Tecpro Australia was recently trusted to supply over 40 wash down reels for a large food factory expansion. It recommended Italian made stainless steel retracting hose reels due to the quality, durability and safety technology that it believes makes an ultimately superior product.
Food and beverage production is a critical part of the economy and maintaining standards of health and safety is paramount. In this article, Tecpro discuss the top considerations when selecting the correct wash down hose reel.
Tecpro says every piece of equipment used should be selected with three things in mind:
- Hygiene - ensure your reel is food-grade and stainless steel.
- Quality - choose a product that will stand the test of time and can withstand constant usage and exposure to high-grade cleaning products.
- Safety (to staff and the end consumer) - Spring retracting reels make hoses easy and safe for staff to use, in-built anti-bacterial functions ensure your end product is always food safe.
Why a retracting hose reel?
Retracting hose reels mean reduced cleaning times and less trip hazards for staff. The hoses automatically retract and snap back into place to ensure everything is neatly stowed after use. For the highest level of staff safety, ensure you choose a retracting hose reel that has a built-in safety brake system. These safety brakes slow the speed of hose retraction if an operator accidentally drops the hose while it is under tension, preventing the hose from whipping back and potentially causing injury or damage to equipment.
Food grade materials
It sounds obvious, but in processing and manufacturing even the cleaning equipment needs to be constructed from food grade materials so there is no chance of cross contamination. For food and beverage installations, we always recommend hoses that have an anti-bacterial product ingrained within in it, which prevents bacteria from forming in cuts when equipment is damaged or left unused.
Interconnecting products
You want all your equipment to work together seamlessly. It doesn’t always need to be the same brand, but it does need to be fit-for-purpose.
Ultimately, getting this wrong can render the highest quality product useless or cause issues down the line. When selecting the right hose reel, consider the whole package you need, including the reel with retraction and brake system, swivel brackets or stands if required, the hoses to connect to your water supply (stainless steel braided hoses work well for extra durability) and wash down guns that attach to the end of your hose.
For the wash down gun, choose an ergonomic trigger gun that’s comfortable for your staff. Preferably a gun that is suitable for varying water temperatures and features adjustable spray patterns from needle jets to cone patterns to give you flexibility when washing down.
Choosing the right hose reel for your application might feel overwhelming; experts a Tecpro Australia are on hand to give an unbiased opinion on solutions.
