Conveyor belt direct product

Use case & economics

Use case

What it does

Reduces microbial load on dry surface products (herbs, spices, supplements) by 2–4 log without heat, chemicals or moisture. Preserves volatile aromatics + active ingredients compared to steam / ethylene oxide / gamma sterilization.

How it works

Products run through a stainless-steel tunnel with UV-C lamps transverse to the conveyor direction. Louvre curtains at entry and exit contain the UV light (ICNIRP / TROS IOS personnel protection mandatory — products in direct line of sight to the lamp). Inner reflector geometry multiplies the dose by reflection.

Economic value

Regulatory significance: in the EU, direct UV-C on food is covered by Regulation EU 1999/2/EC (food irradiation) — country-specific approval required (Germany: BVL § 13 LFGB). Operationally favoured for dry products where moist treatment damages quality.

Regulation & design tips DE

Region

International

Other

Directly permitted

Dried herbs + spices · egg-shell surface decontamination (non-edible surface)

Directly prohibited

Meat, fresh fish, vegetables, fruit, baked goods — direct irradiation of edible surface

Legal basis

§13 LMBG / LMBestrV (UV explicit) · disclosure + label „treated with ultraviolet radiation" for edible-surface treatment

Design tip — personnel protection (ICNIRP): tunnel enclosure + light-barrier interlock at the tunnel entrance. Direct UV-C irradiation within personnel reach is acutely harmful for eyes + skin — the safety form factor dominates over UV efficiency.

Full EU country table + concept comparison on luvex.tech/knowledge

Regulatory & safety notes

EU/DE — §13 LMBG / EU directive 1999/2/EC: direct UV-C irradiation of food legally counts as treatment with UV radiation. WITHOUT special approval in Germany only dried herbs + spices permitted (positive list BVL). Fresh products require application to BfR or approval in the respective EU member state. Declaration + labelling as "treated with ultraviolet radiation" mandatory.
USA — FDA 21 CFR 179.39: UV radiation for controlling surface microorganisms on food generally permitted. Juice applications additionally Juice HACCP compliant (5-log pathogen reduction required).
Personnel protection (ICNIRP): tunnel enclosure + light-barrier interlock at the tunnel entry MANDATORY — UV-C is acutely harmful to eyes + skin. Personnel-reach form factor → safety form factor dominates over UV efficiency.

Required UV intensity

← Open step ① Design Target on the left to pick reduction + germ

Top view · Concept

UV-C zone (inside tunnel)Product on beltLouvre curtains (contain UV)

Side view · Lamp 9 cm above product Tunnel 15×96 cm · Lamp ≤ 90 cm · Offset 4 cm · Product 2 cm

Front view · Tunnel 15 cm

UV-C beamBelt · product · walls

Building a conveyor / tunnel line? Coming soon The tunnel configurator — spec the physical system (belt geometry, UV architecture, lamp layout and cooling) and request a quote — is on the way. This dose target will carry over as the planning reference.

See the roadmap →