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Bill Pregler
Bill Pregler has worked in the winery equipment industry for
many years and is a staff writer for Wine Business Monthly.
New Handheld ATP Meter Technology
Improved swab testing to monitor cellar sanitation from Hygiena
The self-contained UltraSnap swab determines ATP contamination on all surfaces in the winery.
L I K E E V E R Y O N E I N T H E commercial food industry, wineries should
lightweight, handheld EnSURE meter. The test is then initiated, and results
always demand strict sanitation protocol as part of their production. In
are available in 15 seconds. There are a number of swabs available, but
cellars this would include contamination checks on everything from hoses
three are best for the winery:
to pumps, floors to barrels, crush pad to tanks and most certainly bottling
• The UltraSnap swab for basic ATP detection is best for all winery
equipment. As the old saying goes, “You cannot monitor what you do not
surfaces in the production environment.
measure; and if you do not measure, you cannot manage.”
• The SuperSnap is an extremely sensitive ATP detector for more critical
One of the best tools for measuring in our trade is a handheld ATP meter.
sanitation locations like fill spouts.
I recently heard from the folks at Hygiena, who are bringing their latest
• The AquaSnap is a honeycomb dipper design for testing water from the
technology to market this summer. Called the EnSURE, it has a wider range
well head to the cellar.
of tests available than their previous SystemSURE Plus. In addition, there is
a new version of the SureTrend software.
I particularly like the extenders available from 30 inches to 13 feet to help
The science is based on detecting ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which
you reach inside large tanks or difficult access areas.
in 12 words is a “Universal energy chemical found in all animals, plants,
I often interview Professor Randy Worobo, food microbiologist from
yeasts, molds and bacteria.”
Cornell University, who annually conducts winery sanitaWhen ATP samples are combined with a reactive solution,
tion workshops throughout the United States. Every time
such as luciferase/luciferin, a measureable level of light is
I attend a sold-out Dr. Worobo seminar, I am amazed how
emitted. Called RLUs (relative light units), the higher the
many wineries in attendance do not already have a reliable
light reading, the more the contamination. It is the same
sanitation program in place. For him, luminometers are
chemistry that allows fireflies to glow, deep ocean fish to
absolutely essential in everyday winery sanitation, not just
attract prey and a winemaker to detect bacteria on hoses
for a particular event like bottling.
and fill spouts.
It is important to proactively monitor your sanitation
Often referred to as a luminometer, ATP detectors are
program on a regular basis. This is to verify your daily
standard for hospitals, water treatment facilities and all
cleaning procedures, effectiveness of chemicals and
forms of food industry processing. Unfortunately, they
competence of your cellar personnel’s cleaning protocol.
are still woefully underused in the wine industry—which is
And it should then be recorded and logs maintained.
surprising, considering that they are easy to use, affordable
With the EnSURE, all tests are recorded using Hygiena’s
and an absolute must for benchmarking cellar sanitation.
updated
SureTrend data management software which
With the EnSURE, the worker simply swabs the surface
With extenders from 30 inches
monitors results over time. The PC/Windows software,
in question, which can be any metal, plastic or wood. The
to 13 feet, winemakers can
generates charts, graphs and has 25 pre-programmed,
pen-sized swab is returned to the tube from which it was
access difficult to reach areas
customizable reports for data-hungry, sanitation-minded
stored, the reacting agent is released by breaking a snapfor ATP testing.
managers.
valve, the contents are shaken, and the tube is put into the
16 June 2014 WBM
The EnSURE handheld ATP meter provides winemakers
precise test results in 15 seconds.
SureTrend can be installed on a network server to broadcast (email)
information to different departments and alert people to trends, warnings
and failed locations.
Two AA batteries will easily power the meter for a year with daily
testing. The units come with a one-year warranty for both parts and
labor. EnSURE meters have built-in self-check calibration; but if additional
verification is required, a Calibration Control Kit will confirm the meter is
within specification.
What’s Cool: Not only will Hygiena offer any winery a free 30-day trial but
will allow owners of the earlier version (SystemSURE Plus) to upgrade to
the new EnSURE.
ATP management affects all cellar sanitation protocol. If you think
“clean,” you must also think how to get there. Are you wasting precious
water idly hosing floors or are you using steam: from that floor to crush pad
equipment, to tanks and even barrels. In past articles I have often repeated
sage words from the science of Dr. Worobo. My favorite is, “Everything on
your floor eventually ends up in your barrel.” He has the numbers to prove
it. Buy an ATP bug detector and see just how clean your winery really is.
For more information, contact Lauren Roady, national marketing manager,
headquartered in Camarillo, California: 805-465-5317 or Lauren@hygiena.
com, and she will direct you to regional support. WBM
Send your suggestions for cool products to
Bill Pregler at [email protected]
WBM June 2014 17