Farmers Review Africa July/Aug 2016 | Page 15

steel is a stable homogeneous alloy c o m p o s e d p r i n c i p a l l y o f i r o n , chromium ( 13 to 30 %) and nickel ( 0 to 25 %).
Cleaning and disinfection Cleaning involves the elimination of b o t h v i s i b l e a n d i n v i s i b l e contamination that adheres to the surface of a material . However , cleaning does not necessarily destroy the micro-organisms that are present on the material . Full bacteriological cleanliness is obtained only after surfaces are disinfected . Disinfection a i m s t o r e d u c e t h e m i c r o b i a l population on a surface to a level that is compatible with satisfactory hygiene practice and prevents contamination of the food .
D u r a b i l i t y a n d C o r r o s i o n Resistance Chromium , a component of stainless steel , forms a protective oxide compound on the surface of the metal . Known as a passive film , this layer slows and even prevents corrosion . If the surface of the metal is damaged , the passive film reconstitutes spontaneously at room temperature through the reaction of the chromium with water and oxygen . The stability of the passive layer is the determining factor that ensures stainless steels resist corrosion . Stability can be affected by the nature of the corrosive environment . This includes the oxidising power of the material that comes into contact with the stainless , its acidity level , chloride content and temperature . The corrosion resistance of stainless steel is very important when it is being cleaned or disinfected . When a piece of stainless steel equipment is being cleaned in place , only products that are highly alkaline or acid should be used to obtain perfect hygienic conditions . Stainless steels ' exceptional resistance to corrosion of has enabled the dairy industry to develop widely and rapidly . Stainless behaves quite neutrally and does not alter the taste of fresh milk . Other factors also contribute towards making stainless steel the preferred material for the entire food processing industry . These include its mechanical characteristics , expansion coefficient , thermal conductivity and ease of use . The sustainability of stainless is a good sales argument . A milk-cooling tank is used for many years . The bulk handling of milk is the process of cooling and storing farm-produced milk in refrigerated stainless steel t a n k s p r i o r t o c o l l e c t i o n a n d transportation to the processing plant by tank trucks . It has a number of advantages over the old-fashioned system of milk churns .
Testimonial from Mueller
Raw Milk Cooling Solutions for Upcoming Dairy Markets The Mueller milk cooling tank is at the core of the company ' s extensive range of dairy products . Manufacturing quality , finish and cooling efficiency ensures that Mueller stands out from the rest . Mueller milk cooling tanks are manufactured in the Netherlands and produced from 100 % polished stainless steel . For more than 70 years , Mueller has been a reliable , global partner for both m i l k p r o d u c e r s a n d t h e d a i r y processing industry . Especially in upcoming dairy markets , the company is active in supporting local milk p r o c e s s o r s , f a r m e r g r o u p s , governmental and non-governmental organizations to optimize the cold storage chains for dairy products . Mueller is part of several Dairy Development Programs . Over the years , Mueller has been involved in the development of several raw milk cooling solutions , such as Milk Collection Centers , the Solar Cooler and the Biogas Milk Chiller .
Milk Collection Centers In Uganda , Mueller takes part in a dairy value chain project that aims at strengthening the technical skills and commercial negotiating capacity of dairy cooperatives . Together with distributor Inndigo , as well as other local partners , Mueller has set up about 100 Milk Collection Centers , where milk is centrally collected , cooled and stored under conditioned circumstances . With the collection centers , a new cold chain is being realized , cost-effective and energy-efficient , increasing the price farmers are getting . In addition , the dairy cooperatives will experience less spoilage and better milk quality as milk is chilled in 3-4 hours rather than the usual 10 hours . The collection
Milk churns in solar cooler
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