Fortress Technology’s meat pump deters cross-contamination

Metal detection specialist Fortress Technology will reveal its latest pathogen cross contamination deterrent – the Meat Pump Pipeline at the International Production & Processing Expo. Its IPPE launch coincides with the new BRC Global Food Safety Standard Issue 8 audits commencing in February.

Bacteria, including salmonella and campylobacter, multiples by doubling every 20 to 30 minutes depending on the conditions, and prefers high protein foods prevalent in liquid form. With compliance demanding the highest levels of sanitation, the Meat Pump Pipeline has been designed to assist meat food preparation inspecting high-viscosity meats to optimize hygiene standards and tackle cross contamination, without compromising metal detection sensitivity. In addition to sausage patties, red meats and poultry, the system can also be used to inspect pâtés, broths, gravies and sauces, highlighted in the new BRC standard.

To beat the spread of foodborne bugs and prevent bacteria accumulating in industrial meat processing environments, the Meat Pump Pipeline is IP69K rated and USDA compliant. This means it can withstand harsh meat processing environments and high-pressurized wash-downs after every product changeover.

With no obtrusive support frame and no external boxes to accommodate electronics, and as a result of its reduced surface area and minimal use of fasteners, there are fewer places where meat residue, water ingress and bacteria can build up and potentially get embedded in pipes, nooks and crannies.

Being fitted to a mobile frame means that the system is easier to roll out, giving sanitation employees access to difficult to reach parts which can be easily dismantled and deep cleaned to prevent bacteria accumulations. Average clean times should take a matter of minutes, helping to maximize uptime in round-the-clock meat manufacturing sites.

Compared to the alternative of trap magnet systems used in high viscosity meat inspection lines, the new Fortress Meat Pump Pipeline doesn’t just identify and reject magnetic ferrous metals, but stainless steel debris, too.

To overcome product effect caused by the highly conductive nature and iron content of meat, the Fortress Meat Pump Pipeline applies a powerful digital signal processing technology to clearly distinguish the signal generated by a metal contaminant from the product being inspected. The system also integrates Auto-balance to rebalance the coil heads within the unit, which may over time expand or contract due to changes in product temperatures passing through the pipeline. This helps to maintain metal detection sensitivity.