Quality Standards for filling machines. Part 2 of our blog series: Construction

After taking a closer look at the rules and regulations applying to honey filling machines, we now shall look at the design aspects based on the core piece of a filling machine, the pump head.

This will enable you to make an initial assessment of the quality of the machine on offer before you buy a filling machine.

Generally speaking:

  • Surfaces should be designed for effortless cleaning, with no gaps, unreachable areas, fractures, or recesses where product or cleaning remnants could accumulate. This requirement also extends to the junctions between individual components.
  • All individual parts to be cleaned should be designed in such a way that cleaning can be carried out effectively.
  • Components to be cleaned should be practical and easy to dismantle.

We have solved these requirements for the gear pump head of the Honeyaid® honey filling machine as follows:

  • The material has smooth surfaces without indentations or gaps.
  • The pump head can be dismantled and disassembled into its individual parts within three minutes, after which all parts are cleaned in the dishwasher.
  • It is made of certified food-safe materials: POM, AISI 316L and silicone.
  • Seals, screws, lids, gears and drive shaft can be reordered from our online shop at any time in case of wear or defects. We recommend replacing all seals after 20,000 kg or at least once a year.

Our tip: If you would also like to disinfect the parts that come into contact with food, we will be happy to advise you on suitable products.

In contrast, the gear pump head of the honey filling machine sourced from the Far East mentioned in the first part of our blog series presents the subsequent issues.

Gear pump head of the honey filling machine “made in China":

  • 1 The pump head is permanently installed and cannot be easily dismantled. The lid cannot be dismantled or can only be dismantled with difficulty due to the seals (light blue) over the screws. Regular and thorough cleaning of the pump head is hardly possible.
  • 2 When water is pumped through (to enable some kind of cleaning), water and product residues collect in the pump head. This leads to contamination of the product.
  • 3 The pipe bends made of die-cast stainless steel protrude into the pump head at the top and bottom. According to the Machinery Directive for Foodstuffs, these spaces should be explicitly avoided. They are only permitted if they are very easy to clean. Here, however, the inlets and outlets are anchored with Teflon tape for a permanent fit.
  • 4 Hexagon head screws are not approved for contact with food because the screw heads cannot be cleaned.

Other components of the Honeyaid® honey filling machine:

The remaining elements of the Honeyaid® honey filling machine also adhere to the necessary legal standards. Both the machine and its stand are constructed using stainless steel. However, there are additional particulars concerning the assembly of the individual components that require careful attention in this aspect as well.

Once more, it is crucial to ensure that the filling machine’s spraying area is devoid of substantial openings (as depicted in the illustrative example below). This precaution is necessary to prevent the accumulation of contaminants in these inaccessible regions over time:

Our tip: Before buying, make sure that the manufacturer complies with the hygiene and cleanability requirements of the machine as stipulated by the European Machinery Directive in the field of food processing machinery.

All parts of our blog series Quality Standards for filling machines or What do I have to consider when buying a honey filling machine?