Wrapping Up a Safe Production Environment
Companies in food production operate under detailed, unbending rules regarding sanitation. There’s no “if” about a clean work environment – rather, it’s usually “how much” and “how often” cleaning procedures are implemented.
The Milwaukee metal fabrication professionals at 3Up Metal Works know this reality well. Partnering with Kelly Construction & Design, we recently helped a prominent Milwaukee pizza manufacturer retrofit and open a second plant in Jefferson, Wis.
How big was this undertaking? The new facility, which began operations a few weeks ago, is scheduled to produce 50 million frozen pizzas a year!
The building was formerly used by a food processing company. The new tenant added specialized equipment to create two pizza topping lines ... and much, much more.
In compliance with sanitation regulations, all production equipment has to be completely washed down after every shift. There’s a lot of water and cleaning solution involved – none of which can be present in the area when production resumes. It all has to go down the drain.
The surrounding walls and structural supports have to be impenetrable, to prevent bacteria growth from presence of residual water. It’s a tall task … which is where the Milwaukee metal fabricators at 3Up Metal Works got down to business.
Our veteran metal works team precisely bent a tremendous volume of stainless steel sheeting to get the job done. The metal was formed so that overlapping creases could seal off tight corners. Custom metal caps would cover the tops of beams.
Our craftsmen wrapped 600 linear feet of lower wall flashing, and 300 feet of upper wall flashing, with the formed stainless steel. Wall beams were flashed 10 feet vertically.
Support beams were boxed in. Middle columns, and doors of all types, were flashed. All this stainless steel was affixed firmly in place via drilling and rivets.
It was hard, detail-oriented work. Our professionals got it done. The plant opened on schedule.
The mayor of Jefferson called the new manufacturing citizen “the type of employer any community would be fortunate to have.” An economic development official described it as “a world-class employer and innovator in the pizza industry.”
We’re thrilled to help this beloved corporate citizen get its new plant off the ground. You’ll find its products in any grocery store frozen foods section. With the opening of this new facility, the chances of running out are probably slim to none!