Thoroughly cleaned: Rittal expands its Hygienic Design program

Certainly more cleanliness: The Hygienic Design enclosures from Rittal are specifically designed for applications in the food and beverage industry. The range includes small and compact enclosures, large cabinets, and accessories made of stainless steel. (Source: Rittal GmbH & Co. KG)

Fast, safe, clean, smart. To remain competitive, food manufacturers must continually meet higher standards regarding hygiene, efficiency, and digitalization. At the international leading trade fair for the meat industry, IFFA 2022 in Frankfurt, Rittal introduced new "ingredients and recipes" for hygienic design of control and switchgear panels: The manufacturer showcased for the first time a new system control cabinet as well as a new pushbutton enclosure for hygienically critical applications – thereby expanding its Hygienic Design (HD) program made of stainless steel for the food industry. Additionally, the company demonstrated with the digital control panel bag Rittal ePocket how plant managers can access a complete, always up-to-date plant documentation including Digital Twin in the Eplan Cloud at any time.

There were two innovations at the trade fair stand that support the meat and alternative protein industry in designing their plant technology to be hygienic. Control and switchgear panel builders as well as plant operators and maintenance personnel can now use series control cabinets that comply with hygienic design guidelines and also offer all the advantages of a system cabinet – such as flexible and versatile interior configuration. Additionally, they can now also obtain pushbutton enclosures, e.g., for emergency stop functions, from Rittal’s familiar HD program.

More speed, cleanliness, and safety

To not miss out on the benefits of the VX25 modular cabinet system for quick and flexible interior configuration, Rittal has made its new HD system cabinet "VX-compatible" and thus a true system cabinet. Plant builders do not need to rethink during the switch, neither in engineering nor in assembly – everything remains the same. Since the frame profile of the new HD cabinet is now identical to the VX25, the VX accessories for interior configuration can be easily transferred and installed. The advantage: plant builders do not need separate accessories for interior configuration but can reuse existing accessories from the VX25 modular cabinet system.

The new HD system cabinet VX can also be connected in series like the VX25. Its special features include the external seal, the 30° inclined roof extension, as well as the welded back wall with the frame and the closed bottom area. The overhanging roof and the silicone seal prevent dirt, water, or residues from settling and compromising food safety. Furthermore, the hygienic design allows for efficient and safe cleaning of the systems, saving costs and resources. The HD system cabinets VX are available soon from stock in heights of 1800 and 2000 mm and depths of 500 and 600 mm.

The new pushbutton enclosures operate on the same HD principle. Designed to meet the requirements of the food and indulgence industry, they feature a fully gasketed silicone seal between the enclosure and lid and a hygienic hexagon quick-release fastener. For optimal cleaning, the pushbutton enclosures are inclined at a 3° roof angle. The absence of gaps and dead spaces prevents bacteria buildup. All enclosures are designed according to EHEDG guidelines and stand for maximum cleanability and hygiene.

The Digital Twin in the Cloud

For constantly up-to-date data of control and switchgear panels, Rittal also introduced the new digital control panel bag "Rittal ePocket". Via a QR code on the control cabinet, access to the complete machine and plant documentation, including the always current Digital Twin in the Eplan Cloud, is possible throughout the entire lifecycle. Service and maintenance staff can directly view circuit diagrams on-site via smartphone or tablet. This ensures quick component identification and rapid troubleshooting during maintenance.