This article first appeared in the September 2013 issue of Food Manufacturing.
The Food Manufacturing Brainstorm features industry experts sharing their perspectives on issues critical to the overall food industry marketplace. This month, they ask: What safety factors should food manufacturers consider when implementing filtration systems in their facilities?
Eliminating the risk of product contamination ensures the safety of the consumer. Because compressed air is used in many food manufacturing processes where the air comes in direct contact with the product, such as ingredient mixing and pneumatic conveyance, completely eliminating the risk of oil contamination through use of oil-free air compressors is the best solution for protecting the consumer. An alternate solution is the use of oil-injected compressors plus multi-stage compressed air filters, which lowers the oil content considerably, though not completely.