Food & Beverage Q&A 2020

Food and Beverage Best Practices Q&A

Jeff Eyerman, LAPP North America’s Food and Beverage (F&B) Vertical Manager, weighs in on what forward thinking companies in the industry must do to keep their production facilities clean and compliant with new industry standards — and why it’s important. Those that take a proactive and predictive approach are protecting the health and safety of their products’ end-consumers, and they will likely have a competitive edge over those who lag behind.

industry insider . . . JUST GOOD BUS INESS

Q. “Statistics on food product recalls point to over $200 million in lost revenue for manufacturers each year in the US alone. Are you finding food and beverage companies taking the costs of recalls into account when making decisions about production line infrastructure -- including LAPP products such as cables and glands?” A: The high cost of product recalls is becoming one of the factors companies should consider when selecting cables or glands, especially in the food contact zone. Just considering the immediate expense of removing and replacing potentially tainted product in the market justifies preventive measures such as the use of more robust and compliant products. And given instant-communication and the prevalence of social media, you can add the often long-lasting effect a recall has on company’s brand. Who doesn’t think twice when reaching for romaine lettuce at the store these days? The use of compliant cables and glands is just good business. A: Most food regulations are federal standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But enforcement of those rules is carried out, for the most part, by state and local agencies. To prepare for inspection, companies can take preventative measures by selecting products with NSF 169 approval — such as our SKINTOP® HYGIENIC and INOX series — which meet food safety requirements in both the food contact and splash zones. Q: Some food processing facilities are heavily cooled while others have machines running at very high temperatures. What challenges do these conditions present for cable companies? A: LAPP manufactures cables like ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180 MS that can withstand temperatures as high as 150 degrees Celsius, and down to -50°C. Our extreme temperature cables allow for flexible installation, and some — such as ÖLFLEX® SERVO 7TCE and ÖLFLEX® CHAIN TM — have continuous flex ratings for less extreme temperature applications. Q. “Are hygiene laws closely aligned among states, or do different states have different laws and regulations that must be complied with?”

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LAPP USA, 29 Hanover Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932 800.774.3539

LAPPCanada.

LAPP Canada, 3585 Laird Road, Unit 14, Mississauga, ON L5L 5Z8 877-799-5277

Food and Beverage Best Practices Q&A (cont.)

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Q. “How important is it to understand the different types of wash-downs that companies use when helping customers find a hygienic cable connection solution?”

A: Most wash-down processes have similar core components: caustic agents and high pressure sprays. Increasing the level of both reduces cleaning time, which means less production downtime. So using robust and resistant cables like LAPP’s TRAY 2 in these washdown zones is becoming increasingly important when it comes to maintaining equipment integrity. Automated wash-down systems are becoming more prevalent because they speed up the cleaning process even more. The designers of this equipment are following LAPP’s lead by creating machines that can withstand rigorous industrial cleaning environments. Robust cables and glands like LAPP’s are increasingly important to maintain equipment integrity.

industry insider

Q: What percentage of cable sales in the food and beverage industry is spent on new production facilities compared to spending on upgrading existing infrastructure?

A: New federal tax breaks are slowly leading to an increase in companies upgrading current facilities and starting brand new projects, which will lead to sales growth for suppliers like LAPP. Right now, expansions and renovations outnumber new projects about 2-to-1, and one of LAPP’s major advantages in factory renovations which mix new and existing equipment is that our solutions are often modular. We provide industry-leading cables, connectors and glands that fit industry standards so they can be incorporated into existing cabled machinery and production line infrastructure for improvement and modernization.

LAPPUSA.com

LAPP USA, 29 Hanover Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932 800.774.3539

LAPPCanada.

LAPP Canada, 3585 Laird Road, Unit 14, Mississauga, ON L5L 5Z8 877-799-5277