Applications

Processes in the food industry

In the food industry, the level of process automation continues to increase, and this trend sets new demands – particularly in terms of the suitability of the technologies used with the stringent hygiene requirements. This is also true in the multifaceted area of industrial baked goods. This sector in Germany ranges from the Pizza (about 130 different varieties), to bread (about 300 varieties), and extends to pastries and cookies (about 1,200 varieties).
The example for the manufacture of baked goods also makes it clear that the production of food can always be classified into continually recurring process stages. These are:

• Weighing/Metering
• Mixing/Kneading
• Baking/Drying
• Cooling/Freezing
• Packaging
• Transportation
• Energy distribution and
• Documentation.

As is the case with every production process, the food manufacturing processes must be supplied first with (electrical) energy. Particularly energy-intensive are the electrical ovens required for baking and drying, as they are applied, for example, in the industrial manufacture of Pizzas.

The food industry places particularly high demands on the degree of protection and design of the electrical control elements: On the one hand, this facilitates cleaning operations, and on the other hand prevents bacterial contamination. At the same time, the production data must be recorded and monitored at all times. The European (EFSA) and the American (FDA) guidelines stipulate extensive process documentation.

As a leading component manufacturer for electrical machine equipment, we offer our customers from the food and packaging industries a high-performance product range for operation (RMQ), display (XV), switching (DIL) and protection (PKZ/NZM), right up to the control (easyControl/XC) of the machines.