One way to overcome these challenges is by investing in the right materials handling equipment. Yale Lift Truck Technologies can help your food processing operations with a selection of equipment designed to help reduce downtime and operating costs.
Key factors in food processing
Food processing is a vital and exacting industry that transforms raw materials into safe, nutritious, and appealing food products. To achieve this, food processing companies need to consider various factors that affect the quality, efficiency, and cost of their operations. Materials handling may have a significant impact on food safety, productivity, and profitability.
· Safety and hygiene: Food processing requires strict adherence to local food safety and hygiene standards. Materials handling equipment and processes must prevent contamination, spoilage, and damage of food products.
· Efficiency and productivity: High-volume, high-speed, and high-variety production is a hallmark of food production. Materials handling equipment and processes must enable the smooth and fast movement, storage, and control of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods. This may involve the use of automated, intelligent, and flexible systems. It may also require the optimisation of layout, design, and coordination of materials handling operations.
· Cost and quality: Food processing faces similar challenges to other industries, including rising labour costs, fluctuating demand, changing consumer preferences, and increasing competition. Materials handling equipment and processes may help to reduce operational costs.
Yale Solutions meet Food Industry Challenges
Yale offers a range of materials handling equipment that are well suited to food processing applications. Whether it’s moving raw materials or transporting finished goods, here are some of the ways that Yale equipment can effectively support food processing companies.
· Food-grade lubricants package: Yale lift trucks can be equipped with food-grade lubricants packages, preventing incidental contact between food and potentially dangerous lubricants, reducing the risk of contamination and product recalls.
· Corrosion protection: Harsh operational environments with corrosive fluids can affect food safety and productivity. Yale lift trucks can be specified with an optional zinc-coating on specific truck components to reduce rust contamination, decreasing associated downtime.
· Clean power: Lithium-ion power offers clean technology while eliminating emissions and the probability of acid, fumes and spills around food products, making it the obvious choice for some food processing operations.
Yale’s lithium-ion batteries also have a useful life up to three times longer than lead-acid batteries while also powering the trucks for longer durations.
· Enhanced operator comfort: Yale platform pallet trucks offer extended operator platforms with a large floor space, floor mats reducing shock and vibration, and exclusive platform and fork lights for increased visibility in low-lit areas.
· Warehouse simulation: Streamlined flowthrough and efficient use of site storage are vital in food processing operations. Effective scenario planning through up-to-date visualisation and data-driven simulation tools from Yale could help you better optimise your infrastructure while remaining flexible through unexpected changes.
Boost your food processing performance with Yale
Independent Yale dealers possess the local and industry knowledge to best provide support, advice, and customised solutions for your operation. From cold storage and meat processing to dairies and bakeries, Yale dealers can help you find the best lift truck for your application and budget.
To learn more about how Yale can transform your food processing operations, contact your independent local Yale dealer partner today.