In the food and beverage sector, hygiene is more than a compliance requirement—it is a cornerstone of trust and product safety. From handling raw materials to moving packaged goods, every process must be carried out with equipment that supports strict cleanliness standards. Recognising this need, Avcon has developed stainless steel stackers designed specifically for hygienic handling in the food industry.
Why Is Stainless Steel Used In The Food Industry Equipment?
Stainless steel is commonly accepted for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in the material handling equipment used in the food and beverage industry, such as conveyor belts, packaging, and storage containers. It has some unique properties that lend themselves well to material handling equipment that is required to be sterile and can withstand rough treatment.
Stainless steel has a non-porous surface. This will prevent contact with bacteria and other contaminants; other materials can trap moisture and materials and have/had butt joint connections, so they trap moisture. Other materials can have matte finish and smooth finish, whereas stainless steel surfaces remain smooth and free of moist particles that promote microbial growth.
Stainless steel, being naturally resistant to corrosion from water, chemicals, cleaning agents, etc, is important for use in food processing plants. Foods contain acids, salts, or enzymes capable of slowly damaging certain materials. This makes stainless steel especially useful for:
- Dairy and fermented products have lactic acid, which can damage other metals.
- Meat and seafood products can cause rust due to the high presence of salt and moisture, unless corrosion-resistant surfaces like stainless steel are used.
Stainless steel has been approved as a safe material for food preparation and processing and is suitable for food contact applications by food safety standards like EU Food Safety Regulations, HACCP, and the FDA food code.
What Are The Features of Avcon’s Stainless Steel Stackers?
Our stainless steel stackers are engineered to stack pallets in especially in highly sensitive and hygienic environments. They have the following features:
Made of SS304
Avcon forklifts offers stackers made from stainless steel SS304, which is a premium, corrosion-resistant steel. Nonreactive to foods, beverages, or cleaning chemicals, this type of stainless steel is easy to sanitise and maintain without allowing dust, debris, and bacteria to settle on its surface.
SS304 not only holds up structurally under heavy loads and regular use but also shows heat resistance during high-temperature processes like cooking or cleaning, making it an ideal material for our stainless steel stackers.
Suitable for GMP and Cleanroom Areas
Our stainless steel stackers made of SS304 are compatible with food standard regulations like GMP, HACCP, and FDA standards. The smooth surface of our stackers makes sanitisation faster and more effective, supporting cleanroom and processing hygiene.
Manual hydraulic pump
Our stainless steel stackers have a lifting pump completely covered with SS 304 stainless steel, protecting it from dust, moisture, and chemicals, and ensuring it is kept clean, preventing food contamination.
Matt finished structure
Our stainless steel stackers have a matte finish. It gives an aesthetic appeal to the stackers and also makes it easier to sanitize and clean the surfaces.
Polyurethane wheels
Our stainless steel stackers have polyurethane (PU) wheels that ensure smooth movement of the stackers on epoxy-coated floors without scratching or damaging them, and causing less noise. It also makes the stackers easy to push even with heavy loads.
Avcon’s Stainless Steel Stackers combine durability, hygiene, and floor-friendly design, making them the ideal choice for safe and efficient pallet stacking in sensitive environments.
What Are The Benefits of Our Stainless Steel Stackers For The Food And Beverage Industry?
At Avcon forklifts, our stainless steel stackers are made from SS304, a high-quality stainless steel specially designed for stacking work in GMP (clean and hygienic) areas. They are designed to deliver maximum reliability and durability even with high sanitation requirements. Their benefits are as follows:
Compliance With GMP And Cleanroom Standards:
Our stackers, made with SS304 steel, have a smooth design and a matte finish surface. This prevents dust and contaminants from settling, ensuring a sterile environment essential for food-grade operations. The enclosed manual pump, covered in stainless steel, further minimises contamination risks by minimising exposure to dust, moisture, and other contaminants.
Compact Design, Which Saves Space
Due to limitations of space in the GMP and clean room areas, the material handling equipment needs to fit into confined spaces or areas. Our stainless steel stackers have a compact design that makes it easy to manoeuvre around tight areas. However, with a robust frame and powerful lifting capabilities, it can lift heavy weights without sacrificing space efficiency.
Easy Mobility without Floor Damage
PU wheels provide smooth movement on epoxy floors typical in GMP and clean areas, preventing dust generation and floor damage, and maintaining cleanliness and operational efficiency.
Customised According To Specific Requirements
Our stainless steel stackers are customizable to specifically address the diverse requirements of the food and beverage industry. This includes adjustable lift heights and load capacities to handle a wide range of food products—from bulk ingredients to packaged goods—without compromising hygiene or safety standards.
Custom features such as food-grade coatings, sealed electrical components, and specialised platforms enable seamless integration into various processing environments like dairy, bakery, meat, and beverage facilities. These customisations ensure optimal performance, compatibility with rigorous cleaning protocols, and compliance with strict food industry hygiene regulations, thereby supporting efficient, safe, and contamination-free material handling throughout the entire production and distribution chain.
Suitable For Lifting Both Fragile And Heavy Food Items
Our stainless steel stackers are engineered to safely and efficiently handle a wide range of fragile and heavy food products, including delicate packaged goods, glass bottles, bulk ingredients, and perishable items that require gentle yet secure movement.
With their precise control features and sturdy construction, they minimize the risk of damaging fragile materials while keeping product integrity intact through handling and transportation. Such versatility is vital for food and beverage industries, such as dairy, bakery, meat processing, and beverage bottling, where the weight (and fragility) of the containers can be a concern for contamination, spoilage, or losing product.
Conclusion
Avcon stainless steel stackers accommodate varying load types and offer consistent hygiene compliance. This leads to safe, reliable, and damage-free material handling in all stages of food production and distribution.
