V-Tech Engineering: Sanitation is number one R&D focus

Indiana-based V-Tech Engineering manufactures equipment to order for the bakery and snacks sectors including tunnel and rack ovens, conveying systems and pretzel cookers.

Speaking to BakeryandSnacks.com at Snaxpo 2013 in Tampa Bay Florida, president of the firm Bo Alstoft said R&D efforts continue to be concentrated on sanitation.

Problems such as cross-contamination and product build-up in the snacks and bakery industry are common and our development efforts are dedicated to addressing these, Alstoft said.

“Accessibility is everything. If it’s accessible, it is easier to clean and get to… The snack food industry traditionally has a lot larger build-up of product that can accumulate in corners and eventually cause fires.”​

“...We are trying to simplify the equipment so there are no crevasses, cracks or places where product can accumulate – this has been our way forward in R&D.” ​

V-Tech has designed large and simple doors on its tunnel ovens and avoided adding “unnecessary parts”​ to its equipment lines.

Detachable parts for easy cleaning​

The company president also said it had developed stainless steel, moveable conveyors. “You can move them out and clean them elsewhere, rather than in the actual manufacturing area,”​ he said.

Alstoft said that designing all equipment from scratch in 3D helped in its efforts to design clean-friendly equipment.