Designing Inspection Systems for Harsh Washdown Environments

In this episode of Quality Lines, host Winston Anderson talks with Jon Gilchrist, Technical Solutions Director for Vision Inspection Systems at KPM Analytics, about one of the toughest challenges in food production: designing inspection systems that can withstand harsh washdown environments while maintaining top-tier hygienic design.

 Jon shares insights from over a decade of engineering experience in automated vision inspection systems. The conversation covers the principles of hygienic design, component and material selection, maintenance best practices, and how to balance durability, safety, and serviceability in food processing environments.

 They explore:

•  What “harsh washdown” really means in practice
• How KPM builds equipment to survive high-pressure sprays, chemicals, and sanitizers
• Why IP ratings alone don’t tell the full story
• The future of hygienic design and smart system monitoring
• The long-term ROI of investing in better design