Improving electrical safety in the processing area and enhancing overall operations
Beyond the beautiful rows of vineyards and alluring tasting area of Sparkling Pointe lies their industrial processing area, critical to their business to produce and bottle their wine. Spanning 40 acres of land, Sparkling Pointe Winery is located on the North Fork within Long Island’s American Viticultural Area. With the help of Leviton Manufacturing, another Long Island, New York based company, Sparkling Pointe was able to improve electrical safety in their processing area, enhancing overall operations.
Sparkling Pointe allows their customers to view every step of their wine-making process, including a tank room with 30,000 gallons for temperature controlled fermentations, a 3,000 bottle-perhour bottling line, a semi-automated disgorging line, and more.
Because the processing area is accessible to customers and is the heart of operations, it is essential it remain clean, safe, and efficient. To ensure these conditions, Sparkling Pointe conducts frequent washdowns, resulting in wet equipment and machinery.
Having watertight electrical connections is critical. Leviton introduced Sparkling Pointe to LEV Series Mechanical Interlocks, which incorporate a safety disconnect switch and an IEC receptacle in a non-metallic watertight enclosure. These devices are preferred because they allow for flexibility, as much of Sparkling Pointe’s machinery is portable. By having mechanical interlocks installed, the Sparkling Pointe team can safely use LEV Series devices to plug, unplug and relocate equipment, such as steam machines for sterilization. This is much safer than using basic extension cords for power, as those can easily get tugged out and potentially pose safety hazards for employees and customers walking by. Because the LEV Series mechanical interlocks and plugs are IEC 60309 pin & sleeve devices, they lock when mated, reducing the chance of accidental unplugging and improving the integrity of the electrical connection.
