GUYMON, Okla. May 12, 2003
Seaboard Farms recently set a new standard for plant cleanliness in the meat packing industry by installing VGK’s new oil-free trolley system at its Guymon, Okla., plant. This state-of-the-art, patented trolley system will significantly reduce the risk of contamination associated with black iron trolleys and rails traditionally used throughout the meat packing industry. The new system also provides significant cost savings due to reduced labor cost as well as less product waste. Seaboard Farms is the first major plant to install VGK’s completely oil-free system for transporting carcasses.
Traditionally, meat packers use trolley oil to keep iron trolleys and rail from rusting and to hold in suspension steel shavings caused by metal-to-metal contact. “Black speck” contamination occurs when iron shavings and oil fall onto the meat as it moves through the plant. Although these black specks are not considered a food safety hazard, the specks are required to be trimmed from the carcass.
Seaboard Farms purchased the stainless steel trolley and rail retrofit from VGK, Inc., of Pella, Iowa. The VGK “Porky” trolley combines stainless steel with plastics to form a wheel that requires no oil and outlasts the old steel trolley wheel. This patented wheel significantly reduces metal-to-metal contact between the trolley wheel and the rail, minimizing potential for “black speck” contamination. Seaboard also purchased all new radius-edge stainless rail, another patented item from VGK, and installed all new stainless steel switches throughout the plant’s system.
Seaboard Farms has been able to dramatically reduce labor costs and yield loss associated with trimming black specks from carcasses. They have also eliminated the oil costs and have reduced the cost of caustic cleaners traditionally used to clean iron trolleys.
According to Marty Hast, Seaboard Farms Director of Facility Engineering and Process Design, the decision to employ the VGK technology was not obvious at first. “We took an in-depth look at the installation costs associated with the project, including potential downtime, as well as the up front cost of the system. After extensive research, we determined the conversion was justified economically as long as we did not experience any production downtime as a result of the installation. Through scheduling efforts, the conversion took place during the weekends only, thus Seaboard did not experience production downtime. After having the system in place for almost one year, we are pleased with its performance and have realized the economic benefits as projected prior the decision to move forward.”
The installation of this system is another example of Seaboard Farms’ commitment to provide the highest quality and safest foods for its customers.
Seaboard Farms, headquartered in Shawnee Mission, Kan., is a leading producer and processor of fresh pork in the United States, and a top exporter to Japan and Mexico. The company employs more than 4,000 people in Oklahoma,
Kansas, Colorado and Texas, and markets pork products under the
PrairieFresh® Premium Pork brand. In addition to its food safety commitment, Seaboard Farms has been recognized for its aggressive research and proactive
environmental standards. For more information, log onto the company website at www.seaboardpork.com, or for information on PrairieFresh® Premium Pork log onto www.prairiefresh.com.
VGK, Inc., headquartered in Pella, Iowa, manufactures its patented oil-free, stainless steel trolleys for plants that process pork, beef, and other animals. The company also manufactures patented radius-edge stainless steel rail.
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