What should you look for in plastic guides in the food industry?

A guide in a food installation has to do more than keep products on course. It comes into contact with food, is cleaned intensively and must be traceable to its source during an audit. That places different demands on material and production than a guide in an ordinary machine.

Lakwijk produces guides for machines in the food industry every day. In this blog you can read which requirements guides must meet, which material suits your installation and how Lakwijk produces custom guides.

Where guides are found in a food installation

In the food industry, virtually the entire process is automated. Products are sorted, processed and packaged via conveyor systems, roller conveyors and sorting machines. All of these systems contain guides, for example:

• Chain guides in conveyor systems
• Side guides along conveyor tracks that keep products on course
• Guides in sorting machines
• Guides in slaughtering machines and meat processing installations
• Sliding strips and wear strips along roller conveyors

Products often pass directly along the guide here. As a result, the requirements for material and finish are stricter than for parts outside the product flow.

What the food industry requires of a guide

Food grade certified material

Guides that come into contact with food are made of food grade certified plastic. This material is suitable for contact with foodstuffs and complies with the applicable regulations. Lakwijk processes food grade material for the food industry every day.

Traceability down to the batch

Every food grade material has a lot number. This means it is always possible to trace which batch a guide came from. Should there ever be an issue with the material, the source can be identified immediately. In practice this is rarely necessary, but it is essential for audits and certifications. In addition, Lakwijk works according to GMP guidelines, aimed at controlling the production process and preventing cross-contamination.

Detectability with blue material

More and more food companies are choosing blue guides. Blue hardly ever occurs in food. If a particle from a guide does end up in meat or chicken, for example, it is immediately noticeable. There are also detection systems that check product flows for this.

Blue material is mainly available in POM and HMPE, two of the most commonly used materials for guides.

Which material suits your guide?

HMPE for wet environments and low friction

HMPE is highly wear-resistant, has low friction and does not absorb moisture. That makes it a popular choice for guides in wet environments and in conveyor systems that run continuously.

One point to note is that HMPE is more susceptible to scratches, which can affect the cleanability of the surface.

POM for dimensionally stable guides

POM is stiff and dimensionally stable. It is a good choice for guides that need to fit precisely or where stiffness is important, for example in sorting machines.

Heavier conditions

At high temperatures or with aggressive cleaning, a different material may be needed. In such cases, a high-performance plastic such as PEEK comes into consideration, as it retains its properties even under harsh conditions.

Which material is most suitable depends on the combination of load, environment and cleaning. Lakwijk advises you on this based on your application.

Product protection and flow

Softer than metal

Plastic is softer than metal. Products that pass along a plastic guide are therefore less easily damaged than when they come into contact with a metal surface. For delicate food products, this is an important advantage.

Smooth flow

The good sliding properties of plastic ensure that products move smoothly along the guide. The type of product plays a role in this.

Products with sharp edges are more likely to cause blockages than round products. By adapting the shape and material of the guide accordingly, the flow remains constant.

Custom guides for every installation

Always made to measure

No two sorting machines or roller conveyors are the same. Every machine builder designs their installation in their own way, so guides are always made to measure. Lakwijk produces them on the basis of your PDF technical drawing and 3D model, such as a STEP file.

New builds and replacement

Lakwijk supplies guides for new machines and for replacement in existing installations. Machines that have been in the field for years need spare parts just as much as new machines. In both cases, the guide must fit seamlessly into the existing design.

Produced automatically

Guides are milled on CNC milling machines, with a large part of production being automated. As a result, both small quantities and larger series are made efficiently and with consistent quality.

Guides for your food installation

A good guide for the food industry combines the right material with careful production and full traceability. Not sure which material best suits your installation? Lakwijk is happy to think along with you and advise based on the conditions in which the guide has to perform.

Looking for food grade guides for your conveyor system? Contact Lakwijk for advice on material and custom work.