BFM® improves hygiene & safety and reduces downtime & costs
From India to Arrakis, we sure love our spices and nowhere in the world is demand for spices more evident than in the United States, both in consumption and imports. Per capita consumption of spices in the U.S. has tripled over the last 50 years. According to the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA), approximately 877 million pounds of spices are used in the United States each year, and ASTA is currently urging the FDA to include spices under its definition of "healthy" foods.
SPICE MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The manufacturing of spices involves cleaning, drying, roasting, grinding, blending, and grading which involves careful selection of intermediate storage silos, hammer mills, roller mills, blenders, fine grinders, and a variety of pneumatic conveying systems to efficiently and safely process spices. However, even with custom-designed pieces of equipment, the transition points between machinery remain notoriously problematic areas for potential product loss and subsequent downtime.
Common problems with traditional hose-clamp style sleeves:
CHALLENGE: Worker Safety
Spices contain a wide variety of substances with potential allergenicity. High concentrations of spice dust can irritate and allergen employees who produce spices. For example, a study in Grenada found that nutmeg workers had respiratory problems, including dry cough and shortness of breath, due to high levels of dust and mold.
CHALLENGE: Product Loss
One of the key drivers of efficiency in spice processing plants is being able to maximize product flow through your process line with minimal wastage or production downtime. Product leaks through traditional connectors such as sleeves, boots or bellows, flex-connectors are an unnecessary waste that drive up costs and reduce efficiency.
SOLUTION: 100% Sealed Dust-Tight BFM® Connector
One of the most significant advantages of the BFM® fitting system is its ability to eliminate product loss during product transfer.
Improve plant hygiene and worker safety while reducing product loss by switching to the BFM® fitting system. Unlike traditional alternatives that use hose clamps and gaskets, the BFM® fitting connectors create a secure and dust-tight seal. Featuring a unique patented spigot and snap-in connector, this innovative design ensures internal surfaces are smooth with no possibility of leakage or product build-up.
The BFM® fitting flexible connector system is ideally suited for all oscillating, gyrating or vibratory equipment.
BFM® fitting's unique design creates a perfect seal every time and is able to withstand pressure and pulling forces (oscillation and vibration) far better than old style clamped systems.
BFM® Seeflex 040E connector is used extensively on oscillating machinery in processing plants all over the world. The Seelfex 040E is a transparent polyurethane that is strong and flexible. It has superior wear resistance, and outlasts and outperforms traditional sleeves by a wide margin.
BFM®'s internal snap-fit design makes changeovers a breeze.
Reduce downtime and increase productivity with BFM® fitting's snap-fit design that allows changeovers without the use of any tools.
Ideal for use Clean in Place (CIP) applications.
Cleaning and maintenance during CIP is made incredibly easy with BFM® connector's tight seal, impervious media, and snap-fit design.
BFM® Seeflex 040E has excellent abrasion and chemical resistance. The connector can be used during the CIP process and quickly removed for cleaning any residual chemicals.
Regulatory Compliance
BFM® fitting products have been independently tested and conform with the leading internationally recognised health and safety legislation.
BFM® have a wide range of products that conform to important global standards such as 3A, USDA, FDA, EC & ATEX.