Optimum knife handling

Safety and hygiene in the cycle. New cleaning concept ensures safe and smooth operation

The best possible hygiene is the task and a rational approach is the key to the solution. Especially when it comes to cleaning knives, protective gloves and protective workwear. This is the experience of every company that deals with the continuous provision of knives, protective gloves and stab-protective aprons. This was also the case for a meat product manufacturer in northern Thüringen, Germany, who wanted to optimise both cleaning and the associated work steps in the cutting plant.

Optimised processes with the best possible hygiene - Cleaning of knives, stab-protection aprons and gloves as well as the associated work steps. - ID 22-61615

Task

  • Compared to the previous practice, the concept of cleaning and provision processes developed by Mohn now comes into play. The different work steps have been separated and run one after the other.
  • Since then, there have been no disruptions in practice. If a component fails, the operating sequence can still proceed by means of manual backup solutions. Knives, gloves and protective waistcoats each take a separate route into the cleaning process. This way, the material flow of knives and protective clothing can be separated.
  • In the previous process, all parts were included in the washing system and the knife basket, protective gloves and protective aprons were cleaned in one step. However, this method caused constant disruptions and slowed down the operating process considerably.

Project description and special features

  • In the solution implemented by Mohn, all items to be cleaned are treated separately and the work steps are designed in a straight line and without intersections. This means that there are no more sources of interference.
  • As a rule, cleaning starts as soon as the employee enters the cleaning room with his knife baskets from the production areas. At this point, he starts the manual pre-cleaning of the gloves. Afterwards, these and the stab-protection aprons are each thrown into a waiting tub trolley next to the washing system. Next, the automatic cleaning is started.
  • At the same time, the knife basket travels through the washing system and is removed by an employee at a central point in the outlet. Here the baskets are hung on a trolley and driven to the grinding shop. While the knives are being removed from the baskets and sharpened in the grinding shop, a qualified employee takes the trolley with the pre-cleaned protective clothing and cleans it centrally on two cleaning devices that are ready for this purpose and optimised for use with protective clothing.
  • When this is done, the clean utensils are hung on the trolley and are thus quickly ready for the next cycle of use. After the knives have been checked and approved, they are taken out of the grinding shop and run through the washing facility again to remove the grinding dust.
  • Before the knives are used again, the knife baskets pass through a sterilisation tunnel to sterilise them. The sterilisation is carried out using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water that has been specially adapted for this purpose.
  • The employee is thus always handed a safe, sterile knife basket at the beginning of his shift.

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