Standardizing Hygienic Drive Technology
Simplifying Stainless Steel Drives in Washdown Applications
A major convenience store’s production facility produces dairy, bakery, and prepared food products.
To support hygienic production, the facility began standardizing washdown conveyor applications with stainless steel gearmotors to improve sanitation, simplify maintenance, and increase equipment reliability and uptime.
Challenge:
Modernizing an Existing Washdown Application
During a routine equipment review, maintenance personnel identified a conveyor application where years of aggressive washdown had caused exterior corrosion and paint deterioration on the existing gearmotor. Although the drive remained reliable, it was selected for retrofit as part of the facility’s stainless steel upgrade.
As part of its ongoing standardization efforts, the facility wanted to transition this conveyor application to a stainless steel gearmotor better suited for aggressive washdown environments. The new solution needed to improve hygienic performance while fitting within the existing conveyor layout and minimizing installation time.
- Support facility-wide standardization of stainless steel gearmotors
- Reduce potential contamination concerns
- Maintain the existing conveyor footprint
- Minimize installation time and production downtime
Solution:
Integral Stainless-Steel Gearmotor Retrofit
SEW-EURODRIVE worked with Bearing Distributors Inc. (BDI), the facility’s local distributor, to evaluate the application and identify the best retrofit solution. SEW-EURODRIVE recommended replacing the existing conveyor drive with a KEST37TENV80-4B stainless-steel gear unit with integral motor. The expansion of SEW-EURODRIVE’s stainless-steel portfolio made this retrofit possible by eliminating the motor adapters traditionally required for stainless-steel conversions, enabling a near drop-in replacement. Because the new integral design maintained nearly the same dimensional envelope as the existing installation, the upgrade required only a minor torque arm modification while preserving the existing shaft arrangement. The stainless-steel construction provides IP69K ingress protection, making it well suited for aggressive washdown environments.
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“The customer wasn’t replacing a failed drive; they were investing in a better long-term solution. Moving to an integral stainless steel gearmotor helped improve washdown suitability while making it much easier to standardize across similar applications.” - Aly Knutson, BDI Branch Leader |
Results:
Supporting Long-Term Standardization
The retrofit allowed the facility to continue its stainless-steel standardization initiative without redesigning surrounding equipment or significantly increasing installation time.
By taking advantage of SEW-EURODRIVE’s expanded stainless steel portfolio, the facility modernized an existing washdown application with a hygienic solution that better aligned with its maintenance and sanitation objectives.
Results included:
- Supported facility-wide standardization of stainless steel gearmotors
- Eliminated painted exterior surfaces in the application
- Reduced potential contamination concerns
- Near drop-in retrofit requiring minimal modification
- Improved suitability for aggressive washdown environments
- No reported operational issues following installation
Application Summary:
- Application Area
Dairy Conveyor
- SEW-EURODRIVE PRODUCT(S)
KEST37/T TENV80-4B
Integral Stainless Steel Gearmotor
Motor power: 1 HP (0.75 kW)
Output speed [r/min]: 87
Ratio: 20.19:1
Output torque: 725 lb-in
Mounting Position: M4
CUSTOMER:
Convenience Store Chain
Wisconsin, USA
INDUSTRY:
DISTRIBUTOR:
APPLICATION:
Dairy Conveyor
PREVIOUS SITUATION:
Corroded Gearmotor
SOLUTION:
JOIN NEWSLETTER:
About SEW-EURODRIVE
Founded in 1931 in Bruchsal, Germany, SEW-EURODRIVE is a global leader in Industrial Automation, with operations in over 50 countries, 17 manufacturing plants, 92 assembly facilities, and more than 21,000 employees. The company holds over 1,000 patents, continuously driving technological advancements in gearmotors, frequency inverters, servo drives, and Industry 4.0 solutions.
SEW-EURODRIVE provides engineered solutions in countless industries, including automotive, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, mining, steel, logistics, energy, and more, providing customized automation solutions that enhance efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. Despite its global reach, SEW-EURODRIVE remains family-owned, ensuring long-term vision, strong values, and a commitment to excellence.
SEW-EURODRIVE. Driving the World™
SEW-EURODRIVE, Inc.
220 Finch Road
Wellford, SC 29385
(P): (864) 439-7537
cslyman@seweurodrive.com
www.seweurodrive.com
