Hyecon

Hygienic and Energy Optimised Conveyor System for the Slaughtering Industry

The Hyecon project aims to develop a hygienic and energy optimised conveyor system with a validated automated cleaning procedure. This signifi cantly increases conveyor hygiene in the foodstuff sector and especially so in the meat and poultry industry.

This goal will be achieved by designing the system based on hygienic design guidelines and by developing a new, superior belt material which combines with an automated cleaning system for significant increases in hygiene and food safety. The belt provides improvements to the state-of-the-art in impact and cut resistance and at least 50% improved durability and antifouling properties as compared to conventional belts.

Furthermore the developed system focuses on decreasing use of energy, water and detergents by innovations in selected conveyor components: optimised drum motor design and an automated transportable cleaning system (CIP system).

Organisational Information

Budget: €1.7M
Funding: €1.3M
Start Date: October 2009
Finish Date: September 2011
Duration (in months): 24
Lead Partner (Co-ordinator): P Ellegaard, Denmark

Participants

• Danish Crown, Denmark
• Keith Handy Design, UK
• LAT Antribstechnik, Germany
• Smithers Rapra, UK
• Teknologiog Produkt Udvikling, Denmark
• TNO, Netherlands

Results – What happened next?

At the time of writing, Hyecon is still in its fi rst 12 months so it is too early to report on any results. To-date a literature survey of the topic has been performed and investigations into suitable materials are under way.

However, the project hopes to achieve the following:

• Ensure the finished conveyor system is able to operate under different circumstances and is developed so that the system can fit different production layouts in end-user industries
• Ensure the drum motor component can act as a platform allowing for variations in design and size thereby fitting into the variations of the total conveying system.
• Design the components and the total Hyecon conveying system based on EHEDG guidelines for hygienic design and ensure they are easy and fast to maintain.
• Ensure the belt material of the conveying system is easy to clean and has enhanced impact and cut resistance.
• Develop a transportable automated cleaning system which should be validated as this will reduce dependency on the human factor.