The food industry has many regulations, requirements, and day-to-day needs. Not least because food quality and safety can be at stake at every production stage. Avoiding health and safety issues requires rigid protocols to be followed at every stage. This is also the case for handling machinery. Clamshell grabs, which can scoop and stack different types of bulk foods, have different characteristics than other grabbers, including their stainless steel construction.
The clamshell grab for food offers significant benefits in terms of hygiene, accuracy in scooping and storage, and versatility in handling different types of food. Their use increases efficiency, helps increase productivity, and ensures food safety and operators' safety in large-scale food handling environments. They minimize the risk of contamination and optimize handling processes.
Features of clamshell grabs in the food industry
Industrial clamshell grabs, in general, are designed and manufactured to be robust, efficient, and capable of handling large, heavy volumes. Clamshell grabs must also be hygienic to become valuable tools in the food industry.
They are designed with materials that meet food safety standards, such as stainless steel, to ensure no transfer of harmful substances into the food. They are often resistant to corrosion and interaction with acidic or alkaline foods, which, in addition to safety, aids their durability. In addition, clamshell food scoops often have designs that facilitate cleaning and prevent residue build-up, such as smooth and less porous surfaces.
As for their control systems are exact mechanisms for easy adjustment of force and pressure during scooping, which prevents damage to the food and keeps waste to a minimum during the scooping process.
Of course, clamshell grabs for handling in food plants are designed with international food regulations and standards to ensure food safety is not compromised. These standards vary from country to country, so Stemm's experience in the international market, in countries such as the USA, Australia, South Africa, and others, will make a difference.
In other words, the main difference between clamshell grabs for food and those intended for other purposes, such as steelworks, foundries, or biomass collection, is centered on the manufacturing materials and design. These specifications make them hygienic, safe, and efficient.
Electro-hydraulic grab, rope grab, and single-wire grab, Stemm's solution for the food industry
Among Stemm's solutions, the two options suitable for food handling are the electro-hydraulic clamshell grabs in the 2CH 1.1 and 4CH 1.1 models, taking into account the density of the material to be handled; also, the CMC 1.1 and CMC 2 mechanical clamshell grabs and the CMR 1 and CRM 1.6 single rope clamshell grabs.
All Stemm equipment has its advantages and characteristics, so the right choice will depend on the operation's specific circumstances and the project's needs in terms of collection and environment.
