Stainless motor cleans up on spud preparation

Stainless steel motor offers numerous benefits in addition to its inherent rust resistance.

Processing raw produce for the food processing industry inevitably generates waste and sometimes spillage.

Such is the case for potato processor, Swancote Foods of Telford, whose products are supplied to leading manufacturers and retailers.

Principal area for concern is at the end of the preparation line where potatoes are peeled and diced.

Here, waste can spill into the void where the motor driving a centrifugal pump for transferring the diced potato to the next stage of production is located.

Until recently this motor was a standard, finned, mild steel AC machine which, although brushed clean frequently (a time consuming operation), could not be washed down because of the potential risk of shorting the electrics and/or encouraging rust.

To overcome the potential health risks presented by this situation, Swancote has replaced this motor with a stainless steel unit from Marlin Stainless, a division of AEG.

This new Marlin stainless motor offers numerous benefits in addition to stainless steel's inherent rust resistance.

These include an IP66 rating that permits high-pressure-hose washdowns, which is much quicker than brushing, and a smooth body with round terminal box that have no awkward angles or crevices to trap food and breed germs.

Further, there is no motor plate to catch food because the motor information is etched into the body.

In addition to all the above advantages provided relating to hygiene, the Marlin motor, being a standard IEC metric unit, simply dropped into place.

No modifications were necessary to accommodate it.

Marlin motors are offered in power ratings from 0.18 to 7.5kW in metric frame sizes up to 132 as TEFC machines.

Smaller units (up to 0.75kW) are also available from 63 frame size as TENV machines.

Helping to extend the range of applications for the Marlin motors are compatible stainless steel gearboxes.

These worm gearboxes, which have hollow shafts with life lubricated gears, are available with centre distances of 31, 42 and 61mm with ratios from 5:1 to 75:1.

Torques range from 0.9 to 208Nm.

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