Background

Flavour Makers is a leading end-to-end food development and manufacturing company based in Braeside, Victoria. Among many things, the facility handles a high volume of fine spice dusts which are inherently hygroscopic, meaning they readily absorb moisture from the environment. This characteristic creates a significant challenge for filtration, as the captured product can become rock solid within the system if not managed correctly. Additionally, the installation of the Economy Filters (ECP) and Mideclone units at a significant height required specialized access and safety protocols during the service.

Service Log

Since the last major inspection, the system has remained functional, though the age of the machinery and the nature of the product had begun to impact filter performance. During the service on January, the team performed a full check of both the Mideclone and the ECP units. While most components remained in good condition, a damaged valve was identified and immediately replaced using on-site spares. No major mechanical modifications were implemented during this visit, as the primary focus was on verifying the core control sequences and ensuring the system could still handle the specific load of the food manufacturing line.

Field Observations

The service environment was highly collaborative, with the client providing essential support and a scissor lift to resolve the challenges associated with working at height. A critical discovery during the inspection was that the collected spice product has retained significant moisture, causing the filter bags to harden. While the system is currently operational, this buildup on the fabric significantly reduces airflow efficiency and increases the strain on the fan motor. The team observed that the unique combination of the Mideclone and ECP remains a highly reliable and cost-effective solution for this application, provided the filter media is maintained in a flexible, permeable state.

Future Proofing

To maintain compliance and system health, Mideco has strongly a replacement of the ECP bag filters to address the moisture-related buildup identified during the visit. Mideco continues to provide ongoing technical support and spare parts availability to ensure that Flavour Makers can maintain their production schedule without the risk of sudden filtration failure.

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