A company in Soria that produces ready-to-cook and frozen foods needed, from day one, two things that are rarely provided by a single supplier: robust structural protection against the internal traffic of forklifts, pallet jacks, and carts, and hygiene control at the entrances to the production area in a new plant. This major Spanish company turned to INOXSIS to address both needs in a single project: wall protection and hygiene checkpoints for a food company. The result: more than 2,187 meters of protective barriers installed and all the necessary hygiene checkpoints in place for workers before they enter the production area.
The Project
The newly constructed plant dedicated to the production of prepared and frozen foods presented a twofold challenge from the very beginning of the design process: on the one hand, constant internal traffic from carts and pallet jacks that subjects walls and columns to continuous impacts; on the other hand, the need to maintain hygienic, easy-to-clean surfaces that comply with food safety regulations at every point of access to the production area.
The INOXSIS project addressed both aspects simultaneously: structural protection of walls and columns, and hygiene control equipment at the access points to the production areas.
Stainless Steel Wall and Column Protective Covers
Protective Low Walls with Covers
A total of 2,187.11 linear meters of stainless steel protective barriers were installed. These consist of folded sheet metal filled with concrete, available for straight sections, corners, and corner pieces, which protect the lower part of the wall from impacts by hand trucks, pallet jacks, and transport carts. The cap or top profile is no minor detail: it prevents dirt from accumulating along the edge and makes cleaning easier.
Column protection struts
The installation was completed with column guards made of round stainless steel tubing, featuring brackets for mounting or embedding in the floor—the same system that INOXSIS also uses to protect walls or doors, whether hinged or sliding, on floors with heavy machinery traffic.
Stainless steel is the natural choice for this type of project: it resists corrosion, is compatible with CIP cleaning and standard food-grade disinfectants, and maintains aesthetic consistency with the rest of the plant’s sanitary facilities.
Learn more about this product line: Wall Protectors.
Hygiene checkpoints at the entrances to production areas
In addition to protecting the structure, the project included equipping the entrances to the production areas with hygiene stations to ensure that staff followed protocol before entering the plant. Three different models were installed, each with a different level of requirements:
6x INTEGRA PASS-320 — access control system with automatic hand sanitization via photoelectric sensors and shoe sole cleaning using two 700-mm rotating brushes. It features a turnstile and is designed for use at main entrances to production areas.
2x COMPACT PASS-320 — a more rigorous hand-cleaning process than the INTEGRA: this model automatically washes, dries, and disinfects hands, and features two rotating brushes for cleaning shoe soles, as well as a turnstile.
2x INTEGRA PASS-200 — a personal hygiene station for secondary entrances: hand sanitizing and a turnstile, in a more compact design.
Fully equipped sinks with trash cans and toilet paper holders, serving as supplemental handwashing stations ready for immediate use.
Result
- More than 2,100 meters of walls and columns protected against impacts from the very first day of production.
- Consistent hygiene control at all relevant access points, with equipment sized according to the type of access and the hygiene level required at each point.
- A single supplier for structural protection and hygiene, offering custom manufacturing, on-site measurements, and installation.
- AISI-304 stainless steel used in all components, in accordance with the hygiene requirements of a frozen food and ready-to-eat meal plant.
One project, two challenges overcome
This project exemplifies INOXSIS’s approach: providing comprehensive solutions for food processing plants, from structural protection to staff hygiene control.
Does your facility need a structural protection project or custom hygiene equipment? Talk to our technical team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a stainless steel protective barrier with a top cover?
It is a low barrier made of folded sheet metal filled with concrete, with an upper profile (cap) that tops the edge and makes cleaning easier. It is installed to protect the lower part of walls from impacts by hand trucks, pallet jacks, or carts in industrial facilities.
What is the difference between the INTEGRA PASS-320 and the COMPACT PASS-320?
The INTEGRA PASS-320 sanitizes hands—without washing them—and cleans shoe soles with two rotating brushes. The COMPACT PASS-320 goes a step further when it comes to hand hygiene: it washes, dries, and sanitizes hands, in addition to washing shoe soles with two brushes. Both models include a turnstile.
Does INOXSIS install these types of projects worldwide?
Yes. The process includes taking measurements at the customer’s own facility, custom manufacturing in stainless steel, and on-site installation, as in this project at a prepared and frozen food plant in Soria.
