SideDrive Conveyor Company has won the Innovation Showcase Award for the Bakery, Grains, Nuts, Seeds and Snacks sector at this year’s Process Expo in Chicago, Illinois. 

A panel of judges selected one winner from each industry sector and announced the winners during the opening day of the show on November 2. 

SideDrive’s hygienic spiral conveyors use only side drive, edge-driven technology from Intralox and are fit for virtually any application, including naked, raw, and packaged food products. Not only are they among the most hygienic spiral conveyors in the world, they can be configured in any way—curved, spiral, with turns in both directions, multiple inclines and declines, or simply straight—and without any transfers. 

Hygienic features of the spiral include an open, accessible design with a drumless, or cageless, design and smooth welds, flat plate construction and sloped surfaces that ensure easy access to clean quickly and thoroughly while preventing standing water. The modular belting, drives, rods and sprockets are made with USDA-compliant plastic. This helps the spirals stand up to high-pressure washdown environments while eliminating contamination risks caused by shavings and lubrication that comes with metal belts. 

“We are extremely honored to win this award. While we live and breathe this technology every day, we are thankful to the panel who felt our hygienic spiral was the best innovation in our category. The interest in our technology has been growing and we’re glad to display it here at Process Expo for all to see”, said Tony Maniscalco, SideDrive Business Unit Leader, who accepted the award at the opening press conference.

About SideDrive Conveyor Company

SideDrive Conveyor Co., an NCC Company, provides completely configurable and modular sanitary side drive conveyor solutions. Offering the ultimate flexibility while meeting the highest sanitary requirements, SideDrive spiral and long-running conveyors use a unique, plastic modular belting system that eliminates transfers and creates a smooth and effortless motion.