HYGIENE
Hoses promise high transfer and washdown performance Continental makes hoses with the Microban Antimicrobial Protection compounded into the cover, providing a cleaner way to do business. Food & Beverage Industry News reports.
M
icroban antimicrobial technology is becoming more popular within the food and beverage industry because of its ability to protect products during the manufacturing and washdown process. It extends the life cycle of the hoses and limits the risk of failure and contamination in the manufacturing process. Continental is a company that specialises in the development of industrial hoses for food and beverage transfer and washdown processes. The company also helps develop solutions to create the best results for its customers. As part of this ethos Continental uses Microban technology in its industrial hoses. Microban technology is designed to protect products from the growth of bacteria, mould, and mildew, all of which can cause a range of issues in the production process if not carefully managed. As industry standards continue to evolve towards more sustainability and stronger food safety processes, Continental’s Food & Beverage Industrial Hoses range offers a solid solution to strengthen the link in the manufacturing chain. The company’s hoses for the foodstuffs industry are subject to stringent hygiene regulations and numerous standards to ensure quality. As a result, they are suitable for wine, beer, strong alcoholic beverages, and fruit juice plus many other industry applications. They feature a smooth, plasticiserfree lining that doesn’t leave any odour or taste. Suitable for all common connecting systems, Continental’s hoses are resistant to cleaning in place (CIP) and all harsh cleaning processes in the beverage industry. “The conveyance of fluids throughout the manufacturing process requires products that meet and/ or exceed industry standards. We at Continental strive to support industry
Microban antimicrobial protection promises longer lasting industrial hoses. with the best products possible.” said Scott Weston, national business manager, Continental Industrial Fluid Solutions. “Obviously if a product fails through that cycle, you can’t move the fluid, which means production stops. Straight away you are suffering not just from a replacement cost, which is minimal in the overall production process, but productivity ceases and you’re most likely scrapping all of that product batch.” Accordingto Continental’s laboratory testing regime, the use of built-in antimicrobial protection in the hoses offered, can reduce the growth of bacteria by as much as 99 per cent. The biggest advantage to built-in antimicrobial product protection is that the technology works continuously to limit bacterial growth on the hose for the entire life of the product. To further enhance the product performance Continental builds its rubber transfer hoses on chrome mandrels to prevent tube imperfections that create conditions perfect for bacterial growth. Other features of the rubber transfer hoses include braiding with extruded liners and spiral reinforcements. Focusses for the company during the continued development of Continental’s industrial hoses for the food and beverage industry are safety, hygiene, and reliability.
38 Food&Beverage Industry News | February 2022 | www.foodmag.com.au
The two offerings best suited to the food and beverage industry are the transfer hoses and washdown hoses. The key products include ExtremeFlex Beverage, Vintner Reserve And Fortress Washdown. ExtremeFlex is suited to applications that require flexibility for the hoses, including to fit tight bend connections for restricted spaces. The lightweight and flexible hose has a chlorobutyl tube, which doesn’t cause any taste or smell contamination, making it suitable for beer, wine, distillery, and beverage transfer processing facilities. “The key feature for ExtremeFlex beverage is that is has an easy clean cover,” said Weston. “When we talk about the industry itself and food regulations, it is imperative to keep the production facilities clean and clear of contaminants. This also provides confidence for auditors and regulatory bodies that may carry out inspections. You can wash this hose down and it looks like brand new. So, from an aesthetic point of view, it is a good selling point. This type of hose is best suited to breweries.” Meanwhile, the Vintner is a crushresistant hose that is an alternative to more traditional hoses. Because of its design, the Vintner can reform its shape after being crushed during the manufacturing
process, which makes it suitable for in-plant or tank truck transfer of beverages like wine, beer, and other non-oily food stuff. Common occurrences of damage to hoses are when they are crushed by forklifts or kinked by overbending or placement in tight spaced. The use of a monofilament reinforcement means that the hose can remain in service. Continental also has another seven low-pressure hoses and four high-pressure hoses that are suited to the food and beverage industry with pressure points from 300 PSI to as much as 4,000 PSI. Continental also has a material and product development program that includes compounding capabilities, environmentally friendly technologies, and a quicker time to market. The development and incorporation of Microban antimicrobial technology is one development of the 150 compounds used across Continental’s industrial hose range. “Essentially, the products we produce are very high-quality products from the material compounding, development, and testing. The quality and life cycles of our products are appealing for clients,” said Weston. “It is known that bacteria build up inside and outside of a hose occurs over time, because of the compounds used. This was something we at Continental wanted to avoid.” F
