Coatings for the Food Industry | Surface technologies

solutions for industrial food processing: serving over 600 customers

indispensable food-grade technologies

Surface hardening, annealing and coating are essential when it comes to food processing. Creating a separating layer between work equipment and the food is vital for three key reasons: it helps ensure a long service life for machines and tools; it protects the food from contaminations; and it ensures contact areas can be cleaned easily and hygienically.

benefits of food industry

providing application-oriented solutions

We provide our customers with the solutions they need. Whether it’s non-stick coatings, slide coatings, traction, temperature, strength and wear resistance or food-grade corrosion protection, we provide results for all process requirements related to food production.

Slide coating for spacers and transport rails for cutting, transporting and portioning of fruit bars
Non-stick coating for forming rolls and transport chutes for the production of caramel candy
Non-stick coating for machine parts for the production of pizza cheese
Vacuum brazing does not cause any undesirable surface reactions and the machine parts remain clean and bare during the process.
Stainihard® for improve the mechanical properties of the product

non-stick properties lead to easier processing and cleaning

Without non-stick coatings, sticky or creamy foods adhere to containers and tools. Nozzles get clogged, weighing and filling systems deviate from their target values. So, when it comes to the production of food, we use the advantages offered by non-stick coatings while at the same time creating easy-to-clean surfaces.

Using extremely hardwearing polymers, our specialists create smooth and virtually pore-free surfaces with excellent non-stick properties. Release agents and aggressive cleaners will become outdated, because all you have to do is wipe down the robust protective layer with a clean cloth. Not only will this cut costs for consumables, it will significantly reduce the time your machines need to be offline for cleaning.

And there are other advantages: polymer and fluoropolymer surfaces offer excellent protection against chemicals and high processing temperatures: even acids and alkalis are unable to damage the surface coating. To ensure a long service life for the tools and containers, the non-stick coating is firmly anchored in the base material. With our high-quality non-stick and slide coatings, our engineers have developed first-class corrosion and wear protection. This type of surface finishing reduces the efforts spent on the servicing and maintenance of your production plant.

Our food-safe solution can be applied to a wide range of base materials:

Stainless steel
Steel
Aluminum
Ceramics
Copper

Approved for food contact by the FDA, our plastic surface coating fulfills all relevant standards and regulations. Non-toxicity is guaranteed.

Each production process comes with unique tasks. In the following three case studies, we provide a snapshot of how we help customers.

wear resistance and anti-galling properties

There where parts are made from austenitic or duplex stainless steel, an important disadvantage is its relatively low hardness, low wear resistance and sensitivity to galling (cold welding). This limits its use in high-end mechanical applications in various applications where these properties are very important. The reason why a martensitic stainless steel is not chosen is that, although these materials have a significantly higher hardness and wear resistance, they have a much lower corrosion resistance.

STAINIHARD^® NC

For a number of years there has been a process at Aalberts surface technologies. called Stainihard® NC. This process ensures a strong improvement of the wear resistance and the fatigue strength, but also prevents against the well-known “galling”. This while the corrosion resistance remains unchanged and in some cases is even improved. It also offers advantages in places where machines need to be cleaned regularly. Here Stainihard® NC ensures that foodstuffs, such as milk products, stick less and can therefore be removed more easily and more quickly.

Generally said, it offers the industry an excellent solution when wear and galling resistance must go hand in hand with good to very good corrosion resistance.

CASE STUDY: SHAPING ROLLERS AND TRANSPORT CHUTES

Caramels are made from a chewy, sticky sugar mixture. During the production process, the raw mixture is flattened, cut into portions and wrapped in foil. The production process is subject to repeated interruptions, since it is constantly required to clean the shaping rollers and transport chutes. Naturally, this results in machine downtimes.

TempCoat^® , a high-quality, non-stick slide coating, can optimize your production processes, as improved non-stick properties keep the caramel mixture from sticking to the rollers. Thanks to the low frictional resistance, the candies quickly slide through the transport chute and onto the conveyor belt. Interruptions for cleaning or removing any jams are thus avoided. Food-grade surface coatings by Aalberts surface technologies stands for optimized production times and reduced production costs.

CASE STUDY: MACHINE PARTS FOR MANUFACTURING PIZZA CHEESE

During the manufacturing of pizza cheese, different containers and equipment are constantly exposed to oils and salts. The oil contained in the cheese sticks to any surface, while the salt affects the materials. This means quick and easy cleaning is imperative. Usually made of stainless steel, the machine parts make it difficult to apply most non-stick coatings. Friction wear damages the coating, while oil and liquids penetrate crevices between the steel and the upper layer. The result is damage to the layer and surface flaking.

Our PlasmaCoat^® coating is extremely wear-resistant and hard. It creates a particular surface structure and prevents the coating from suffering damage at the junction. And the long lifespan of our PlasmaCoat^® coating saves money thanks to reduced downtimes and lower costs from spare parts. The machine components are less prone to corrosion and wear and need to be cleaned less frequently.

CASE STUDY: SPACER PLATES AND GUIDE RAILS

Fruit and muesli bars are made from a chewy, sticky raw mixture. After the dough has been rolled into sheets, it is cut into long strips and then into portions. It is then sealed in foil and fed into the sales packaging. The production process is subject to frequent interruptions, such as through machine downtimes caused by the dough sheets’ sticking to each other, or the fruit bar portions’ getting stuck in the transport chute.

Spacer plates and guide rails coated with TempCoat^® result in a significantly improved production process. Improved non-stick properties keep the dough sheets from sticking to each other. And thanks to improved slide properties and the low frictional resistance, the fruit bars can easily pass through the transport chute and reach the packaging station. Interruptions required for cleaning or removing any jams are thus avoided. The result: reduced production costs.

Vacuum brazing does not cause any undesirable surface reactions and the machine parts remain clean and bare during the process.

Slide coating for spacers and transport rails for cutting, transporting and portioning of fruit bars

Non-stick coating for forming rolls and transport chutes for the production of caramel candy

Non-stick coating for machine parts for the production of pizza cheese

Stainihard® for improve the mechanical properties of the product

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we are your partner in the food industry

We have two objectives: your satisfaction and your success. That’s why we adapt our technologies to your requirements.

As one of the world’s leading surface technologies specialists, we cooperate with customers from across the globe to create specific solutions and develop innovations.

We schedule our appointments to match your production processes, so that you know you’ll receive your order on time, and as ordered.