Cleaning and disinfection in the food industry
Companies in the food industry, including commercial kitchens, manufacturing facilities, bakeries, dairies, and restaurants, can benefit significantly from using steam for both cleaning and disinfection. Steam is not only highly effective, but also gentle on surfaces and environmentally friendly, making it an ideal solution for industries with stringent hygiene requirements.
Maintaining high hygiene standards is essential in commercial kitchens and throughout the food industry. It is therefore crucial to choose cleaning solutions that not only ensure exceptional levels of hygiene but also minimise the risk of cross-contamination. Steam is a highly effective solution in this regard, combining cleaning and disinfection in a way that supports both food safety and efficient day-to-day operations.
Steam effectively removes grease, dirt, and stubborn residues without leaving excess moisture behind. At the same time, it provides a natural disinfecting effect and can penetrate even the smallest cracks and crevices where bacteria often hide. Best of all, steam gets the job done without the use of chemicals, making it both safe and environmentally friendly.
"We have been using the steam cleaner extensively since we received it, and it has proven to be a valuable tool in our pursuit of world-class hygiene and cleanliness."
- Kristján Rúnar Kristjánsson
The video features Arctic Fish, a publicly listed Icelandic company that supplies premium-quality organic fish to customers around the world.
One of the company's key priorities is to produce seafood in a responsible and environmentally conscious manner. For this reason, our steam cleaning solution and the Optima Steamer SE II proved to be an excellent fit for their operations.
The machine delivers deep cleaning and disinfection, offering a significantly more effective alternative to traditional pressure washers and chemical-based cleaning methods.
Manufactured entirely from stainless steel, the machine is specifically designed for hygiene-critical environments, such as food processing facilities and other sectors within the food industry.
Examples of areas of application
Conveyor Belts
Steam penetrates deep and effectively removes grease, dirt, and other residues that accumulate on belts during production.
Processing equipment
Steam reaches areas that are otherwise difficult or impossible to access.
Ovens
The high pressure and heat effectively remove stubborn, burnt-on dirt and residues.
Ventilation systems
Steam effectively penetrates filters in extraction systems, removing dust, grease, and dirt.
Walls and floors in production areas
Gently clean and disinfect floors and walls - completely chemical-free and with minimal water consumption.
Steam has been proven effective in breaking down biofilm
Studies have shown that steam is an effective, gentle, and eco-friendly cleaning method. The method has proven particularly well suited to environments with stringent hygiene requirements, such as food production facilities. Using saturated steam heated to 125-150°C, dirt, bacteria, and biofilm can be loosened and removed.
Biofilm presents a particular challenge because bacteria protect themselves by forming a protective slime layer, making them significantly more resistant than free-floating bacteria.
In fact, biofilms can be up to 500 times more resistant to disinfectants and chemical treatments than planktonic (free-floating) bacteria
(Bridier et al., 2011).
This means that conventional cleaning methods relying on chemicals are often insufficient to completely remove biofilms and effectively inactivate the bacteria, allowing them to regrow and recolonise surfaces over time.
Steam’s high temperature and ability to penetrate cracks, hard-to-reach areas, and porous surfaces enable it to break down the structure of biofilms while simultaneously removing the bacteria they contain - without the use of chemicals and without leaving residues behind.
Several scientific studies have demonstrated that steam at temperatures of 125-150°C can reduce biofilms formed by pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus to below detectable levels within seconds, depending on the surface material and treatment time
(Ban et al., 2021).
See the documented effectiveness of Optima Steamer
The Optima Steamer disinfects and eliminates harmful foodborne bacteria from surfaces and equipment. It is known that most pathogens are destroyed at 78°C. The Optima Steamer produces hot, dry steam at temperatures ranging from 100-135°C at the nozzle tip. This ensures protection against unwanted microorganisms.
Remove grease and sticky residues with the high pressure and temperature of the Optima Steamer.
The video shows how conveyor belts are cleaned using steam.
The video shows a conveyor belt being effectively cleaned with steam. Steam is particularly well-suited for loosening grease and similar deposits, making the cleaning process both thorough and gentle.
Steam cleaning in a commercial kitchen
The video shows how steam effectively removes grease and dirt, completely without the use of chemicals. It can be used to clean tiles, cabinets, countertops, floors, extraction systems, ovens, and more. Steam efficiently removes the greasy layer that can build up on stainless steel surfaces.
