Published in: Food processing and pharmaceutical equipment

Hygienic side guide bracket in stainless steel

Published on: 18. February 2025

Ensuring Clean and Efficient Fruit and Vegetable Processing

Hygienic Side Guide Bracket in Stainless Steel

The fruit and vegetable processing industry demands the highest level of hygiene and durability when it comes to machinery and components. One such crucial component is the hygienic side guide bracket in stainless steel, which plays a key role in conveyor systems, ensuring proper alignment and guiding of produce during sorting, grading, washing, and packaging.

This article explores the usage, applications, and materials of hygienic side guide brackets, presents four real-world case studies, highlights leading manufacturers, and discusses the importance of certifications and customer testimonials.

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Usage of Hygienic Side Guide Brackets in Fruit and Vegetable Processing

Hygienic side guide brackets are essential for maintaining smooth, controlled movement of fruits and vegetables along conveyor belts. They are designed to prevent contamination, reduce downtime, and enhance operational efficiency in food production environments.

Key Functions

Alignment & Stability – These brackets guide produce along conveyor systems, ensuring that items remain within processing lanes.
Sanitary Design – With smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces and minimal crevices, they prevent bacterial buildup.
Durability & Corrosion Resistance – Made of stainless steel, they can withstand aggressive washdowns and harsh processing conditions.
Compliance with Food Safety Standards – Designed in accordance with EHEDG, 3-A, and FDA guidelines.

Applications in Fruit and Vegetable Processing

Hygienic side guide brackets are widely used in conveyor systems for:

Washing & Cleaning – Directing produce through high-pressure washers and decontamination systems.
Sorting & Grading – Ensuring uniform positioning for optical and mechanical sorting.
Packaging & Weighing – Facilitating smooth movement towards weighing stations and packaging lines.
Cutting & Slicing – Holding produce in place for precision cutting or dicing.

Industry-Specific Applications

Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, kale) – Ensuring gentle handling during washing and drying.
Root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, onions) – Directing produce through peeling and sorting machinery.
Soft fruits (tomatoes, berries, citrus) – Minimizing bruising during transportation.
Frozen & processed vegetables – Aligning products for freezing, blanching, and packaging operations.

Why Stainless Steel?

Hygienic side guide brackets are primarily made from stainless steel, a material of choice due to its:

Corrosion Resistance – Essential for food processing environments where moisture and aggressive cleaning chemicals are used.
Non-Porous Surface – Prevents bacterial contamination and facilitates easy cleaning.
Mechanical Strength – Withstands impact from heavy loads and rapid conveyor movements.
Temperature Resistance – Maintains integrity under extreme temperatures, such as freezing or hot water washdowns.

Common Stainless Steel Grades Used

AISI 304 – Highly resistant to rust and suitable for general food processing applications.
AISI 316L – Offers superior corrosion resistance, especially in saline environments, making it ideal for fruit processing.

Four Case Studies of Hygienic Side Guide Brackets in Action

Enhancing Hygiene in a Berry Processing Facility

A large-scale berry processor in Spain replaced plastic side guide brackets with 316L stainless steel hygienic brackets. The result:

Bacterial contamination dropped by 70%
Cleaning time reduced by 40%
Increased durability, preventing frequent replacements

Improving Throughput in a Carrot Sorting Line

A carrot processing plant in Germany implemented stainless steel brackets to replace aluminum ones that corroded due to water exposure. Benefits included:

30% increase in production speed
Fewer product jams
Better alignment, reducing product waste by 15%

Compliance Upgrade in a Citrus Packaging Plant

A citrus producer in Florida, USA, installed FDA and EHEDG-certified hygienic brackets to comply with strict food safety regulations. Outcomes:

Zero non-compliance reports
Extended bracket lifespan by 5 years
Improved safety inspections pass rate by 100%

Reducing Maintenance Costs in a Potato Processing Plant

A UK-based frozen potato producer switched from mild steel brackets to stainless steel hygienic brackets. This led to:

50% reduction in maintenance costs
Elimination of rust-related breakdowns
Enhanced conveyor belt lifespan

Leading Manufacturers of Hygienic Side Guide Brackets

Several manufacturers specialize in high-quality, certified stainless steel brackets for hygienic applications:

NHK Group

Certifications: EHEDG, 3-A SSI, FDA, RoHS and REACH

Specialty: Hygienic stainless steel components. Hygienic levelling and conveyor components. Food-grade conveyor brackets

Excellence in Hygienic Engineering for Food Processing

NHK Group is a leading provider of high-quality hygienic components for the food processing industry, specializing in stainless steel solutions that meet strict hygiene standards. Our hygienic side guide brackets in stainless steel ensure optimal durability, corrosion resistance, and easy cleaning in fruit and vegetable processing applications. Designed for conveyor systems, these brackets support smooth product flow while preventing contamination risks. With a commitment to innovation and compliance with EHEDG and 3A standards, NHK Group delivers reliable, food-safe solutions that enhance efficiency, hygiene, and operational performance in food production environments.

Importance of Certification

Hygienic components must meet strict international food safety standards. The most critical certifications for stainless steel side guide brackets include:

EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group) – Ensures equipment meets hygienic design principles for food safety.
3-A Sanitary Standards – Recognized in the dairy and food industry, ensuring compliance with sanitary processing.
FDA Compliance – Ensures materials are safe for direct food contact.
ISO 9001 – Demonstrates consistent quality management and manufacturing reliability.

Manufacturers that hold these certifications are trusted by food processing companies worldwide.

Customer Testimonials

“Switching to stainless steel hygienic side guide brackets drastically improved our processing efficiency. Our downtime reduced significantly, and we haven’t faced a single compliance issue since the upgrade.”
– Quality Assurance Manager, Leading European Vegetable Processor

“The seamless, easy-to-clean design of these brackets has made a real difference in our plant. Cleaning takes less time, and we meet all food safety standards effortlessly.”
– Operations Director, Citrus Packing Facility, USA

Enhancing Food Safety and Efficiency

Hygienic Stainless Steel Side Guide Brackets in Fruit & Vegetable Processing

Hygienic side guide brackets in stainless steel are an essential investment for the fruit and vegetable processing industry. They ensure hygienic handling, improved efficiency, and long-term durability, making them indispensable in modern food processing.

By choosing certified, high-quality stainless steel components, manufacturers can achieve better product quality, lower maintenance costs, and compliance with international food safety regulations. Whether it’s reducing bacterial contamination, improving sorting efficiency, or ensuring long-term operational reliability, stainless steel hygienic side guide brackets are the gold standard in the industry.