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Anonym |
This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2017 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
The confined space available in onboard kitchens means cruise operators need to make the best use of every last millimetre. For a warewashing technology provider like the German company Meiko, that means getting the perfect fit between design and functionality. Meiko is fully familiar with the challenges facing cruise liners, and that enables the company to choose the right machines from its product range and tailor them to the technical requirements in each case.
The cruise industry has been making a major effort to optimise its infection control processes to deal with recurring cases of gastrointestinal illnesses. Cruise lines are aware of their responsibilities regarding hygiene and are constantly striving to find the best solutions. Even so, it’s probably impossible to totally eliminate these outbreaks because the infections are constantly being reintroduced by people who have spent time on shore. Meiko focuses on preventing every possible risk in this arena. The machines work in accordance with the strict provisions laid down by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and/or with the criteria of the Vessel Sanitation Program run by US inspectors. What’s more, Meiko’s CC Touch electronic control system provides an intuitive means of controlling all the processes: a lifesaver when there is a crew that speaks multiple languages. In addition, Meiko’s CC Insight expansion module makes it easy to store and display all system-relevant data, functions and operating processes. The perfect safety net to help ships pass the world’s strictest hygiene inspections.
Meiko is just as committed to the ‘green ship concept’ as it is to hygiene and infection control. It has made big investments over the past few years which have steadily decreased the amounts of energy, chemicals and water its machines use. This is particularly evident in Meiko’s M-iQ technology. The M-iQ range of dishwashers has added a new dimension to the issue of sustainability and set new global standards. The M-iQ machine will only use the amount of energy that is necessary to do its job instead of wasting resources.
As a warewashing specialist, Meiko focuses on managing the entire process of getting dirty plates clean – this is why the company’s product developers are also well versed in food waste disposal. Meiko believes that the waste removed from dishware prior to washing should be treated as a resource. Food waste is tipped straight into the WasteStar system where it is conveyed by vacuum from the different areas of the ship to a grinder in the garbage room. The system can even handle bone scraps and raw organic waste from the food preparation process, crushing up everything into a homogeneous, dewatered biomass. Meiko’s solution boasts a remarkably small footprint and a compact design. This self-contained system offers a state-of-the-art solution for food waste management, reducing energy and resource consumption, unpleasant odours and noise emissions to a minimum.