When it comes to the food and pharmaceutical industries, sanitation is no longer just a requirement, it’s a central part of production design. Lines must be increasingly clean, sustainable, and efficient, yet the balance between hygiene and productivity remains one of the greatest challenges.
The need to ensure increasingly cleaner production lines has led to the creation of SteamFlex, the new system developed by MH Material Handling in collaboration with SteamItaly, designed to integrate conveying and steam cleaning in a single, unified solution.
From Hygienic Design to integrated sanitation
For over forty years, we have specialized in automation and conveying solutions for the food and pharma sectors. For us, Hygienic Design has always been a design principle, not an accessory. Open frames, certified components, and easy-to-access structures, every detail is engineered to ensure cleanability and long-term durability.
True innovation, however, emerges when mechanical design meets sanitation technology. This is where our collaboration with SteamItaly, an Italian company specializing in professional steam cleaning machines, comes in. By integrating their XSteam unit with our SaniBelt hygienic conveyor, we created a system that combines the bactericidal power of steam with the efficiency of a cleanable conveying process.
How SteamFlex works
The SteamFlex system consists of a SaniBelt hygienic conveyor, designed according to Hygienic Design principles, and a high-temperature steam unit that enables direct cleaning of the belt surface. Steam, generated at 100°C and 10 bar, is released in a continuous and controlled flow, effectively removing bacteria, organic residues, and contaminants without chemical detergents.
The open-frame AISI 304 stainless steel structure, continuous welding, and full component accessibility allow sanitation cycles to be completed in less time, significantly reducing water and chemical consumption. The result: lower operating costs, greater operator safety, and reduced environmental impact, all while maintaining productivity. In short, a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable production line.
A new standard for hygienic lines
One of the main advantages of SteamFlex is its flexibility. It can be integrated into new or existing lines, adapting to a variety of configurations. With its IP66-rated drum motor and food-contact certified components, SteamFlex is ideal for high-risk areas, including dairy, meat, bakery, and fresh food applications.
The union of two Italian competencies
SteamFlex represents the synergy between two fields of Italian expertise: on one side, MH Material Handling’s experience in designing custom conveying systems; on the other, SteamItaly’s proven steam technology, renowned for its cleaning efficiency and sustainability. Together, these strengths elevate Hygienic Design to a new level, transforming industrial cleaning into an integrated, intelligent function that enhances productivity, safety, and sustainability.
Conclusion
SteamFlex marks a new step forward in MH Material Handling’s vision: to develop solutions that simplify operations, reduce waste, and improve the quality of the final product. In modern automation, efficiency is no longer defined only by speed or performance. But also by the ability to ensure a clean, safe, and sustainable production environment. And it’s precisely in this balance between engineering and steam that SteamFlex finds its true strength.
For more information www.mhmaterialhandling.com
