Lehmann & Voss, Hamburg, Germany, has recently been supplying LUVOCOM® high-performance detectable compound to replace a non-detectable PA 6 material previously used by Dutch bucket elevator manufacturer Apollo Group in its elevator buckets. When elevator buckets are worn or damaged through routine wear they may contaminate the food with fragments and particles of various sizes. The potential for contamination has increased industry demand for all plastic parts that come into contact with food directly or indirectly to be detectable and compliant with food industry standards and specifications.

 

 “Our bucket elevators with LUVOCOM buckets are currently being used by a number of global food manufacturers including chocolate and candy producers to ensure product safety for their consumers”, said Bertil Elders, spare parts manager with Apollo. LUVOCOM is compliant with food contact regulations such as EU 10/2011 and FDA CFR 21.177. It is coloured blue to make visual traceability easier and it meets the mechanical requirements of the buckets including stiffness and impact resistance. Because LUVOCOM 3-9001/BL/L is magnetic, the presence of fragments or particles can be detected by common metal or x-ray detectors used in food production lines. For example, if a broken piece of the bucket as small as 1mm were to contaminate the food, it can be detected later in the process by the detection line and separated automatically. www.lehvoss.de 

 

 

Apollo elevator bucket incorporating detectable LUVOCOM 3-9001/BL/L high-performance compound