Meat processing giant, Tönnies Group, is using high efficiency air cleaners from Camfil as part of the pandemic prevention scheme

2020-09-23 Camfil is in agreement with Tönnies Group, Germany for the successful implementation of a multi-level high care, high hygiene air filtration concept at the meat production facility at their headquarters. The aim is to set high hygiene standards for the sensitive food area and focus on improved indoor air quality at the facility. In food production facilities, air is the invisible ingredient and better air quality can help the facility achieve operational excellence and great quality product along with employee health. Often, the lack of standards in the meat production industry around ventilation and limitations in the design of the facility can lead to poor airflow along with insufficient positive pressure in the indoor environment. Also, to achieve the temperatures of around 6 to 10 ° C required for meat processing, Tönnies uses convection coolers. They cool the circulating air and return it to the room for reuse. Scientific studies have shown, that airborne pathogens such as viruses can spread through this air recirculation. Germs packed in aerosols is 80 to 160 nanometers in size and can remain active in the air for up to three hours. These convection coolers can distribute the pathogens in the room and significantly increase the risk of infection for employees.

Due to the global pandemic, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Tönnies Group concluded that they want to protect their facility and employees from these harmful pathogens in the air. They aim to provide healthy, sustainable food with responsible production that meets high standards. The new multi-level hygiene solution consists of high-efficiency HEPA air cleaners, certified with EN1822:2019 from Camfil. These air cleaners (CC 6000 and CC 2000) with ProSafe HEPA H14 filters clean the indoor air from the circulating aerosols or viruses and provide clean filtered air to the cooling system for circulation. The systems were positioned at an elevated position so that the air cleaners can get a good flow of air through the production rooms and at the same time do not interfere with operations.

Initial measurements, which were carried out shortly after the installation, showed significant particle reduction by more than 50%.

The improved air treatment was tested for several days using cold smoke and particle measurements by a team of occupational hygienists and physicians from the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health at theUniversity of Bonn.

"Hygiene is particularly important in the meat production facility to purify the indoor air using appropriate high-performance filters to protect employees, processes, and products. The CC 6000 and CC 2000 air cleaners, equipped with ProSafe HEPA H14 filters, ensure guaranteed performance using high-quality materials for maximum process reliability." - Dirk Leinweber, Director Sales & Marketing, Camfil GmbH

Camfil’s air cleaners are successfully removing the airborne microbes and particles from the Tönnies meat processing facility. Air cleaners ensure a safe production environment for both the personnel and the processes involved. The tests proved the reliable and optimal performance of the air cleaners as part of the pandemic prevention scheme. This system allowed the production facility to become operational again without the hazard of transmission. Access the full case study, at the Camfil website.