped system. The bonus of a guaranteed fit with a 100% sealed connection means there is now zero product leakage so there is no lost product or wasted production time to allow for clean-ups.
“It’s just been so much easier to maintain the clean-room environment since installing the BFM® fitting connectors.”
Find out more about how BFM® fitting helps reduce production downtime.
Case Study courtesy of BFM® Authorized Distributor for Spain, Masanes Servindustria.
