Executive Summary
Sanitation and repeatable cleaning performance are critical requirements in food processing plants, laboratories, and animal care facilities. Manual cleaning methods and undersized washers introduce variability, increase labor costs, and elevate contamination risk.
The Girton Model 80-O Cabinet Washer addresses these challenges through a large-capacity, fully stainless-steel, automated washing system designed for consistent, validated cleaning of carts, racks, cages, trays, and similar process items. This white paper explains the operational principles of the Model 80-O, its hygienic design features, and why it is widely applied in food industry sanitation and laboratory animal care environments.
The Sanitation Challenge in Food, Laboratory, and Pharmaceutical Facilities
Facilities operating under USDA, FDA, and AAALAC expectations must maintain strict sanitation standards while controlling labor, water, and energy use. Inconsistent spray coverage, poor drainage, and inaccessible internal surfaces are common failure points in conventional washing systems. These deficiencies increase downtime, complicate validation, and can compromise hygiene outcomes.
Large-format items such as racks, carts, cages, and trays further complicate cleaning. Their size and geometry demand complete 360-degree spray coverage, reliable detergent application, and effective soil removal without manual intervention.
Overview of the Girton Model 80-O Cabinet Washer
In addition to food processing and laboratory animal care, the Model 80-O is widely applied in pharmaceutical manufacturing environments where cGMP compliance, validation, and contamination control are critical. The Girton Model 80-O is the largest cabinet washer in Girton’s product family, engineered specifically for high-volume, regulated cleaning applications. It is commonly configured as a rack, tub, and cart washer in food facilities and as a cage and rack washer in laboratory animal care operations.
Constructed entirely of high-grade stainless steel, the 80-O integrates washing, rinsing, and optional final rinse stages into a single enclosed cabinet. Factory testing ensures consistent performance prior to installation.
Hydrospray Cleaning Architecture
At the core of the Model 80-O is Girton’s Hydrospray cleaning design. Unlike systems that rely solely on water pressure, the Hydrospray system uses positive oscillating spray headers driven by external power. This ensures complete spray coverage to the top, sides, bottom, and ends of the wash load.
According to the brochure diagrams, dual header supply hoses deliver increased water volume and higher spray pressure, while oscillation eliminates shadowing and missed surfaces. This design is particularly effective for complex rack geometries and densely loaded carts.
Sanitary Construction and Drainage Design
Sanitary design is essential for preventing recontamination. The Model 80-O features: – Smooth interior cabinet surfaces to eliminate debris traps – Bottom flush-down design that directs soils to the drain – Vertical, self-draining pump configuration – Fully ported 3-inch gravity drain valve for complete drainage
Self-cleaning, easily removable screens protect pumps while allowing debris to be flushed to the sewer at the end of each cycle. These features simplify sanitation and reduce manual cleaning requirements.
Controls, Automation, and Validation Support
Pharmaceutical operations place additional emphasis on documented, repeatable cleaning processes. The Model 80-O is designed to support cGMP-aligned validation workflows, including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and Installation and Operational Qualification (IQ/OQ). Optional documentation packages provide checklists, test protocols, and records to support regulatory inspections. The Model 80-O incorporates microprocessor-based control systems with programmable wash cycles. Operators can adjust time, temperature, and chemical dosing parameters to match specific sanitation protocols. Lockable controls and security access help ensure compliance in regulated environments.
Optional printers and documentation packages support validation, recordkeeping, and audit readiness, which is especially important in laboratory animal care and food safety applications.
Operational Efficiency and Resource Conservation
Girton’s washing systems are designed to conserve water and energy while maintaining cleaning performance. Recirculated wash solutions, controlled detergent dispensing, and optional heat exchangers reduce utility consumption. Efficient spray coverage minimizes cycle time without sacrificing sanitation results.
Applications and Use Cases
The Girton Model 80-O is engineered to support regulated environments across food, laboratory, and pharmaceutical operations. The Model 80-O is commonly used to clean:
– Food industry carts, racks, tubs, and trays
– Pharmaceutical manufacturing components such as IBCs, machine parts, drying trays, pallets, pails, and large glassware
– Laboratory animal cages, racks, and debris pans – Inhalation chambers and feeder components
– Bottles, containers, and transport carts
Optional ramps, monorails, custom racks, and sectional construction allow the system to be adapted to existing facilities and workflows.
Installation, Testing, and Lifecycle Support
All Girton washers are factory tested prior to shipment. Girton provides installation, start-up, and operator training services, including turnkey project support. This reduces commissioning time and ensures the washer performs as designed from day one.
Conclusion
With proven performance in food, laboratory, and pharmaceutical environments, the Girton Model 80-O Cabinet Washer delivers validated, repeatable sanitation for large-format items where compliance, reliability, and hygiene are essential. The Girton Model 80-O Cabinet Washer is a purpose-built sanitation solution for facilities that require reliable, repeatable, and validated cleaning of large-format items. Its hydrospray architecture, sanitary stainless-steel construction, and automation capabilities make it well suited for food processing and laboratory animal care environments where hygiene, uptime, and compliance are non-negotiable.
FAQ: Girton Model 80-O Cabinet Washer
The Model 80-O is designed to clean carts, racks, cages, trays, tubs, bottles, and other large-format items used in food processing and laboratory environments.
Hydrospray uses powered, oscillating spray headers to ensure complete 360-degree coverage, rather than relying only on water pressure.
Yes. The system is designed for use in food processing, pharmaceutical and laboratory animal care facilities and supports validation and recordkeeping requirements.
Smooth interior surfaces, bottom flush-down design, self-cleaning screens, and complete drainage prevent debris accumulation and standing water.
Yes. Girton offers custom sizing, optional ramps, heat exchangers, control packages, custom racks, and sectional construction to fit facility and application requirements.