Nilfisk Vacuums Reduce Cleaning Costs for Tea Manfuacturer

Redco Foods in upstate New York produces all of the Salada and Red Rose Tea sold in the United States.

According to Vince Prestigiacomo, Redco Foods facilities maintenance manager, Redco Foods has manually cleaned its tea processing facility for the past 100 years. Compressed air was used to blow tea dust off machinery, overhead pipes, ceilings and walls. After the dust settled, several employees wet-mopped the floors. The process was both inefficient and costly.

"After Redco Foods made a $20-million investment in new plant equipment for this facility, we changed our cleaning philosophy," he said. "We knew we were going to need a better cleaning process and equipment in order to maintain the company's investment"

Prestigiacomo consulted his colleagues at Redco Foods' parent company, Teekanne, in Dusseldorf, Germany. They recommended a vacuum from Nilfisk of America. "As soon as I saw the Nilfisk vacuum in action, I liked it," he said. "The unit was easy to operate and the filter system was so heavy-duty."

In 1996, Prestigiacomo purchased a model GB 725 and model GM 625 vacuum cleaners, each with an optional HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. The HEPA filters, which retain 99.97 percent of all particles down to and including 0.3 microns in size, enable the operator to clean a piece of equipment next to another piece that is in operation, without cross-contamination. In addition, Prestigiacomo purchased overhead-cleaning attachments to easily clean hard-to-reach areas, such as overhead pipes. In less than one year, the Nilfisk vacuum cleaners had a positive impact, reducing cleaning costs by approximately $35,000 to $40,000. In fact, Prestigiacomo was so pleased with the two Nilfisk cleaners that he recently purchased another.

The GB 725 vacuum cleaner features a three-stage filtration system that starts with a 12-gallon capacity metal container that captures the bulk of collected debris. The next stage, an oversized main filter containing a Gore-Tex filtration medium (from W.L Gore & Assoc.), assures a steady even airflow that extends the filter life and prevents premature clogging. Shaking the filter agitator handle keeps the main filter free of clogging dust and maintains the vacuum cleaner's suction and efficiency.

The GM 625 vacuum cleaner features a graduated, four-stage filtration system. The first stage is a 12-gal capacity metal container that captures the bulk of collected debris. This container can be accessed by a convenient foot lever - eliminating the need to remove the container top. The next stage, an extra-large main filter, ensures steady, even airflow that extends the filter life and eliminates premature clogging. Two optional microfilters protect the motor and act as a barrier to bacteria-sized particles. The final stage of filtration is two optional HEPA filters.

Nilfisk A/S manufactures vacuum cleaners for industrial, cleanroom and fine powder applications. For more information, contact Nilfisk of America, Inc., 300 Technology Drive, Malvern, PA 19355, 1-800-NIL-FISK or 610-647-6420. In Canada, contact Nilfisk Ltd., 396 Watline Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L4Z lX2, 1-800-668-8400 or 905-712-3260.

By Pam Ahlberg