Flowfresh flooring meets the hygiene challenge for vegetable processor

When Chef’s Pantry refurbished the vegetable processing area of its plant in Braeside, Victoria, it was imperative for the food distribution business to ensure a hygienic environment that would maintain the freshness of its produce.

To meet this priority and minimise the risk of contamination, a flooring solution was required that would facilitate the removal of dirt, grime and bacteria from the area.

Approximately 1200 m² of Flowcrete Australia's Flowfresh SR (4–6 mm) and Flowfresh Sealer was installed to create a seamless, easy-to-clean finish that would maintain an impervious, gap-free coating in the busy on-site operating conditions. Drainage was incorporated into the finish so that unwanted contaminants could be quickly washed out of the area.

Daniel Grunfield, Chef’s Pantry’s sales manager, said the Flowfresh SR has made floor cleaning much easier and faster. “Cleanliness is the most important part of our business and, with this floor, it is much easier to tell if we have a problem and so much easier to keep clean as well,” he added.

The ash grey, light-reflective finish provides the site with an aesthetically pleasing surface able to withstand the inevitable impacts, traffic, spillages and cleaning that it will be subjected to in a business that supplies over 90 tonnes of fresh food products every week.

A key factor behind Chef’s Pantry’s choice of flooring was that the Flowfresh range has been HACCP International certified, now a key requirement of many due diligence processes, including the approved procurement of materials.

Flowfresh also incorporates the antimicrobial additive Polygiene, a silver-ion-based agent that is able to eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria in contact with the floor. The polyurethane system has been proven to meet the ISO 22196 standard, which measures the antibacterial effectiveness of plastics and other non-porous surfaces.

The combination of HACCP International certification and ISO 22196 compliance gives Chef Pantry confidence that Flowfresh can meet the food industry’s stringent hygiene demands.

The flooring project was undertaken quickly, as there was only a limited shutdown opportunity available. It was also important to minimise the installation timetable, as taintable food was being stored in an adjacent area.

Flowfresh SR’s positively textured finish provides a slip-resistant surface which has enhanced the safety levels in Chef’s Pantry’s vegetable processing area, where dropped produce, spillages and cleaning water could potentially lead to slippery conditions.

Image credit: ©FreeImages.com/Ramzi Hashisho