A recipe for efficiency: ABB in the food and beverage industry

On their way from the farm to the supermarket, food and beverages must pass through numerous processing and handling stages. Every time you pick a carton off a shelf, there was probably ABB technology involved in making it. ABB serves the food and beverage industry with numerous products and services, ranging from measurements through motors and drives to control and electrical systems.

The motors that make food

The manufacture of food and beverages involves extensive movement. Ingredients need to be ground or mixed, stirred or shaken, kneaded or centrifuged, as well as moved from one manufacturing stage to the next using pipes or conveyors. All this is the domain of electric motors. Motors in food and beverage have particularly high requirements regarding hygiene and cleanliness. They must be easy to wash, while offering appropriate levels and properly rated ingress protection and materials.  Motors also need to be highly reliable. A failed motor can bring an entire production line to a halt, with costly and far-reaching repercussions across the manufacturing chain. Understanding the three zones (dry, splash and food contact) and how to select the right motor for your application can ensure uptime to your food processing operation.

Motors also need to be energy efficient. Lowering energy consumption saves on both emissions and electricity bills. Although electric motors are by nature already very efficient (typically above 90 percent efficiency), the sheer number of motors in use adds up to significant energy consumption - accounting for about 45 percent of overall electricity usage.

Efficiency classes for motors are defined in the IEC-60034 standard. IE1, IE2, IE3 etc. are progressively higher efficiency levels. To meet IE3, for example, a motor must achieve 96 percent efficiency under certain conditions. IE4 requires 15 percent lower losses than IE3. The European Union has mandated that from July 2023 all new motors installed under certain conditions fulfill at least the IE4 efficiency class. ABB has exceeded this requirement, introducing IE5 motors in 2019 (20 percent lower losses than an IE4) and achieving IE6 in 2024 (another 20 percent reduction in losses). 

Tying hygiene and efficiency with Ty-Rap® TyGenic™ cable ties

Well-known Ty-Rap cable ties are designed to be installed without tools and provide a reliable, Grip of Steel™. Found in most toolboxes, this highly versatile, yet humble invention, was introduced in 1958 by ABB Installation Products, formerly Thomas & Betts. 

But did you know ABB offers over 25 varieties of Ty-Rap cable ties, including specially designed solutions for the food and beverage industry? ABB’s Ty-Rap® TyGenic™ antimicrobial* detectable cable ties have been tested to be over 99 percent effective at inhibiting microbial growth that can occur in the presence of heat, moisture and organic material. Molded from an FDA and EU food contact-approved, halogen-free nylon resin blend, Ty-Rap TyGenic cable ties are designed with UV-resistant material for operating temperatures up to 85 °C.

And in the unlikely case a Ty-Rap cable tie falls into the food, the ties are colored a distinct deep blue for easy identification, while also containing particles that can trigger x-ray and metal detection systems. 

Sweetening control-system chores in the sugar industry

Every industry has its specific challenges as well as domain knowledge and experience. ABB supports the sugar industry with its ABB Ability™ System 800xA Sugar Library, providing optimization and operator support for all process area requirements including raw material handling, purification, crystallization, sugar handling, as well as evaporation and filtration. 

A high-performance human-machine interface supports fast detection and resolution of process disturbances. The system provides the right information at the right time, tracking trends and providing visual insights, helping plant engineers and operators to focus on continuous improvement.

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