Based in the Netherlands, Refresco is the world’s largest independent bottler of soft drinks, fruit juices, and other beverages for retailers and A-brands across Europe and North America. The company currently operates 59 manufacturing sites in Europe, the US, Canada, and Mexico. Vikan, in collaboration with its local distributor AGIS Industrie Service Viersen, worked closely with Refresco's quality management team to implement a consistent and user-friendly color-coding system for cleaning equipment at four of Refresco’s bottling plants in Germany: Herrath, Erftstadt, Calvörde, and Grünsfeld. An effective, consistent, and reliable hygiene program is essential for maintaining the quality of Refresco products and services, as well as building trust among customers regarding their food safety capabilities. Refresco's quality assurance experts are always looking for the best solutions available. Vikan experts conducted thorough site inspections at each of the four Refresco bottling plants in Germany. Their goal was to identify how to enhance current cleaning practices using equipment and procedures that are both food-safe and cost-effective. They also had to address the challenges of operating in highly hygienic environments where standards are constantly rising. Read more about site surveys The decision was made to use two specific solutions. Refresco opted for Vikan Ultra Safe Technology (UST) cleaning equipment for use inside bottle filling stations and areas where there is a risk of product contact. These tools meet the highest hygienic design standards, including BRC v8 Global Standards for Food Safety and ISO/TS 22002-1:2009. Vikan's hygienic design principles ensure that all materials and equipment are safe for use in contact with edible or potable substances, making them easier to clean and dry. UST has become the industry standard for brushware and cleaning tools in the food and beverage sector. Site inspections also highlighted the need for Vikan Hygiene range of color-coded cleaning tools to maintain environmental surface hygiene in Refresco’s German plants. These tools are made from EU and FDA-approved food-contact compliant materials. Working with the local Vikan distributor made it easy to implement the same color-coding system across all four Refresco plants, ensuring the right tools were delivered to every site. Learn more about Ultra Safe Technology Learn more about Vikan Hygiene range Clemens Müller, Refresco’s manufacturing director, highlights the advantages of using the same equipment and color-coding system across multiple plants. It simplifies maintaining high hygiene standards by allowing staff and supervisors to compare procedures and find the most effective cleaning methods. It also reduces the number of tools needed while improving efficiency and consistency. “We’ve improved our overall hygiene management and made it easier for our cleaning teams to work quickly and effectively – and we’re saving money too,†says Müller. For companies focused on hygiene, the ability to share and apply specialized knowledge about maintaining strict standards can be a key competitive advantage. “With this unified use of color-coded cleaning tools, we've definitely achieved that here,†adds Müller. How to minimize allergen cross-contamination using color-coded equipment and site segregation. Vikan Declarations of Compliance (DoC) guarantee that Vikan plastic cleaning equipment and food handling tools are free from toxic substances that could contaminate food. Gain insights from Dr. Phil Voysey on where to look for Listeria in food production and how to prevent cross-contamination from cleaning tools. Kinky Curly Bundles,Curly Bundles Human Hair,Curly Bundles,Brazilian Human Hair Bundles Xuchang KANAZI Hair Products Co., Ltd. , https://www.kanazihair.comHigh ambitions, close collaboration, and site inspections
Color coding brings big benefits
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Debra Smith - Global Hygiene Specialist
Stine Lønnerup Bislev - Previous Hygiene and Compliance Manager at Vikan
Dr Phil Voysey - Section Manager, Microbiology Department, Campden BRI