Heat and Control, Inc. will be releasing FastBack 4.0’s horizontal motion conveying technology at PACK EXPO this month.
Since its introduction in 1995, FastBack conveyors have brought unmatched benefits to the food processing markets: near zero breakage and product damage; no loss of coatings or seasonings; greatly reduced sanitation and associated down time; quiet, smooth, and trouble-free operation proven with thousands of units for years of operation.
FastBack 4.0 is the culmination of more than 10 years development and multiple international patents.
“Investing in continued innovation is at the heart of what we do at Heat and Control. Ensuring high performance that provides results are a priority when we undertake design development such as FastBack 4.0,” said Tony Caridis, president, Heat and Control, Inc.
Fastback 4.0 retains all the benefits Fastbacks are known for, and includes:
- Instant reversing capability
- Trouble-free: no preventive maintenance, no lubrication
- No flexures, no linear bearings, no bushings
- The longest design life
- High pressure washdown capability
- Fewer moving parts (by 70%)
- Easy maintenance: only two wrench sizes needed for all operations, 13 mm and 17 mm
- Small footprint for both ease of installation and ease of sanitation
FastBack 4.0 is a circular to linear drive horizontal motion conveyor, a new solution in horizontal motion conveying. A key design feature is a rotational (circular) drive motion that produces a horizontal (linear) motion. The circular to linear drive efficiency converts rotational motion into pure horizontal motion while also supporting the vertical weight of the pan. This is an innovation in design that has achieved multiple international patents and capacity that is found in no other design.
“One of the things that people notice when they see the new FastBack 4.0 for the first time is its beautiful simplicity. The team was able to expand in every way on the hallmark benefits of the FastBack product line while making it extremely simple to use, to operate, and to own. We believe this will set new benchmarks for 2022 and beyond,” Blake Svejkovsky, general manager - product handling systems, Heat and Control, Inc.
To help make FastBack 4.0 a reality, Heat and Control teamed up with the industrial bearing manufacturer SKF (AB SKF). The development partnership resulted in a precise and customized application that meets the goal of transforming the horizontal motion conveyor category. SKF is also able to meet growth targets across the globe with their large industrial network, a scope that supports the Heat and Control vision.
The FastBack 4.0 is smaller and thinner to fit in a wide variety of locations, reverses instantly giving more control over product handling, and has an ultra-quiet 70db range. There are no pinch points or moving arms to cover and to protect which further improves the working environment. FastBack 4.0 provides higher travel rates than any other horizontal motion conveyor.
“The design process focused on improving sanitary conveying, regardless of if we were comparing against vibratory or other horizontal motion conveyors, we wanted 4.0 to set a whole new standard,” said Svejkovsky.
When it comes to operational design goals of the FastBack 4.0, special attention was given to making it easier to own, removing the pain points that production line managers and operators face on a regular basis when it comes to maintenance, cleaning, and performance.
“Feedback we receive from plant managers and operators is often about needing to reduce downtime and this aligned with our goal of designing the perfect system, one that becomes the best student and not a troublemaker, offering the highest level of operability with the lowest level of effort,” said Svejkovsky.
The FastBack 4.0 will be launched at PACK EXPO in Chicago next week with the FastBack 4.0 (100) which is intended for weigher feeders and other applications where a FastBack 90E would have been used. The FastBack 4.0 (100) is the first of future releases of FastBack 4.0 drive design and capacity options/sizes are coming soon.
