Preventing bacteria on meat!

Theo Legters, Manager Operations at T. Boer en Zn. is a veteran in the meat industry and has a clear view on hygiene. His motto: “Don’t combat symptoms, but combat the problem at the source”.  

Theo Legters likes to go one step beyond in hygienic design than is required by current standards. Together with Henk Ter Avest from DGS in Haaksbergen, he recently developed the new ‘Hygienic Slaughter Line (HSL) Chain’ (DGS-HSL-CHAIN) which set a new standard: the new DGS-HSL-CHAIN is incorporated in the DGS-HSL® concept.

Trendsetter

“T. Boer en Zn. is part of the VanDrie Group. We supply the entire world, including to counties with the highest hygiene and food safety standards”, Theo says. “Food safety and shelf life can only be achieved at the highest level if you thoroughly study matters of hygiene and know what risks of bacterial infections exist and where”, he states. “Everything in the production process must be right and designed hygienically. The staff must apply the regulations. Only then, it’s possible to realise manageable, food safe process. In short: don’t combat symptoms, but combat the problem at the source.”

The solutions implemented by him at T. Boer en Zn. are often elevated to standards by inspection authorities of hygiene programmes. You can easily say he’s a trendsetter in the field. Everything in the slaughter line has his attention, from the method of skinning to the air treatment up until the conveyors. Especially those last ones can be the “standard hiding place of bacteria”, according to Theo. “The rusting of a zinc-plated chain, grease that is food-grade but attracts dirt and bad cleanability are a thorn in my side.”

About T. Boer en Zn.
T. Boer en Zn. started as a family business and has grown into one of the largest calf slaughterhouse in the world; the only calf slaughterhouse with the royal distinction of ‘Royal Warrant’. Annually, around 400 employees in the company in Nieuwerkerk aan de IJssel process more than 400,000 calves, coming from the properly inspected, integrated chain of the Dutch VanDrie Group, which T. Boer en Zn. is part of.

In the early sixties of the previous century, Jan van Drie bought his first new-born calf to increase its value. Now, the VanDrie Group, with more than 25 companies, is the largest veal integration in the world. They are a global leader in the field of veal and the largest calf milk powder producer. Additionally, VanDrie Group wants to meet the highest hygiene and food safety requirements and be a frontrunner here as well. Guided by Safety Guard, a unique system of integral chain management, around 1.5 million calves are slaughtered annually. More than 95% of this is exported all over the world. This way, the VanDrie Group supplies around 28% of European demand.

www.t-boer.nl
www.vandriegroup.nl

Sustainable, hygienic solution

In a collaboration with Henk Ter Avest of DGS, foodstuff technology, technology and practical knowledge joined. “Our principles were a sustainable, properly maintainable and cleanable chain, which is resistant to acids, without having to use grease that attracts bacteria.” Teamwork yielded a new, sustainable RVS chain without grease on the outside. Henk Ter Avest: “This chain can easily be cleaned in line, even with acids”. Theo adds: “What’s more, with proper maintenance, the lifespan of the chain is infinite. He can be maintained, part for part with a space piece, during normal hours under good circumstances. Unplanned downtime by breaking of the chain has, in combination with the maintenance concept, been reduced to zero. This solution seamlessly fits with the existing galvanised gimballed chain. This way, we can remodel the existing conveyors to this new standard in phases.”

Theo is very pleased with the collaboration with DGS: “DGS wants to innovate and is very close to us as a client. Together, we pooled years of practical experience and a wealth of technological knowledge. It’s great that this solution set a new standard”.

About DGS
DGS helps its clients with passion and devotion to carry out meat processing and product handling in a reliable, efficient, hygienic and animal-friendly manner, based on branch knowledge and with a team of people with years of technological experience. DGS designs, manufactures, installs and maintains innovative systems and lines with a high measure of automation in this branch. DGS believes in partnership with clients and suppliers; to maintain branch knowledge and to receive feedback that contributes to developing the best solution.

www.dgs-ps.nl