Stainless steel aseptic planetary gearbox perfect answer for cutting machine
FAM develops and produces industrial cutting machines for the food industry. This is done from the head office in Kontich, but the company is active all over the world. Everything that needs to be cut to size for food companies, from vegetables, fruit and nuts to cheese, meat, fish and poultry, even chips and French fries, can be given the right shape with the machines from FAM. “The starting point is to keep all the know-how about cutting knives and processes in-house. The close collaboration with sister company Stumabo International that produces precision knives is an exponent of this. In this way we can control the cutting down to the last detail and strive for the highest quality in every production step to give our customers the desired result. That is why a global presence is so important. Other cultures have different needs and ways of thinking and eating. We try to be as close as possible to our customers,” says project engineer Nikki Vekemans.
Highest level of hygiene required
AE205 perfect answer the demand
A search that initially did not yield a suitable planetary gearbox. Until the engine supplier FAM pointed in the direction of Apex Dynamics. “Because of the available space within the machine concept on the one hand and the high force density that we needed on the other, it had to be a planetary gearbox for us. But there are only a few on the market in stainless steel,” says Vekemans. A second important element was the quality of the gearbox. “Our customers expect reliable machines. In the food sector, where (fresh) products can be lost, downtime is completely out of the question.
“Even with a custom fit, Apex Dynamics manages to deliver the
full stainless steel gearbox with customized motor adapter within five weeks.”
That is why we focus on quality components.” The AE205 from Apex Dynamics met the requirements of FAM perfectly. With a gear ratio of 6 and torque of up to 2,000 Nm, it delivered the performance the Centris 400C Optitec needed.
Right support
Source:
Text : Valérie Couplez
Image : FAM
Magazine : Industrial Automation