Setting the hygienic standards for food production automation systems

Australia and New Zealand’s food and beverage industry operates under stringent hygiene and compliance regulations to uphold product safety and quality. With automation playing an increasingly vital role in production, safeguarding critical equipment against high-pressure washdowns, water ingress and bacterial contamination is essential for maintaining operational integrity and regulatory compliance.

Meeting these hygiene standards requires robust, compliant equipment that can withstand rigorous cleaning processes while protecting critical automation systems. Integrated Automation Limited (IAL), one of New Zealand’s leading automation solutions providers, sought an enclosure solution for its accumulation conveyor system in the food and beverage industry. Following the successful implementation of Rittal’s HD enclosures, IAL has standardised these enclosures across its food and beverage automation solutions.

Food production environments pose unique challenges for automation systems, where hygiene, durability and reliability are critical. IAL needed enclosures that could:

• Meet strict hygiene regulations — ensuring easy cleaning, resistance to bacterial growth and suitability for food-contact environments.
• Withstand aggressive cleaning processes — protecting against hot water and chemical exposure, which could cause corrosion and water ingress.
• Manage temperature fluctuations — preventing condensation build-up, which could affect automation performance.
• Ensure system reliability — protecting critical automation components to reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

To address these challenges, IAL used Rittal’s Hygienic Design enclosures, a solution engineered specifically for hygiene-critical production environments. The enclosure’s key features include:

• Stainless steel construction: high-grade stainless steel with a smooth finish offers resistance to corrosion and damage from cleaning agents while enhancing the system’s professional appearance.
• Sloped roof design: the 30° sloped roof prevents water pooling during cleaning, reducing bacterial growth risks and ensuring compliance with hygiene regulations.
• Blue door seals: FDA-compliant, food-safe silicone gaskets create a secure seal that prevents contaminants. The distinctive blue colour simplifies hygiene inspections.
• Quick-release fasteners: hexagon fasteners are designed to ensure easy access for maintenance without compromising the hygienic seal.
• Customisation and modularity: modular enclosures allowed IAL to customise the set-up for its automation components, for seamless integration with the accumulation conveyor system.

The successful implementation of Rittal’s Hygienic Design enclosures provided IAL with a durable and compliant enclosure solution for uninterrupted operations. This project marked IAL’s first use of the HD series, which has since become the standard for its automation solutions across the food and beverage industry.

“The HD series has a superior design, high-quality stainless-steel construction, hygienic blue seals and gaskets that add to the quality. We build world-class automation systems that add value to our customers’ profitability and business growth. Protecting the automation components in the control cabinet is essential to prevent downtime,” said Donovan Ryan, Managing Director, IAL.

Image credit: iStock.com/DedMityay