Capability Statement Dec 2016 - Primas Dry Ice Blasting - Disassemble, Clean and Reassemble Coffee Roasting Plant in Perth, WA.

CONTEXT 

Primas Dry Ice Blasting was instructed by a national coffee roasting enterprise to disassemble, clean and reassemble its plant in Perth, Western Australia. A number of the plant's easily accessible components had been cleaned regularly, however, a full shutdown and deep clean had not been completed under the current management.

SITUATION

The plant was heavily contaminated with coffee bean waste including chaff, hard dry gum,
grease and oil. The gum-like contamination in the hopper and valve pipes was baked on due to proximity to the roasting drum. A heavy build up of chaff and gum was severely
restricting the extruder pipes leading to the afterburner and the plant's fans, motor and drive chain were heavily built up with general contamination. Primas agreed on a plan to
disassemble, clean and reassemble the plant's components with the West Australian Site
Manager.

As the plant's components were disassembled and dry ice blasting progressed it was
identified that where oily and viscous coffee bean contamination was encountered dry ice
blasting did not pop the contaminant off but rather removed it and then pushed it around the substrate concerned.

ACTION 

Primas carefully disassembled the roasting plant and provided a deep clean of all components using dry ice blasting. Where oily and viscous contamination was encountered the components were dry ice blasted, wiped with dry cloths to remove the majority of the contamination and then dry ice blasted again. Particular care was taken to not damage sensitive surfaces, components and nearby equipment. After the cleaning was completed Primas reassembled the plant.

RESULT 

The roasting plant was carefully disassembled, cleaned and efficiently reassembled. The coffee bean chaff, gum, grease and oils were effectively removed from the plant's components without damaging its various substrates or electrical circuitry. The clean resulted in improved air flow through the roasting barrel which led to more even roasting, improved flavour characteristics and increased production throughput.