Silver-laiden compound provides cleaner rollers

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 30, 2003

Shuttleworth has developed a line of Easy Clean conveyors which incorporate thermoplastic rollers with a custom compounded antimicrobial additive for food processors.

To reduce the potential for contamination during food processing, Shuttleworth, a supplier of conveyors and handling equipment, has developed a line of Easy Clean conveyors which incorporate thermoplastic rollers with a custom compounded antimicrobial additive for food processors.

The antimicrobial additive is silver.

Supplied by AgIon Technologies and moulded into the conveyor components, silver inhibits bacterial growth.

The EPA approves it for food contact and it is FDA-recognised as safe.

RTP Company combines the silver along with exact loadings of both PTFE and silicone into an acetal copolymer, resulting in an RTP 800 Series custom compound.

When combined, these additives perform synergistically to achieve improved lubricity properties and reduce wear.

Initially, the antimicrobial was formulated into an HDPE resin.

However, sink marks were prevalent, and dimensional control was insufficient for the tight tolerances of the rollers.

Shuttleworth and RTP Company engineers worked together to find the optimum resin system and additive combination in an RTP 800 Series acetal compound.

Klaus Daenzer, Shuttleworth's Senior Plastics Engineer, said, "Our experience with RTP Company made them the logical partner to formulate the material, and we now have an exceptional product for this industry".

The antimicrobial properties of the rollers were confirmed in a recent study performed at Purdue University.

The study acknowledged that, when properly cleaned, "the Easy Clean conveyor would not be a source of contamination to food products".

The study showed that the conveyor was able to "reduce cleaning costs and provide increased resistance to bacteria, fungi and mould propagation".

Daenzer said, "We found an effective and proven antimicrobial that provides our customers with additional security, lower sanitation costs, and maintains the lowest line drive pressure in the industry".