A Food Packaging Factory Tests Which Equipment Stands Up to Humidity

Food packaging factories often face problems with equipment failure in humid environments. This article compares the moisture resistance of different equipment through actual tests, and gives specific data for making purchasing decisions.The company also provides analysis of key equipment such as dehumidifiers and moisture-proof packaging machines, helping factories to reduce waste and improve production efficiency.

The damage that a moist environment does to equipment.

Those of us in the food packaging business know that if the humidity rises, the machines will start to give us trouble.Last month, two of the factory's sealing machines broke down because of the humidity, and it took three days to repair them.The problem, at root, is that the equipment is not adequately protected against moisture.

Three major categories of commonly used equipment were tested.

A battle of the dehumidifiers.

After testing three industrial dehumidifiers, I found that the best performance in the rainy season was by a condensation-type dehumidifier.Although they are more expensive than the rotary type, they have been able to keep the humidity in the factory below 55 %, and the motor has never overheated.Instead, a dehumidifier from a well-known brand that claimed to cover an area of 200 square meters, in fact only reduced the humidity by 8 % when turned to its highest setting.

The key to preventing moisture.

The main points of contrast were between stainless steel models and those made from ordinary galvanized steel.After a half year of tracking results, the probability of rusting at the joints of the stainless steel equipment fell by more than 70 %.This is especially true of the heat-sealing area. Machines with anti-oxidation coatings have a failure rate of only one-third that of ordinary machines.

How should the desiccant be applied?

During the test period, the amount of desiccant wasted was reduced by 40 % in the workshop where a semi-automated system was used, and fluctuations in humidity were clearly smaller.However, be sure to choose a model with a humidity sensor, not an old-fashioned model that simply releases at set times.

Useful techniques for moisture control.

The most effective solution is to clean the circuit boards with compressed air once a week, which can reduce the risk of short circuits by 80 %.Before the monsoon season begins, waterproof gel is applied to the key parts of the equipment, at a cost of less than NT $ 50, which can extend the life of the bearings by half a year.If a sudden moisture surge occurs, it is more effective to temporarily blow powerful fans at the control cabinet than to shut down the machine.

A guide to avoiding pitfalls when buying equipment.

Don't just look at the data given by the manufacturers. Be sure to ask about the operating parameters in a high humidity environment.The focus of the inspection is on the thickness of the sealant around the control panel, and if it is less than 2 millimeters, the unit is rejected.If the budget is limited, then the first priority should be upgrading the equipment in the raw materials storage area, where humidity fluctuations have the greatest impact on the quality of the finished product.