When you want a cool, refreshing treat on a hot day, ice pops can be a great choice. However, even treats like ice pops can lose their appeal if poorly maintained production equipment is allowed to undermine the quality, consistency and even the purity of the product. Simply put, proper care is critical to preventing ice pop sales from melting away. This blog post will describe how a Magnaplate surface treatment helped an ice pop manufacturer ensure reliable production lines and outstanding product quality.

The ice pop manufacturer contacted Magnaplate to solve a problem in which the sugar water that constitutes the frozen treats was sticking to chutes used to transport the molded pops to the wrapping and packaging sections of the production line. Specifically, the customer needed to coat the stainless steel chutes for nonstick/release and wear prevention. When sugar water sticks to the surface of the chute, the buildup and blockages can slow the flow of the product through the operation, creating unwanted delays as well as hindering end product consistency.

Another major issue, wear, can cause the chutes to discharge metal fragments and lead to product contamination. And, cracks and crevices from wear can cause dirt and bacteria to build up. Not only is the buildup difficult to clean, it can also contaminate the ice pops. Product contamination will eventually lead to product recalls and the associated damage to the brand’s reputation.

To prevent these problems, our customer treats the top-facing side of the chute, at room temperature, with Plasmadize®. This enhanced thermal spray deposit coating consists of a matrix of materials including metals, ceramics, polymers and/or dry lubricants. Together, they provide exceptional lubricity, creating a wear-resistant and non-stick surface that outperforms conventional spray methods. Additional features and benefits include:

• Operating temperature as low as -200°F (-129°C) to +1,300°F (+704°C).
• Thicknesses from 0.02 to 0.010 inch.
• Hardnesses beyond the Rc scale.
• Many coatings are USDA and FDA compliant.

Before Sticky Foods Eat Away at Productivity, Turn to Magnaplate

Plasmadize eliminated the sticking and wear problems for the ice pop manufacturer, so its end customers can unwrap a refreshing, consistent-quality ice pop every time. This application is another example of why the food industry — particularly those companies that deal with sticky ingredients — can trust Magnaplate coatings to maintain or improve machine performance and ensure product quality. When sticking threatens your equipment uptime and reliability, our engineers can review your concerns and recommend an appropriate coating to protect your machine surfaces and improve their non-stick properties.

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