Hygiene is a top priority at a facility which processes more than 40,000 tonnes of chicken a day.
ASSDA member and Accredited Fabricator Stainless Metal Craft has recently completed work on the design and fabrication of stainless steel equipment for Inghams’ processing plant at Edinburgh Park, north of Adelaide, and hatchery at Monarto, south of Adelaide.
The projects incorporate numerous custom-designed installations, including a series of 300mm wide channelled drainage at the processing plant in runs of 60m that will withstand the weight of forklifts, and slot drains with integrated sumps at the hatchery that will tolerate extremely harsh cleaning compounds.
The slot drains, in particular, required innovative tool work, because of the size and depth required.
Freezer coving (a hygiene requirement to prevent food from being caught where the wall meets the floor) is usually made from epoxy-coated concrete, but there was concern this would wear down with ongoing snap freezing of the chickens. Instead, about 180m of 3mm grade 316 were used.
Strict regulations within the food industry also determined the need for grade 316 stainless steel fire hose reel cabinets.
Mr Bunt said most of the stainless steel was supplied by ASSDA members Atlas Specialty Metals and Midway Metals.
www.assda.asn.au