Belt scrapers are essential on food processing lines for removing product waste and debris from belt surfaces and maintaining hygienic conditions. However, since most scraper bars are made of metal and hard plastic, they can easily damage the belt surface on contact, leading to cracks and scratches that are potential breeding grounds for bacteria and can compromise food safety standards. Damaged belt surfaces also reduce its service life.
Habasit has recently introduced a superior belt-friendly TPU scraper bar for fabric and monolithic belts. Efficient in the removal of product residue, TPU scraper bars ensure better hygiene, are safer for belt surfaces, and easier to clean. In addition, when scraping is done correctly, it also helps to improve operational efficiency for food manufacturers.
In technical context, residue build-up on conveyor belt can lead to a loss of sprocket engagement, or tracking issues from residue build-up on roller drums causing belt edge damage and increased motor wear and energy consumption. Poor scraping that leaves product residue on the belt can result in spillage and material accumulation on the return roller, posing a potential risk of bacterial growth and cross contamination.
In the past, the food processing industry has put up for years with a major disadvantage of rigid metal and hard plastic scraper bars. When cracked and scratched, the belt becomes harder to clean, and cracks can become a place for bacteria to grow. Furthermore, such damage reduces the self-cleaning effect of surfaces with excellent release. Belts may also need more frequent replacement, meaning additional costs for new belts and line stoppages.
The 3 key advantages of Habasit TPU scraper bars are as follows:
• No risk of damaging the belt surface – due to the reduced pressure applied between the scraping bar and the belt.
• More efficient cleaning – since the TPU scraping tip follows the belt surface at all times. The flexible tip also offers an advantage over metal or hard plastic scrapers mounted on a ?exible rig, as rigid material on a tip lets belt irregularities push the scraping bar away from the roller, resulting in uneven cleaning.
• Easier cleaning – as liquids like oil, water and detergents are better dealt with by a flexible TPU scraper bar which maintains continuous contact with the belt surface.
Habasit’s new belt scraper bars are available in TPU Polyester and TPU Polyether, with a range of tip hardnesses from 85 to 95 ShA. The TPU Polyether scraper bars are particularly suitable for applications involving higher temperatures and humidity, where hydrolysis resistance is required. The TPU scraper bars come in a standard 2.4 metre length that can be adjusted to customer requirements. X-ray and metal detectable versions are available for additional food safety requirements. The TPU scraper bars are also food-contact compliant and fulfill both EU and FDA requirements.
