F
Bad practice goes against the grain by Tim Doggett, Director, Clugston Distribution, UK
Tim Doggett, Director at Clugston Distribution, one of the UK’s leading independent logistics companies and part of the Clugston Group, discusses the vital role silos play within the bakery industry and outlines the importance of partnering with a reputable silo evacuation service provider.
I
n any production line or process, the potential for contamination is a serious risk and in the event of such, swift and effective action is vital. This particularly applies to a food grade silo, where immediate action must be undertaken to prevent a contamination further affecting the production line, to remove the product and clean the silo, all of which can result in significant costs and downtime. Therefore, it is vital to have a thorough and effective contingency plan, which includes a bulk powder evacuation service provider who can rapidly and effectively react to minimise the risk to business.
84 | August 2018 - Milling and Grain
Only vacuum tankers operated by an experienced service provider should be used for both planned transfers and emergency situations such as damaged or contaminated silos. The use of a food grade-only silo tanker will maintain the correct hygiene requirements, whatever the reason for the evacuation.
Keep your powder dry: Contamination issues
A variety of reasons can lead to contamination and not just from what goes into the silo. Even issues such as poor design or ventilation can create warm and humid areas that can encourage bacteria to grow which means it is important to ensure regular and effective maintenance regimes. Contamination of a silo or storage area is of the highest concern and a serious risk for many large-scale bakeries and food processors. Once a potential contamination occurs or is identified, the product will have to be evacuated and dealt with correctly, resulting in the possible loss of product and in turn, significant costs or damage to reputation. In addition to the initial setback in business operations, procedures must be undertaken to subsequently clean the silo. Any evacuation service must be provided swiftly, efficiently and be available 24/7 to minimise potential downtime, while at the same time maintaining the highest food hygiene standards.