Member Article

Yorkshire engineering firm HpE Process invests £250k in food manufacturing breakthrough

Yorkshire engineering firm HpE Process has invested more than £250k in a new product that will help food manufacturers cut production costs, improve hygiene standards and traceability.

According to the firm, food production has been hit in recent years as sub standard stainless steel tubing has made its way into the manufacturing process.

The Versaline range from HpE Process Ltd, of Leeds, improves maintenance intervals while safeguarding food quality and could dramatically cut maintenance costs for many producers.

MD, Andrew Allman has been working closely with key customers to develop a solution that was financially and ethically sustainable.

Versaline follows eight years of research and development trialling different products from across Europe and Asia.

He said: “Tubes in food production are subject to unusually frequent expansion and contraction due to the nature of food processing and cleaning regimes.

“Food manufacturers often ask suppliers to supply or replace tube without giving a full material specification.

“This leaves them wide open to abuse as suppliers use cheaper tubing that is not just sub standard but not made for food production. In one case we have seen car exhaust piping supplied!

“While manufacturers will mark their tubing, UK stockholders often use third party polishers and this process removes the manufacturers’ marks.

The material is then un-traceable and indistinguishable from exhaust or architectural tube. In the event of a failure, food producers are left to carry the financial and reputational implications of contamination or breakdown.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .