Food Processing Vacuums

Q. What are some of the applications your vacuums are used for in food plants?
A. Nilfisk CFM industrial vacuum cleaners are used in hundreds of food processing facilities across North America for general maintenance, overhead cleaning, packaging lines, process-integration, liquid collection, and the list goes on. For a list of food company references, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Q. What features and benefits do industrial vacuum cleaners have that are beneficial to the maintenance needs of the food industry?
A. Aside from high-quality, reliable motors and superior filtration, industrial vacuums are available in many different models with a wide range of hose and accessories to meet the diverse cleaning challenges of the food industry.

• Overhead cleaning kits for reaching pipes, vents, and the tops of machinery
• Heat-resistant wands, nozzles, and Nomex®  filters that can withstand extreme oven temperatures
• Corrosion-resistant, stainless-steel vacuums that can be quickly decontaminated with little to no trace of food residue
• Color-coded nozzles to prevent cross-contamination
• Explosion-proof models and anti-static accessories to protect workers from potentially dangerous sparks

Q. Why are industrial vacuum cleaners better than low cost mops, brooms, and compressed air?
A. Most manufacturers who use mops, brooms or compressed air start at the top of their plant and work their way down, sweeping away dust and debris as they go.  This process is not only time consuming, but actually just re-disperses the particles back into the air, especially if using compressed air.  Mops and brooms can also promote contamination by spreading bacteria from one piece of machinery to another.

Mops, Booms, & Compressed Air vs. High-Quality Vacuum Cleaner
The efficiency of an industrial vacuum cleaner can cut cleaning time in half, and literally save thousands of dollars! Whether a plant operates 40 hours a week or 24/7, facilities would get a return on investment on a $2,000 vacuum cleaner in less than 2 months. Check out the chart below.

Q. We are sick of replacing our shop-style vacuums every time they break (which is a lot). How is an industrial vacuum cleaner different than a shop-style vac?
A. The most common problem with shop-style vacuums is frequent motor burn-up due to low-cost, unreliable motors that overheat quickly. High-quality industrial vacuums are equipped with superior motors, specifically designed to handle longer run times and industrial applications.  

Aside from motor burn-up, shop-style vacuums also do an inadequate job of retaining collected materials due to poor filtration. Quality industrial vacuums are equipped with oversized filters which allow the vacuum to filter more efficiently. The larger the filter, the more space there is to trap particles that would otherwise clog or “blind” the filter, reducing suction and performance. Industrial vacuums also have graduated or multi-stage filtration systems. These systems require debris to pass through several steps of filtration, such as a paper bag, main cloth filter and/or HEPA, with each level acting as a barrier to the next. By the time the particles reach the last stage, the majority of debris has been trapped by previous filters.  Shop-style vacuums are usually only equipped with single-stage filtration systems, allowing particles to pass through the motor and disperse back into the facility through the exhaust stream.

Unlike most shop-style vacuums, i-vacs are also available with many different features that increase run time and help prolong the life of the vacuum, features like a manual or automatic filter cleaning system, which frees the filter from caked on dust and debris before it can clog the filter and reduce vacuum suction. Industrial vacuums can also be customized for specific applications, such as machine integration or multiple users.

Shop-style Vacuum vs. Quality Industrial Vacuum
Upgrading from a shop-style vacuum to an industrial vacuum cleaner will save you both money and trips to the dumpster, especially when collecting fine powders on a consistent basis. The below table doesn’t even take into account the reduced labor costs associated with an industrial vacuum purchase, as a result of time-saving features like self-cleaning filters.

Q. We collect sugar dust. Do we need an explosion-proof vacuum?
A. We know there is a lot of confusion in the food manufacturing sector regarding hazardous materials, particularly combustible dust. In short, just because your facility handles combustible dust, does not mean you need an explosion-proof vacuum…but you might. OSHA’s Combustible Dust NEP, calls for electrical vacuums used in dusty areas to be approved for the hazard classified location, as required under standard 1910.307(b). The standard regulates that facilities follow the Class and Division system as defined by NFPA 70 or the National Electrical Code.

At Nilfisk CFM, our representatives conduct a thorough facility analysis, complete a project survey, and make an educated, experienced recommendation based on the needs of your specific application.

Nilfisk CFM’s explosion-proof vacuums are CSA-certified for use in Class I, Group D, and Class II, Groups E^*, F & G environments. For more information on explosion-proof vacuums, visit www.explosionproof-vacuum.com.