Quality Control
The materials used in manufacture of ReturnHauler products go through rigorous quality control processes before being considered for tank manufacture.
Once adopted they are re-tested during manufacture; and then after manufacture to comply with international standards.
Bureau Veritas has been the AIA (Approved Inspection Authority) nominated by ReturnHauler to do inspections on ReturnHauler builds from 2011.
Pre-Production Material Testing
Before ReturnHauler food-grade tankers are manufactured, material coupons (samples) are tested and approved in independent analytical laboratories nominated by multinational food-grade customers that are distributing their products in road tankers locally and across borders Worldwide on a daily basis.
Below is an excerpt from a typical lab report done on tests carried out on ReturnHauler composite tank material :
"Samples as depicted on the right were sent to the analytical laboratory for analysis according to EU 10 / 2021.
A number of samples of the material proposed were exposed to a series of simulants of varying concentration by total immersion.
Each simulant, duration of exposure, and temperature were determined by the standards indicated in EU 10 / 2011and amendments up to and including EU 2020 / 1245."
At the conclusion of the immersion tests, and to pass the further tests, the samples needed to comply with SML’s (Specific Migration Limits) being the maximum amount of a given substance permitted to be released from the sample into food or food simulant from the composite material being tested.
Test Results
"No heavy metals were found to be present.
All SML’s indicated in European Union EU 10 / 2011were found to be within acceptable food-safety limits."
In addition to immersion testing, ReturnHauler material samples were put through ‘headspace testing’ in analytical laboratories to determine if any materials were given off when the products were heated.
Results here were again within food-safety limits.
Before ReturnHauler tankers can load product in operations, and after tanker washing, swabs are taken at various points on the tanker (manway; tank floor; tank outlet) to determine what CFU (Colony Forming Units) per gram remain after tank washing.
A typical cleanliness objective in the food-grade industry is less than 20 CFU / g. ReturnHauler tanks with their superior inside finish, routinely score well below 20 CFU / g.
All ReturnHauler tankers are given a full quality auidit by a client QC Management before they can go into operations.
