All-round hygienic solutions for the meat industry

Highlights of the fair included the new stainless-steel versions of the AX and KX small and compact enclosure series and the VX25 enclosure system.

Food manufacturers’ production facilities must be as easy as possible to clean and at the same time so good (process-safe) that they can guarantee the greatest possible safety for the end consumer. The basic requirement is that machines and systems are designed so that they are easy to clean. To make this possible, Rittal offers appropriate housing and enclosure systems for every hygiene zone.

For example, Rittal presented its comprehensive ‘Hygienic Design’ range of stainless-steel housings, enclosures and climate control systems for hygienically sensitive areas where cleaning has to take place regularly. Furthermore, the company will be presenting the brand-new stainless-steel range of its AX and KX small and compact enclosures, which will be available from autumn 2019, as well as its VX25 enclosure system.

The new VX25 large enclosure system is now available in a 100% stainless-steel version to meet the highest demands of corrosion resistance. In addition to the frame structure, doors, panels and the gland plate, all the external parts such as 180° hinges and comfort handle variants are also made of stainless-steel.

While this type of enclosure has IP 55 and NEMA 12 protection categories as default, the optional NEMA 4X version with its corresponding IP 66 protection category offers even greater security. This means that the electrical and electronic equipment in the VX25 is reliably protected against both dust and splashes as well as jets of water, even under demanding conditions.

The new ‘Blue e+’ cooling units are now also available in stainless-steel should VX25 stainless-steel enclosures also need to be fitted with energy-efficient cooling technology for use in the foodstuffs industry.

With the new AK, KX and VX25 housing and enclosure systems, plant constructors are prepared for digitalisation. This way the enclosures incorporate digital equipment and thus fit ideally into the digital value chain of panel building and switchgear construction.

For example, besides the high-quality 3D data and configuration tools, QR codes on all panels to be machined simplify their integration into the production workflow. This permits modern digital monitoring, from the receipt of incoming goods to completion.

From the enclosure constructor to the mechanical engineer to the end customer, up-to-date data is always available for the fast ordering of spare parts, economical retrofitting projects or easy planning for plant expansions.