Stop Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) From Disrupting Your Food Processing Operations

Food processing facilities rely on water for cooking, cleaning, and production—but those same processes continuously introduce fats, oils, and grease (FOG) into wastewater streams.

Abanaki oil skimmers continuously remove FOG from wastewater, helping food processors reduce disposal costs, improve system reliability, and maintain environmental compliance.

The Hidden Risk Inside Food Processing Facilities

Small Amounts of FOG Create Big Operational Problems

FOG contamination in food processing wastewater typically originates from:

• Frying and cooking operations
• Meat, poultry, and dairy processing
• Equipment washdown and sanitation cycles

Even small amounts of FOG can:

• Accumulate in pipes, lift stations, and tanks
• Cause blockages and system backups
• Increase sludge and treatment load
• Risk discharge violations

➡️ Result: higher maintenance costs, system downtime, and increased wastewater expenses

FOG Is a Constant Challenge Across All Food Processing Operations

Every Facility Produces Oil-Contaminated Wastewater

FOG is present in nearly all food processing environments:

• Meat and poultry plants
• Dairy processing facilities
• Snack and bakery production
• Frying and prepared food operations

Regardless of process, wastewater carries oils, greases, and food byproducts.

👉 This makes FOG management a continuous operational requirement—not a one-time fix

Why Traditional Wastewater Treatment Methods Fall Short

Treating Oil Too Late Increases Cost and System Strain

Most facilities rely on:

• Dissolved air flotation (DAF) systems
• Chemical treatment
• Biological wastewater processes

These systems:

• Perform better when oil is removed early
• Require more chemicals when overloaded with grease
• Are not designed for continuous surface oil removal
• Increase sludge handling and disposal costs

➡️ Result: higher treatment costs, reduced system efficiency, and increased maintenance demand

The Abanaki Advantage

Continuous FOG Removal at the Source

Abanaki oil skimmers remove floating fats, oils, and grease directly from wastewater—before they impact treatment systems.

How It Works

Abanaki systems use oleophilic (oil-attracting) technology:

• A belt or tube moves across the wastewater surface
• FOG adheres to the material
• A wiping system removes grease into a collection container

This enables continuous, low-maintenance oil removal without chemicals or complex controls.

👉 Outcome: reduced treatment load, lower maintenance effort, and improved system performance

Purpose-Built Oil Skimmer Solutions for Food Processing

One Technology Doesn’t Fit Every Application

Oil Grabber® Model 8 Belt Oil Skimmers (High Volume Wastewater Systems)

• Handles large volumes of grease and oil
• Designed for continuous wastewater flow
• Reliable in demanding food processing environments

👉 Ideal for:

• Large production facilities
• High-volume washdown systems
• Central wastewater tanks

👉 Benefit impact: reduces disposal costs, improves uptime, and lowers labor requirements

Oil Grabber® Model 4 Compact Belt Skimmers (Small to Mid-Size Systems)

• Compact design for tight installations
• Efficient removal of moderate FOG loads
• Easy retrofit into existing systems

👉 Ideal for:

• Smaller processing lines
• Auxiliary wastewater systems
• Facility upgrades

👉 Benefit impact: improves efficiency while reducing recurring cleanup cost

Oil Viper® Tube Oil Skimmers (Confined or Irregular Areas)

• Flexible tube reaches confined or complex areas
• Effective in shallow or irregular tanks
• Efficient removal of floating grease layers

👉 Ideal for:

• Lift stations
• Small pits and sumps
• Hard-to-access wastewater areas

👉 Benefit impact: improves coverage, reduces missed grease buildup, and enhances system reliability

Why Food Processing Facilities Choose Abanaki

Proven Performance with Lower Total Operating Cost

✔ Continuous 24/7 FOG removal reduces manual cleanup
✔ Reduces load on DAF and wastewater treatment systems
✔ Low maintenance design minimizes service time
✔ Helps prevent pipe clogs and system failures
✔ Improves compliance with wastewater discharge limits

👉 Result: lower total operating cost with improved wastewater performance

Real Impact in Food Processing Operations

From Wastewater Burden to Controlled Process

Abanaki oil skimmers deliver measurable operational improvements:

• Reduce wastewater treatment costs and chemical usage
• Lower sludge generation and disposal requirements
• Prevent clogging and system downtime
• Improve efficiency of downstream treatment systems
• Enable recovery and reuse of oils in some applications

👉 Transforms wastewater management into a more efficient, cost-controlled process

Turn FOG Waste Into Controlled Wastewater Performance

Not an Ongoing Operational Problem

With Abanaki oil skimmers, food processing facilities can:

• Reduce wastewater treatment load
• Lower operating and disposal costs
• Minimize maintenance and downtime
• Improve environmental compliance

Increase overall system reliability

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)