{"id":77886,"date":"2015-03-17T11:38:09","date_gmt":"2015-03-17T10:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.csplast.com\/?p=77886"},"modified":"2024-06-07T09:02:11","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T07:02:11","slug":"ham-moulds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.csplast.com\/en\/ham-moulds\/","title":{"rendered":"HAM MOULDS"},"content":{"rendered":"
THE CHALLENGE<\/strong><\/h5>\n

These moulds are used to shape hams and other cured meats between bone removal and sale of the product to the purchaser.\u00a0 Basically, the ham cut, once it has been boned, is pressed by special machinery and vacuum packed.\u00a0 The use of a mould (usually made from metal) is needed to support and contain the pressed meat so that over time it does not lose its shape which would make subsequent slicing problematic, often resulting in the wastage of quality meat during the slicing process.<\/p>\n

The challenge we were given by a number of ham processing and boning companies in the Parma food district was to find an alternative solution to the use of steel moulds in order to achieve savings in the production cycle.<\/p>\n

Csplast took up the challenge to study and assess the feasibility of making plastic ham moulds in order to create a cheaper alternative to metal moulds while still being just as effective.<\/p>\n

THE SOLUTION <\/strong><\/h5>\n

Engineering <\/strong><\/p>\n

Csplast started with the structural analysis of the metal mould to understand the technical and mechanical characteristics we would have to keep in switching from one type of construction material to another. We identified several aspects concerning flexibility, mechanical strength, hygiene and resistance to low temperatures<\/strong> (once boned the block of ham is placed in its mould and stored in freezers at subzero temperatures).<\/p>\n

The FEM analysis, by simulating mould use in standard conditions, provided us with data which helped us to identify and prevent any deformation or fragility of the article and this meant we were able to identify the most suitable material for its production: HDPE, a food-contact polymer certified by the FDA with a low friction coefficient which is flexible but at the same time stronger than standard PE and is cheap to buy, thus further increasing savings in production costs.<\/p>\n

Based on these indications our engineers developed the 3D mathematics of the piece, designing a made to measure mould to suit the size of the ham cuts used by the client company ensuring, therefore, a perfect fit.<\/p>\n

Injection mould engineering and construction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once the three-dimensional executive files were approved, the industrialization process continued with the engineering and making of the injection mould.<\/p>\n

RESULT<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Thanks to redesigning the ham moulds in plastic we were able to provide our client with the following benefits:<\/p>\n