7/5/06
WINCHESTER, Va. - Conventional modular plastic conveyor belt designs can trap food and cleaning solution residues in the hinge area between the rod and the module. These residues can contaminate your product and, over time, aggressive cleaning solutions can weaken plastic rods. By improving upon the competition's all-plastic belts, Ashworth developed the first and only spiral/turn-curve belt that is NSF Tested and Certified, as well as USDA Accepted for cleanability performance - the Advantage 120 and 200 series of belts! No other spiral belt manufacturer has achieved certification or acceptance. The competition has been tested, but only the Advantage is proven cleanable.

The NSF Joint Committee on Food Processing Equipment developed NSF/3-A/ANSI 14159-3 using the consensus process described by the American National Standards Institute. The standard establishes hygiene requirements for the design of mechanical belt conveyors used in meat and poultry processing. The USDA now uses this standard as their sole basis for acceptance of conveyor belts used in poultry and meat processing facilities.

"This test verifies that The Advantage belts can be effectively cleaned using conventional cleaning methods and it validates our design objectives," explains Jonathan Lasecki, Engineering Manager at Ashworth.

The positive results of The Advantage test confirm that the belt's open design, slotted acetal links and modules, and non-stationary steel rods achieve Ashworth's goal of creating a belt that eliminates the bacteria entrapment areas common to other modular belts.

"For receiving NSF Certification, Ashworth's hybrid belts will now bear the NSF Certification Mark - a sign to regulators and clients that all certificiation requirements have been met," said Mike Kohler, technical manager, NSF Food Equipment Certification Program.

NSF International helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, air and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, Ltd., organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.

This year's 60th anniversary as innovators in the conveyor belt business, including the invention of lotension spiral systems, celebrates a solid foundation for continued growth at Ashworth Bros., Inc. Along with a broad product range, Ashworth also offers a full range of engineering services, including system refurbishment, trouble shooting and belt installation. Ashworth maintains a strong global presence with manufacturing plants in the USA and Europe along with sales teams around the globe.

Learn more about the Advantage 120/200 series of belts.