Food Engineering logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • MEDIA
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
  • RESOURCES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Latest Headlines
  • Manufacturing News
  • People & Industry News
  • Plant Openings
  • Recalls
  • Regulatory Watch
  • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
  • New Plant Products
  • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
  • Alternative Protein
  • Automation
  • Cannabis
  • Cleaning | Sanitation
  • Fabulous Food Plants
  • Food Safety
  • Maintenance Strategies
  • OEE
  • Packaging
  • Sustainability
  • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • Plant Construction Survey
  • Plant of the Year
  • Sustainable Plant of the Year
  • State of Food Manufacturing
  • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • White Papers
  • EVENTS
  • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
  • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
  • eNewsletter
  • Custom Content & Marketing Services
  • FE Store
  • Government Links
  • Industry Associations
  • Market Research
  • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
  • eMagazine
  • Archive Issue
  • Advertise
Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Cleaning | SanitationCase Studies & Field Reports

Field reports

Equipment track record justifies placement in new facility

The Hapman Helix flexible screw conveyor conveys imported rice from its integral stainless steel hopper into a packaging machine
April 8, 2014
The Hapman Helix flexible screw conveyor conveys imported rice from its integral stainless steel hopper into a packaging machine

The Hapman Helix flexible screw conveyor conveys imported rice from its integral stainless steel hopper into a packaging machine that portions the rice into preprinted plastic bags for retail distribution. Source: Guixens Food Group.

Guixens Food Group’s Tampa, FL facility specializes in processing and delivering specialty and imported dry food products to chain and independent supermarkets. The family-owned and operated business, which opened its first site in 1993 in Miami, enjoyed increased business and found it necessary to locate a second plant in Tampa.

A flexible screw conveyor is a major part of the Miami operation, so choosing a new conveyor for the Tampa site was easy. “We had already been using the Hapman Helix in our Miami facility for years, so we definitely knew we wanted it in the new location as well,” says Manuel Guixens, Guixens Food Group owner. “Our Tampa plant was all new from the ground up, and we specified a Hapman from day one.”

The Helix screw conveyor consists of a fixed tubular housing with an electric motor that drives a screw (also known as an auger). The conveyor’s only moving part, the stainless steel screw, rotates within the casing, creating a directional force that conveys material either horizontally or with inclines of up to 60° at heights reaching 80 feet. The flexible screw conveyor can be used to convey a variety of materials from rice and beans to nacho seasoning and pancake mix.

“We convey eight different products with eight different consistencies,” says Guixens. “The Hapman is very versatile, and we can tailor it to whatever process we have. The integral controls also allow us to run the screw faster for finer materials and slower for the more fragile items such as dry beans and oatmeal. Plus, it allows us to reverse the screw for easy cleaning.”

The conveyor can be fitted with several interchangeable augers such as flat, beveled, square and round wire. Each type is designed to handle specific material characteristics without product degradation or binding. The new Guixens Tampa facility interchanges two flat wire augers with different diameters to accommodate specific material challenges.

The larger-diameter screw is used for rice, oatmeal, fine and coarse cornmeal, and ultra-fine corn flour. The smaller screw is used specifically for beans to prevent breakage and ensure high product quality. A smaller auger provides an increased allowance between the screw and casing, decreasing friction and creating a more gentle conveying process for fragile materials.

With the plant’s innovative design, the conveyor is able to service a number of work stations—each packaging a specific dry bulk material. Guixens designed its own trolley system that suspends the Helix motor from the ceiling. The trolley allows employees to move the conveyor quickly from one machine to the next with very little effort.

The Tampa facility also customized its sanitation system, eliminating cross-contamination between materials. The system consists of a large PVC pipe, capped on both ends and plumbed to a hot water source and drain. Horizontally mounted to the wall, the system uses none of the facility’s valuable floor space and is completely self-contained. Operators place the conveyor’s polyethylene food-grade conveyor casing pipe and stainless steel screw in the cleaning station and fill it with hot water and sterilizing chemicals. The cleaning process is monitored with test strips, and the tube and screw are air-dried in place.

“I don’t think any other conveyor system could give us the flexibility, ease of cleaning and simplicity of the Hapman,” says Guixens. “It’s so simple; there’s nothing to go wrong.” 

For more information:  Mike Zeluff, 800-427-6260, mzeluff@hapman.com

KEYWORDS: conveying quality control sterilization

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    With a CAGR of 12.07%, Bonafide Research estimates this...
    People & Industry News
  • skilled MEP worker

    Predicting Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends for 2024

    The two words that should be kept in mind are labor and...
    Automation
    By: Derrick Teal
  • cleaning and sanitation

    The basics of cleaning and sanitation in food plants

    Sanitation maintains or restores a state of cleanliness...
    Cleaning | Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

OT Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Food Manufacturing Facilities

OT Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Food Manufacturing Facilities

Understanding Impacts of OT Cybersecurity Events in Food Manufacturing

Understanding Impacts of OT Cybersecurity Events in Food Manufacturing

Food Plant Openings and Expansions April 2025

Food Plant Openings and Expansions April 2025

FA&M 2025 in Rewind

FA&M 2025 in Rewind

More Videos

Popular Stories

Conagra Logo

Conagra Brands to Sell Chef Boyardee Brand to Hometown Food Company

Salt

FDA to Amend Standards of Identity to Include Salt Substitutes

Vilter IHP in plant

Industrial Heat Pumps: Sustainable Energy Solutions for Now and the Future

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Events

June 5, 2025

Mass Customization Driving Innovation in the Food and Beverage Industry

The food and beverage industry is at the nexus of transformative global manufacturing trends, driving a shift toward personalized, customer-centric solutions. 

June 5, 2025

How Cafe Spice Uses Automation to Propel Private Label

Learn about Cafe Spice’s new, state-of-the-art, highly automated manufacturing facility in Beacon, New York. 

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

Plant of the Year

Related Articles

  • Facility overhaul provides improved equipment maintenance

    See More
  • Humanely raised cattle

    New Grinding Equipment and Automation Continue Optimization for FPL Food

    See More
  • stainless steel, twin-screw mixer

    Potato producer mixes it up with new equipment

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • cleaning-in-place

    Cleaning-in-Place: Dairy, Food and Beverage Operations, 3rd Edition

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!