Mars Petcare – Bathurst, NSW

Background

On Time Insulation prides itself on being insulation specialists, using our knowledge and experience to adapt to all manner of industrial situations. We will always work with our clients to produce the highest quality solution in a cost-effective manner. 

We were contacted by an interstate engineering firm to provide insulation and cladding to new Dryer and Cooler Air System Ducting to be installed at Mars Petcare’s Bathurst Facility. This new system consisted of large diameter pipe spanning 3 levels through their production facility, including stainless steel pipe sized from 300mm diameter to 800mm diameter.

There were long centre radius of bends of up to 2m, and vessels over 5m in height. The temperature of the system is fluctuating and is also subject to Bathurst outside ambient air temperatures (cold winters and hot summers). Our client had a predetermined budget that required to be met with strict conditions, being a food production facility.

Client: Mars Petcare

Location: Bathurst, NSW

Services: Pipe Insulation, Industrial Solutions

Date: 2018

Tags: Pipe, Insulation, Fitting

Their Needs

These conditions included:

Contractors shall fully comply with MARS clean design standards. In general, this requires all reasonable steps to be taken in order to prevent (or mitigate) potential product accumulation points, and allow equipment to be cleaned easily. Particular consideration should be given such that all equipment/components:

• • Must be able to be effectively cleaned and sanitized before and after installation.
  • Must be made from materials that will not migrate into, contaminate or taint food
  • Must be free from cracks, chips, crevices, ridges or grooves that could harbour bacteria and/or hinder attempts to easily and effectively perform cleaning
  • Components that form part of a product pathway should be made from materials suitable for food contact e.g. Stainless Steel.

Mars has strict food safety requirements. Equipment contamination can cause product quality risk and must be strictly controlled. Particular attention should be paid to:

• • Maintaining high standards of personal hygiene (including uniform/boots that should be cleaned each day for work)
  • All tooling should be cleaned/sanitised before installing/modifying any MARS process equipment

Our Solution

On Time Insulation reverse engineered a solution from our clients budget. A proposal was then placed with our client that met their technical and economic constraints. This included glasswool insulation and 304-2B stainless steel cladding, custom-fabricated to fit all components. The stainless steel cladding was laser cut from engineered drawings and shipped to Bathurst to be installed on-site by our trades team. Certain components, including square to round transition pieces, had to be hand fabricated by our experienced sheet metal tradesmen. Our tradesmen worked in with the engineering team installing the ducting, often installing insulation to duct pieces before being hoisted and installed into place.

The finished result was well received by our client and has now been operating for 5 years without fault.