HACCP International Food Safe Certified Knives for the Flaking Industry
Drum dryers and flakers are used within the food industry to convert a liquid food slurry into dry solid flakes. This is commonly seen within the production of food ingredients such as potato starch. Drum dryers producing potato starch require an efficient cleaning system, accompanied by a high-quality scraper blade to maintain product integrity.
Scraper blades, also referred to as flaking knives in the food processing industry, are typically designed by OEMs to be reground and reused. This practice can lead to significant food safety concerns as these reground knives are transported between workshops and production areas, where the blades are exposed to elements of the manufacturing environment such as dust, debris, and other contaminants. Using reground knives can increase the risk of metal contamination in the end-product and ultimately, the overall safety, quality and integrity of the final product can be compromised.
Kadant addresses these concerns by offering a line of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) International certified flaking knives, which are specifically designed to comply with food safety standards and regulations. HACCP International is an accredited, global certification body that independently certifies and endorses equipment, materials, and services sold worldwide to the regulated food industry.
Using a combination of advanced material technology and expertise in scraper blade technology, Kadant’s range of HACCP International food safe certified knives offer a single-use solution with significantly increased blade lifetime. This eliminates the need to regrind the knives, while still running cost-effective operations.
Furthermore, less loading force is required when using Kadant flaking knives, resulting in extended drum life. The knives are typically changed within two minutes which reduces production downtime and equates to higher yields.
Customers within the potato starch industry have found improved product quality and consistency with a Kadant knife compared to a traditionally reground knife. Kadant conducted trials with a manufacturer of drum dried infant cereals confirmed a significant reduction in metal contamination within the food product when using Kadant flaking knives. Additionally, the infant cereals producer found Kadant’s single-use scraper blades were much easier to handle, and quicker to change safely.
In certain applications and operating conditions, European customers were able to see a return on investment in as little as 12 months after switching to Kadant’s food safe flaking knives.
Kadant has a selection of HACCP International certified knives available for flaking, including Carbon Steel™, which is available with release coating in the UK, Stainlessflex™ and ProFlake™. These blades work in conjunction with Kadant’s AccuFlake™ PRO blade holder, also certified by HACCP International for food safety. The AccuFlake PRO blade holder is designed to assist drum flakers with streamlining the flaking process while minimizing the risks of contamination within food production.
