In the food industry, hygiene is critical. Any form of contamination can lead to product loss, recalls, and reputational damage.
Electric motors and gearboxes play an important role in this: if they are not hygienically designed, they can become a source of bacterial growth and contamination. The solution lies in washdown motors, specifically developed to keep food production lines safe and reliable.
What Are Washdown Motors?
Washdown motors are stainless steel electric motors designed to withstand intensive cleaning with high-pressure water and aggressive cleaning agents. They differ from standard motors by their smooth, rounded design without cooling fins or crevices where dirt can accumulate. This makes them easy to clean and helps keep production lines hygienic.
Hygienic Design Makes the Difference
Washdown motors are fully focused on food safety. Thanks to their smooth surfaces, rounded edges, and hygienic seals (often EHEDG-certified), water and chemicals cannot penetrate the motor. Most models also meet IP67 or IP69K standards, meaning they are resistant to high-pressure and steam cleaning.
This makes washdown motors ideal for sectors that require daily intensive cleaning, such as meat and fish processing, dairy production, and bakeries.
Difference from Standard Motors
Standard motors perform well in dry environments but fall short in wet or corrosive conditions. Coatings are easily damaged, causing the motor surface to corrode. This leads to dirt buildup and increases the risk of bacterial growth. In addition, cooling fins and nameplates make thorough cleaning difficult, and seals are often not resistant to moisture and aggressive cleaning agents. This not only raises the risk of contamination but also increases the likelihood of technical failures. In the food industry, where downtime immediately results in production loss, this is highly undesirable.
Washdown Motors Offer the Following Advantages:
- Benefits of an organically shaped stainless steel design – hygienic and corrosion-resistant
- Reliable performance – resistant to daily cleaning procedures
- Energy efficiency – available in IE3, IE4, and IE5 variants
Hygienic Gear Motors
Electric motors are often combined with a gearbox to form a gear motor. For optimal food safety, it is crucial that both the motor and the gearbox are hygienically designed. Only then can bacterial growth and failures due to moisture or cleaning be prevented. With stainless steel gearboxes and washdown motors, Dertec offers gear motors that are easy to clean, resistant to high-pressure cleaning, and perfectly suited to meet the strict hygiene standards of the food processing industry.
Practical Applications
Washdown motors are widely used in the food processing industry:
- Dairy industry – resistant to moisture and intensive cleaning.
- Meat and fish processing – prevent bacterial growth.
- Fruit and vegetable processing lines – resistant to moisture and high-pressure cleaning.
- Bakeries and confectionery – resistant to flour dust and sugar particles.
- Beverage industry – reliable under condensation and liquid splashes.
Dertec provides washdown motors that directly address these challenges, delivering long-lasting top performance in demanding environments.
Conclusion: Hygiene and Safety Start with the Right Motor and Gearbox
Contamination is a real risk in food production lines, but with the right drive system, it’s easy to prevent. Washdown motors are hygienic, low-maintenance, and built to withstand the harshest conditions.
By choosing motors and gearboxes specifically designed for the food industry, you not only increase food safety but also improve the reliability and efficiency of your production process.