Tunnel Freezer Transformation in the Meat Industry: Higher Productivity with Eurobelt

Application

3-level freezing tunnels

Belt type

E50 Flush Grid

Dimensions

950mm width, 20 metres length

Max. capacity

2300 kg/hour

Average load

40 kg/m² at full capacity

Working shifts

15 hours per day (2 shifts)

Temperature

-18ºC

Average speed

1 meter/minute

One of the main producers and traders of meat in Latin America, with an important presence also in the United States, recognised by its leadership in the agri-food sector. The customer was experiencing serious problems in all its plants, each one with specific particularities. We started studies on improvement implementations in three of them.

Production plant challenges

  • Cross contamination by rust and metal particles.
  • Frequent breakages with no possibility of partial repair.
  • High energy consumption due to the high weight of the belt.
  • High costs in energy consumption, repairs and replacements.
  • Excessive noise due to metal-to-metal contact, affecting the working environment.
  • Cross contamination by plastic parts due to module breakage.
  • Frequent operational interruptions.
  • High costs for cleaning, chemicals and labour.
  • Similar problems to those of the second storey, adapted to the particularities of this installation.
  • High maintenance and cleaning costs.

Implemented solution

After an exhaustive study of each application and an in-depth analysis of the causes of the problems, the Eurobelt E50 FG modular belt was installed in each plant, adapted to the specific needs of each case.

In June 2021, the metal belt was replaced by the Eurobelt E50 FG, adapting the tunnel completely to plastic modular belt running.

Results achieved

  • Zero operating breaks to date (2025).
  • Total elimination of rust and metal particle contamination.
  • 22% reduction in energy efficiency due to lower belt weight.
  • Drastic noise reduction, reducing noise pollution and improving the working environment.

In February 2023, the modular competitor’s belt was replaced by the Eurobelt E50 FG.

Results achieved

  • Elimination of cross-contamination by plastic parts.
  • Zero module breakages to date (2025).
  • 25% reduction in cleaning times, resulting in less water and chemical consumption.
  • Progressive expansion: After six months of successful testing, the remaining belts in the rest of the tunnels were replaced

In April 2023, 6 levels were installed with Eurobelt E50 FG, with results similar to those of the second plant, adapted to the product processed in this installation.

Results obtained

  • Elimination of cross-contamination by plastic parts.
  • Zero breakages in the modules to date (2025). This improvement was possible thanks to the robust design of the Eurobelt E50 FG belt, which avoids mechanical failures even under extreme conditions.
  • 25% reduction in cleaning times, resulting in less water and chemical consumption.

Since its installation, the conveyors have operated without interruption, eliminating cross-contamination of metal and plastic particles, significantly reducing cleaning time with less water and chemical use, reducing noise and improving the working environment, and increasing productivity by eliminating downtime and optimising operational efficiency.
The impact on costs was significant, with an initial investment three times cheaper than with metal belts, lower electricity consumption thanks to its lighter weight, and a decrease in operating costs in cleaning, maintenance and chemicals, achieving a fast and highly satisfactory return on investment (ROI) in the three plants.

“Thanks to Eurobelt, we have eliminated critical problems and increased our efficiency. Their constant follow-up reinforces our confidence in their solutions. We plan to expand this technology to other tunnels in different plants of the group’”.

Customer testimonial.

Does your production process face similar challenges?

This example illustrates how Eurobelt E50 Flush Grid modular belts not only solve operational problems, but also optimise costs, improve sustainability and ensure high hygiene standards in the agri-food sector.

Contact us to find out how our belts can optimise your operations.

Discover the belt used in this Success Story