A guide to measuring your equipment for a SegriCover, exploring every aspect of the process, along with the key points to remember when taking your measurements.

Used by food production sites to maximise hygiene and minimise downtime, SegriCovers provide
a simple yet effective solution to equipment protection.

Instead of risking expensive control panels, machines, and production lines during washdowns, you can simply cover your equipment with a heavy-duty, waterproof shield that eliminates the need for unsafe and unsustainable single-use plastic.

With SegriCovers growing in popularity, we felt it was important to answer the most common questions surrounding this solution, and what better place to start than with a step-by-step guide to measuring your equipment?

NOTE: Before we get started, we wanted to highlight a key point to remember. Photos, especially annotated photos, are extremely helpful when it comes to sharing your measurements. This is also true of machine drawings and PDFs. If you are able to submit these resources, alongside your measurements, this will simplify the process of completing your SegriCover project.

How do you measure equipment for a SegriCover? 

What should you be measuring?

The simplest approach is to measure the equipment itself, as opposed to trying to guess the measurements of the cover. We will then use the details of your machine to design a SegriCover that is the correct size.

The cardboard box technique

When it comes to measuring your equipment,
a helpful trick is to imagine you are measuring for a cardboard box that needs to sit neatly over the machine. To do this, you will need to measure the maximum allowed height, width, and depth.  

You will also need to identify any obstructions that could prevent this imaginary box from covering your equipment. The most common examples are awkwardly-shaped machine parts and mounting points.

How do you account for machine parts and mounting points?

If your equipment has additional parts that extend beyond the central shape (e.g. pipes, wires, and light beacons), one option is to ensure the imaginary box is big enough to hold them, too. You will just need to be careful that this doesn’t disrupt the overall shape of your SegriCover and the equipment underneath is protected from damage. If you are concerned, the other option is to include cut-out requests in your measurements. 

As for the mounting points, if they would be easy to cover, one idea is to factor them into your measurements. This could be an option if your equipment is attached to a free-standing bracket. However, if it would be impossible to pull a cover over the mounting points, for example, if your equipment has been bolted to the factory wall, you will need to request cut-outs. 

How do you take measurements for a SegriCover with cut-outs or clear windows?  

Measuring for cut-outs

Cut-outs are a good option to explore if you are dealing with extremely large or awkwardly-shaped machine parts. This includes parts that don’t need to be protected during washdowns e.g. conveyor belts. It also includes parts that need to be protected from water ingress e.g. a large light beacon.

In the first instance, we would introduce the necessary number of cut-outs to ensure the relevant part(s) could pass through the SegriCover, instead of sitting inside and disrupting its shape. In the second instance, we would produce separate SegriCovers: one for the main piece of equipment and one (or more) for the extended part(s). 

In both cases, you will need to take detailed measurements of the equipment part(s) that need to reach through the SegriCover: measuring how close the part(s) sit to the different sides and nearest corner of the machine, plus how tall and wide the part(s) are. Using these measurements, we will be able to introduce cut-outs that are the right size.

What fastenings will be used to complete this process?

If your SegriCover is going to wrap around machine parts instead of fitting over your equipment in a simple box shape, any cut-outs will need to be accompanied by a corresponding slit. This will allow your operatives to pull the cover on and off.

As for holding these slits in place, there are three types of fastening to explore.

The first option is a zip. At Klipspringer, we don’t typically recommend zips for SegriCovers as they can get stuck, are a less hygienic option, and tend to have a shorter lifespan than other fastenings.

The second option is Velcro. Although this method isn’t going to get stuck, it is similar to a zip in the sense that it is less hygienic and less likely to stand the test of time.

The third option, and our preferred approach here at Klipspringer, is magnets. This neat, hygienic, and durable fastening method is favoured by food production sites; making life easier for operatives who can simply pull open or snap together the relevant slits.

Measuring for a clear window

In addition to cut-outs, many food production sites will ask that their SegriCovers include clear panels. This is a useful customisation option if you need a screen to be visible even when your SegriCover is in place.

If you require a clear panel, it is essential that you list the size of the relevant screen, noting both the width and height. You will also need to measure where the screen sits in relation to the edge of the machine and the nearest corner.

Once you have supplied these measurements, we will be able to position the clear panel so that it sits directly above the screen in question.

Assessing your SegriCover quote

Once our team has received your measurements and come back to you with any relevant questions, we will be able to design the SegriCovers for your site.

We will then send through a quote that includes the dimensions of your SegriCovers.
To avoid any mistakes, it is essential you read this quote carefully and carry out a final check of the SegriCover dimensions.

At this stage, you may discover the dimensions of your SegriCover are slightly larger than the dimensions of your equipment. Typically an extra 10-20mm will be added to the width and depth of the SegriCover to ensure a tight fit, but one with enough give to allow your operatives to lift the cover on and off.

As for the height, the added length will often be an additional 50-100mm. This can help to weigh down the SegriCover and will prevent any liquids from splashing up inside. However, even with this extra length in mind, the SegriCover should never be touching the floor of your factory. This is because a cover that touches the floor is unhygienic and could become a point of non-conformity during an upcoming audit.

That brings us to the end of our guide to measuring your equipment for a SegriCover. We hope this article has provided a clear picture of the process involved and has given you all the information you need to confidently take your measurements.

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If you have any remaining questions, our team of experts are on hand to help. You can contact them on 01473 461800 or sales@klipspringer.com. Alternatively, you can share your details using the contact form below. 

If you want to learn more about SegriCovers or other segregation solutions, the Klipspringer team would be happy to help. Share your details below to arrange a consultation.