Page 38 - CleanIndiaJournal June Digital Issue

Facility ManageMent
Roof cleaning in animal
feed units is very
challenging. I have not
found any systematic
solution for this problem
in India.
JUNE 2023•Clean India Journal
38 www.cleanindiajournal.com
The fumigant is introduced at process, steam is not used, and
specific points in the silo, after there is no natural disinfection
which the latter is kept locked for by virtue of steam treatment. In
days. After the seal is opened, an these parts, equipment needs to be
aeration fan is run to drive out opened up, cleaned and sprayed
remaining fumes. This can be a with disinfecting chemicals to
challenging, costly procedure. prevent mould formation and
microbial growth.
Steam treatment
During the production process, Housekeeping quality
grain size gradually reduces until The size of animal feed
it becomes a fine powder, and manufacturing units, and the
moisture is progressively lost. amount of dust generated in them,
Raw material is procured at a is massive. Conventional cleaning
particular price according to the machines such as a vacuum
weight/volume; loss of moisture cleaner may not be able to cope
reduces both. Our target is to keep with this much burden.
moisture content intact. Thus, most of the material
Steam treatment fulfils three conveying equipment is fitted
purposes: it restores moisture with aspiration units. These are
content, partially cooks the feed
equipped with powerful ID fans,
while gelatinising it and also acts bag filters and air-jet purging
as a sterilising agent. systems which helps in recycling
The finished product is in
the form of pellets which need the generated dust within the
process itself.
to be cooled down to ambient However, maintaining
temperature. For this, we use a production and warehouse floor
cooler – a reverse fan of sorts – hygiene is of utmost importance.
which draws hot air from inside The floors need to be kept
the production equipment and spick and span throughout each
blows it outside. In a humid production shift; systematic
climate, the moisture content of housekeeping SOP, schedule and
the pellets is least affected, but in charters need to be maintained on
drier conditions, the pellets lose the production floor along with
moisture considerably; this too is a vigorous supervision to ensure
challenge. correct housekeeping practices and
In other cold zones of the their effectiveness.