Dive Brief:
- Manufacturers' choice of motor type for production and processing systems can impact profitability in terms of energy efficiency, upgrade incentives, improved sanitation, and reduced downtime during sanitation procedures, Cheryl Higgins, product marketing manager at LEESON Electric, wrote in Food Manufacturing.
- A typical U.S. industrial plant could pare down its electricity use by about 5% to 15% by switching to an energy-efficient motor-driven system and could receive tax credit incentives in doing so, Higgins said.
- Manufacturers that use a stainless steel motor could also improve food safety within its operations due to safer materials and designs that are easier to clean to industry standards. Stainless steel washdown motors can also reduce the downtime needed for sanitation purposes, which can save on the costs of a temporary production shutdown.
Dive Insight:
Electric motor-driven systems account for more than 70% of all electricity used for food and beverage manufacturing applications, such as refrigeration, cooking, heating, boilers and steam generation, sterilizing, conveyors, and auxiliary equipment, according to the Department of Energy. But when determining ways to cut costs, executives don't always consider improving the energy-efficiency of these electric systems because of the upfront investment costs of purchasing and installing the new machinery.
However, initial purchase price only accounts for about 2% to 3% of a motor's lifetime costs versus 97% to 98% of lifetime costs derived from operating the motor, according to Higgins. Plus, manufacturers may be eligible for tax credits from their state to cover a portion of the costs related to equipment upgrades and plant expansions. Energy efficiency for motor-driven production systems may have a greater impact on manufacturers' bottom line than they realize.
Proper equipment sanitation is also critical for maintaining a company's bottom line because of the high costs related to recalls and production shutdowns, due to either sanitation procedures or as required by a recall and impending investigation. Certain types of motors, such as stainless steel food safety motors, are easier to clean, don't have paint that could fleck into food or hide corrosion or bacteria, and don't have fans and fan covers that are more difficult to sanitize.
With more than half of recalls examined in a 2015 study costing companies more than $10 million, and some costing more than $100 million, food safety-related investments for production equipment could be essential protection for a company's reputation and profitability.