Safe handling of liquids and chemicals

Custom Solutions for the Meat and Food Industry as well as Pharmaceuticals

Impulses for innovations and further developments of products and system solutions often come directly from users. No one is closer and knows better what is exactly required to further improve the process. This is also true in the meat and food industry as well as pharmaceuticals, where manufacturers are often faced with the challenge of quickly implementing special requests according to customer specifications and developing new solutions for specific applications. At Höcker, many of these individual solutions repeatedly find their way into the product portfolio. "Because in direct contact with customers or later in the development process, we often find that a specially requested product can also benefit other customers," says Jörg Eekhoff from technical sales at Höcker. "Although our customers are very different, they often have quite similar requirements regarding the functionality and properties of working materials and operational equipment."

Current examples of products developed specifically at customer request by Höcker include stainless steel frames for IBC containers, flat pallets with drip trays, as well as environmental and laboratory cabinets. All three arose from the need for safe and clean handling of liquids and chemicals and are now a fixed part of the company's standard range, making them quickly and easily available.

Example: Stainless Steel Frame for IBC Containers

The trigger for targeted further development was the fact that the food industry needs corrosion-resistant frames for IBC containers, but many frames are only available in a painted standard version. For the requirements of the food industry, they are therefore unusable. IBC containers are used in various productions – in butcheries and bakeries as well as in the production of animal feed, delicacies, spices, or in the cleaning products industry. Since the contents are most often dispensed via a valve at the bottom of the container, they must be placed on a pedestal to accommodate a container underneath.

"Customers repeatedly expressed the desire for durable stainless steel frames for their IBC containers," says Benjamin Höcker, managing director of the Höcker Group. The individual solution: a stable frame construction made from three-millimeter-thick square tube with additional welded reinforcement braces and a load capacity of 1,000 kilograms. "A secure stand is essential to ensure workplace safety," says Eekhoff. This is further guaranteed by height-adjustable feet to compensate for uneven floors and stable stacking corners that prevent slipping and allow precise centering of the container through their conical taper. The sturdy lower frame, with its reinforcement braces, allows the frame to be lifted by a pallet truck or forklift. This makes maneuvering with a filled IBC container no problem.

Example: Flat Pallets with Stainless Steel Drip Tray

Another example of a initially individual solution that is now part of the Höcker catalog are flat pallets with drip trays. They operate on many similar principles as the drip tray extension of the IBC container frames and ensure that nothing spills during filling. They are also made of high-quality stainless steel for optimal hygiene conditions and meet the high standards of the food and pharmaceutical industries for hygiene and safety. The drip tray is removable, making the container underneath easily accessible for cleaning. These flat pallets with drip trays are requested by various production facilities and are used, among other things, in the production of Greek specialties, nuts, dried fruits, or in fish smoking facilities. They are also useful in the pharmaceutical industry because they prevent chemicals and additives from coming into contact with the floor from the containers stored on them.

Example: Environmental and Hygiene Cabinet for Safe Storage Without Leaks

In response to a request from an industry with particularly high standards for hygiene and food safety, Höcker developed and manufactured an easy-to-clean, ventilated environmental and laboratory cabinet made of stainless steel. Just like the frames for IBC containers and the flat pallets with drip trays, they are the optimal choice for ingredients or chemicals that may overflow, drip, or leak. The cabinet is available as standard in variants with one or two doors. For organized storage while providing leak protection for cleaning agents, chemicals, or raw materials in smaller containers, four removable, tightly welded drip trays with a depth of 50 millimeters are provided. If containers leak inside the cabinet or are accidentally knocked over, the liquid flows into the sturdy tray, which can be easily removed from the cabinet for cleaning.