Establishing and maintaining a completely sanitary environment in seafood processing plants is of the utmost importance to prevent contamination that results in foodborne bacteria and illnesses. Food processing companies must take special precautions, including implementing rigid disinfection and sanitation practices to ensure that their products are safe for consumption and minimize or eliminate the risk of making consumers sick.
Using industrial polyurea tank linings and floor coatings for fisheries is an effective and affordable long-term solution to prevent air and foodborne contaminants from tainting seafood products. Polyurea in the seafood industry also protects flooring systems and tank linings in processing plants from succumbing to premature wear and tear. It maximizes equipment functionality and lifespan, significantly reducing maintenance, repair, and replacement costs.
Applications of Polyurea in the Seafood Industry
Polyurea started off as a revolutionary protective coating for commercial and industrial uses. Due to strong waterproofing capabilities and resistance to temperature extremes, polyurea coatings are one of the most reliable industrial protective coatings on the market. They have the unparalleled capacity to prevent leaks and resist erosion and corrosion damage while withstanding very cold temperatures, preventing contamination, and maximizing product freshness. Now these benefits are being brought to the seafood industry. Due to their high chemical and abrasion resistance polyurea coatings are easy to clean and sanitize and require minimal maintenance.
Here are some of the top applications for polyurea in the seafood industry.
- Oyster farming tanks
- Salmon farming tanks
- Concrete fish farming tanks
- Shrimp tanks
- Seafood packaging areas
- Seafood canneries
- Chillers and cool rooms
- Lining fishing canoes
- Fish hold liners
- Bilge liners
- Hull protection
Polyurea coatings are chemical, heat, and abrasion-resistant. They can withstand a wide range of industrial and environmental elements for long periods of time to protect equipment and even personnel without malfunctioning. Polyurea in the fisheries industry is specially formulated to be corrosion-resistant as well to protect steel piping, concrete, wood, and any other materials that are typically susceptible to rusting or rot in high-moisture situations. It’s a completely non-toxic food-grade protective coating that effectively prolongs the lifespan of your fishing and seafood storage equipment to help cut down operational and maintenance costs.
Benefits of Using Polyurea in the Seafood Processing Industry
Seafood is meant to be consumed and that means you need a non-toxic food-grade protective coating for all of your fishing and seafood processing equipment. Here are some of the top benefits of using polyurea in the seafood processing industry.
Maintain OH&S Standards
Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) standards are designed to keep employees on jobsites safe at all times and reduce the risk of injury. Polyurea flooring applications are not only waterproof, but they can also provide a slip-resistant walking surface for employees that work in high-moisture conditions. Fewer slip-and-fall-related injuries mean more manpower on your jobsite at all times, and it protects your company against potential workplace injury lawsuits.
Thermal Shock Resistance
Environmental temperatures on fishing farms and reservoirs can vary from extremely hot to extremely cold—sometimes all in the same day. Seafood transportation trucks, storage tanks, and processing facilities need to be well-equipped to aptly handle these potential temperature changes. Polyurea boasts excellent thermal shock resistance against all types of weather conditions, ensuring top-notch temperature control to prevent food spoilage during all stages of the processing and manufacturing process.
Fast-Curing Pure Polyurea Coating
Time is money in the seafood industry. Food processing operations need to do whatever it takes to minimize the threat of delays caused by equipment failure, damages, maintenance, or other interruptions. Fortunately, the polyurea application process is fairly quick and simple. It is evenly distributed as a spray, dries in a matter of seconds and fully cures in 24 hours, which limits operational downtime.
Excellent Moisture Resistance
One of the main traits that polyurea is known for having is excellent moisture resistance. In fact, its’ superior waterproofing traits is the chief reason that it’s used for a plethora of industrial, commercial, and residential applications. The seafood industry is no different. Whether it’s on a fishing capillary or at a food processing facility, seafood companies are constantly contending with high-moisture conditions that could potentially contaminate their products and cause serious damages. Polyurea is 100% effective at preventing water leaks to help protect the safety, structural integrity, and sanitation of your seafood transportation, storage, and processing equipment at all times.
Superior Chemical and Acid Tolerance
Another benefit of polyurea coatings in the fisheries industry is that they have a high-tolerance for long-term exposure to chemicals and acid. Polyurea is highly erosion-resistant, which means it won’t immediately start breaking down when it comes in direct contact with various chemicals, which is inevitable in any type of manufacturing or processing environment.
Reduced Equipment Maintenance, Repair, and Replacement Costs
Fewer equipment damages results in lower maintenance, repair, and replacement costs for seafood processing equipment, transportation vehicles, and storage tanks. Applying and re-applying polyurea protective coatings to your industrial equipment, as needed, can lower your overall operational costs significantly because it means your machines will be functioning properly for a longer period of time. Equipment breakdowns can cost your facility a lot of time and money in downtime, temporary employee layoffs, and having to repair or replace a piece of machinery.
Polyurea protective coatings prevent this from happening and prolong the functionality of your equipment in the process.
Contact IMC Distributors for Polyurea for the Seafood Manufacturing Industry in Canada
As the exclusive partner of ISOMAT S.A. and Nukote Coating Systems in Canada IMC Distributors provides our clients with the highest quality and most reliable polyurea protective coating products. We pride ourselves on promoting the latest industrial product advancements for the benefit of our valued customers. Contact us today to learn more or to place an order for your seafood processing facility.
Karli Logan is the Owner and President of IMC Distributors which is the exclusive partner of Nukote Coating Systems in Canada. With a B.Sc and M.Sc, as well as a demonstrated history of working across a number of industries, she has a passion to drive significant gains and benefits for IMC’s clients.