The Use of Metal Panels in the Food Industry

By Xipre.  

Metal panels are a quick and practical construction solution for those who work in the food industry. 

In a recent conversation with the founder and CEO of Xipre, Dario Pussetto, we discussed the advantages of using metal panels in the food industry. This is a detailed guide to metal panels and the benefits of using them in food service settings. 

Why is insulating or metallic panel important in the food industry? 

Several aspects can be highlighted, first the speed of assembly. A construction is a very large investment and the sooner it starts working, the better, for which the panel not only provides assembly speed but is also ready to be used, it does not require painting, plastering or any special treatment. 

The second thing we can highlight is cleanliness. Particularly in the food industry it is a very important aspect to consider. Metal-faced panels, especially in interior enclosures, are the ideal solution to maintain controlled hygiene within the establishment. 

When we talk about enclosures, the question arises about its conformation or appearance of the interior sheet. In the wall options we have four: Smooth, tableted (the most classic), diamond and the most recent the mini sinusoidal. We recommend the smooth one for its ease of cleaning, its aesthetics and its completely flat surface, to avoid possible places where dust accumulates. 

Now, regarding the length of the panels, several aspects must be taken into account and be very precise in the measurements, especially due to the thickness of the sheet. In the entire Latin American region, sheet 0.5 is used and we recommend not exceeding 7 meters when that thickness is used, in case we need to exceed that length measurement we must go to a sheet with a greater gauge. To avoid these drawbacks in Xipre our technical team analyzes each project and provides the corresponding advice. 

Is the structure outside or inside? 

Although the panels can serve not only as an enclosure but also as an interior partition, we are going to focus on the exterior enclosure of an industrial building. In an industrial work we usually have a main structure with a full core, very robust, and a secondary structure that is usually made of thinner galvanized profiles and that acts as the interface between the cladding panel and the structure. 

This secondary structure is what we say can go both inside and outside, if we leave the structure outside, the panels remain unobstructed and uninterrupted inside, providing a totally smooth and highly aesthetic surface. There are specific cases that require additional ship engineering to resolve the encounters between columns, but that can be resolved through joint work. In this aspect then, for the food work, and in search of eliminating the accumulation of dust, we recommend the panel on the interior side and the structure on the exterior side. 

Recommendations for roof panels: 

Within the roof panels, we have two options, the light line and the pro line. The first comes with a polypropylene foil on the inside and the second with pre-painted sheet metal with a tablet shape. 

In the food sector, for the same hygiene issue, we recommend the pro line, with an interior plate, which, in addition to the hygiene issue, can have less structure and thus avoid fewer encounters. There have been particular situations where light line panels have been installed in food industries, but it is important to work together with the client to determine in which areas it is viable and in which it is not. 

Natural lighting in industrial buildings 

Natural lighting is a challenge for many industrial buildings, not only because of the energy savings that can be achieved but also for warmth and thermal comfort, and that is where SkyPanels appear, which are polycarbonate panels compatible with the mounting system by overlapping our MEGA Light and Pro panels. 

SkyPanels are not ordinary polycarbonates, but premium panels with a cell system that provide rigidity against the weather, are thermally efficient and allow greater importance and aesthetics to be given to both the roofs and the facades. 

With our technical team we have made lighting calculations for some clients where we can tell you the specific savings, this is important when planning to incorporate them. 

Depending on the orientation and location of the warehouse, we will be able to determine the recommended surface of SkyPanel panels, both on the roof and on the enclosures, which generally do not exceed 8 or 10% of the total. An important detail when inserting the foam panels with the polycarbonate ones is calculating the location of the racks and machinery inside to avoid blocking light that interferes with the initial idea. 

Original article source: Xipre