Very few industries face challenging and complex hygienic requirements like those found in the food and beverage industry. Over time, using high-pressure water, sanitisers, and cleaners to maintain cleanliness can break down the electrical wiring and various instrumentation cable types used in such environments.
As such, these harsh conditions will naturally result in regular maintenance and cable failures that can cause unexpected downtime and slower production. To avoid these disruptions, businesses must settle for nothing less than industrial wire and cable solutions that meet their industry’s specific requirements and regulations.
Core Performance Characteristics to Overcome Cable-related Downtimes
- Temperature Resistance
Processing environments in the F&B industry commonly see temperature extremes, such as in high-temperature water to sanitise equipment or when using large cold storage freezers to store perishable items. Thus, industrial wires and cables in this industry must be engineered to withstand these extreme conditions to ensure their long-term durability and reliability.
- Chemical Resistance
Food processing equipment gets frequently exposed to various cleaning agents made up of all sorts of chemicals to ensure their cleanliness and maintain proper sanitation standards. Over time, these can damage wires and cables and expose equipment, increasing the risk of failures. For many applications on the factory floor, these chemicals may be beyond what commodity cable jackets and connectors can withstand. As such, it is vital to use cables or cord sets designed to tolerate such exposure and work reliably to keep production running and avoid downtime.
- Washdown and Waterproofing
F&B manufacturers typically see a lot of condensation due to having refrigerated floors and performing frequent high-temperature water cleanings. Thus, cables and connectors used in areas that experience such condensation and washdowns must be adequately waterproof and have a tight seal. Moulded and keyed cord sets provide the secure and rapid connection and disconnection that ensures cables are sealed against water, oil, dust and other contaminants. Furthermore, their high tolerance for continuous pulling and flexing makes them an ideal solution to add to cables to keep operations running smoothly.
- Flexibility
Industrial cable solutions designed with a small diameter are great for fitting into nooks and crannies with a tighter bend radius. Using these cabling in food manufacturing plants where such areas abound allows for reliable and efficient electrical connectivity, ease of installation and maintenance, and adaptability to dynamic environments. All these advantages contribute to the smooth flow of operations on the floor.
Conclusion
Food manufacturing plants face many challenges in their daily processes, whether in harvesting, canning, packaging, or bottling. Withstanding the harsh conditions in these applications requires robust industrial cables that can perform reliably, improve efficiency, and ultimately promote food safety.
If you are looking to source high-quality industrial cables for your food manufacturing plants, Cable Source is the brand you can trust. We boast a vast range of inventory and solid logistical support that few other cable stockists can match. No matter what type of cable you need, you are guaranteed to have what you are looking for and then some. To learn more about instrumentation cables, heat-resistant cables, earth cables, and other products, feel free to visit our website or contact us at any time.
