How digital advances can boost water safety to protect the food processing industry
Sector: Industry and infrastructure
Challenge: Alleviating safety concerns
Meeting stringent criteria around hygiene is a key challenge for the food and beverage industry where consumer safety is vital.
From the preparation of fresh produce, dairy and meat to producing soft drinks, juices, bottled water and alcoholic drinks, we understand the essential role water plays both as an ingredient and to support the whole process, from cleaning and sanitising to cooling and transporting. Effective food processing and bottling can be hindered by environmental factors like temperature fluctuation or abrasive solids, but Xylem can offer tailored solutions to not only minimise wear and tear on assets but to optimise water systems to guarantee output complies with safety standards.
Our digital approaches for treating and pumping can offer manufacturers complete peace of mind, from remote monitoring to ensure requirements are met around the clock and failures avoided well in advance, to self-cleaning and self-regulating smart equipment that saves energy without compromising on quality.
Treating water to the highest standard
The latest ultraviolet (UV) treatments, like the Wedeco Spektron range, have been specifically designed to meet the most stringent disinfection requirements of the food and beverage industry and suit industrial purposes with flow rates up to 150 m³/h. The chemical-free systems - which can be used for both water and wastewater applications - are capable of killing microorganisms including cryptosporidium without affecting the taste or smell of products.
Wedeco's ozone oxidation solutions for water treatment can also remove harmful substances without any dangerous by-products, making them ideal for cleaning and rinsing applications where a minimal residual is necessary to prevent biofilm growth.
Improving water processing
Xylem’s monitoring and control digital platforms allow plant operators to gain insights into the performance of assets, even remotely, to ensure water quality is maintained throughout the manufacturing process. The data can be used to detect changes in pH levels, for example, which could compromise the safety of products and consumers; it can also be used to inform preventative maintenance, meaning any potential failures can be detected long before they occur.
To guarantee the effective and energy-efficient movement of water within a plant, our innovative next-generation Variable Speed Drives offer the most robust and reliable solution: by adjusting speed according to demand, it reduces wear and tear, protects against dry running and also uses up to 70% less energy.
Disinfecting wastewater safely
Producing wastewater that complies with rigorous safety standards can be a challenge, particularly for the meat industry. UV systems can help to add an additional layer of treatment to ensure even the most chlorine-hardy microorganisms are banished.
And we know that systems need to provide safe operation for the toughest applications, which is why our Xylem-brand Flygt N-pumps use patented N-technology with a self-cleaning impeller for consistent use that food and beverage manufacturers can depend upon.
Ensuring consumer safety
Our smart solutions put consumer safety at the forefront of manufacturing to help maintain trust in the UK’s food industry and avert costly system failures or breaches of discharge requirements.
We specialise in the latest technology to help plant operators meet the challenges they face daily, from remote monitoring to ensure every drop of water meets expected standards to advanced pumping systems that can reduce operations when needed to save energy and resources.