Innovation that never stops at MH Material Handling

New conveying solutions that combine speed, safety, and hygienic design

MH Material Handling unveils significant innovations at major trade fairs, cutting-edge solutions designed to meet both current and future market demands. ItaliaImballaggio spoke with CEO Luca Fontana. “MH is preparing several new products, to be unveiled soon and in the coming months”, Fontana told us. “Among them is the new USC (Ultimate Safety Chain), developed in partnership with Ammeraal Beltech. The new USC is a fully retrofittable solution compatible with 879 chain, a best-seller first introduced in the 1990s, which can be upgraded simply by replacing the chain and sprockets. Scheduled for market launch by the end of next year, the new solution will be available in various sizes (especially 63, 83, 114, 190, and 304 mm). All versions feature a tangential engagement system, overlapping link wings for maximum chain safety, and a pivot cardan joint specifically engineered to reduce noise at high speeds”.

What drives innovation in a well-established, successful product?
“It all starts with the market’s demands”, explains Fontana. “Customers are increasingly asking for faster, safer and quieter conveyor systems, in line with the growing trend towards production lines operating at increasingly higher speeds. It is worth noting that this new chain has been developed to ensure the highest possible level of operator safety”.

Are there sustainability aspects worth highlighting?
“For us, sustainability is a crosscutting concept. It starts with the operator, to whom we offer ergonomics, comfort, and safety. We achieve this through risk reduction, lower noise emissions even at high speeds, and improved machine accessibility. There is also a clear advantage in terms of energy efficiency: the new chain offers a 50% higher tensile strength compared to the previous model. This allows for longer conveying distances and a reduction in installed power. Although the system is still in the testing phase, early data show significant energy-saving potential, which adds to the sustainability inherent in retrofitting process, as well as to our ongoing focus on operator health and safety. These qualities have already been recognised by the market, both at the Ipack-Ima preview and at Fachpack”.

Are there any other new developments in your product range?
“At Cibus Tec Forum, we presented another product preview. It is a new conveying system developed in collaboration with SteamItaly, designed according to hygienic design principles – a fully integrated solution featuring steam-cleaning systems, combining technology with sanitation. The collaboration led to the development of a dedicated cleaning head for conveyor belts, particularly suited to bare product conveying. At the exhibition, we demonstrated the effectiveness of steam cleaning together and showcased a conveyor that can be completely disassembled without tools. This feature facilitates washing and sanitisation, significantly reducing machine downtime. Once again, sustainability plays a key role: the system allows for a notable reduction in the use of chemicals and water. The new solution is a fast, safe, yet accessible and ergonomic machine, offering an excellent balance between operator safety, high-speed performance, and ease of cleaning”.