Safely Edible

UP TO STANDARD
Date: 02.12.21
What does it take to make sure our food and drink is safe and palatable?  The answer is effective processing. That includes making sure the right sealing materials are used in the right place.- By Meghan Cloud Braunger

THE SEALING ENVIRONMENT WITHIN

food and beverage processing is one of the most demanding. Seal failure can lead to potential contamination or line stoppages. Materials, whether elastomer or plastics, must cope with the processing of a broad variety of food types along with Cleaning in Place (CIP) and Sterilization in Place (SIP) regimes that can quickly destroy incorrectly specified
seals. On top of this, compliance with food contact regulations is a must.

A Material Matter

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions makes selecting the right material for every food processing environment simple. Specially engineered to meet all the demands of the food and beverage processing industry, the FoodPro® range of materials includes EPDM, NBR, FKM and Isolast® FFKM elastomers, along with Turcon® PTFE and Zurcon® engineered plastics. The compounds can be used in the production of standard and custom-designed seals, bearings, gaskets and other sealing components.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions offers one of the widest ranges of materials for food and beverage processing. Here we highlight some of the key choices.

High purity

The new FoodPro® E75F1 is specifically designed to meet all relevant global food contact regulations, including the strict US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for use in equipment processing infant formula.

Because FoodPro® E75F1 is compression and injection moldable, it is suitable for both standard and custom-designed seals, including multicomponent parts, which simplify handling and facilitate hygienic design.


Exceptional resistance

Intended for use in the most challenging food and beverage processing applications, perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) Isolast® FoodPro® J9538 extends seal life, reducing unscheduled downtime. It demonstrates superior performance under extreme low and high temperatures, is compatible with a full range of foods and beverages and can withstand the harshest CIP and SIP regimes.
UP TO STANDARD
UP TO STANDARD

FoodPro® materials comply with the most comprehensive number of food contact material regulations and industry standards around the globe, including:

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations
  • European Food Contact Regulations including Reg. (EC) 1935/2004

And for most materials:

  • Chinese food safety standards
  • Japanese Positive List released in 2020
  • 3-A Sanitary Standards
  • NSF International Standards
 
Media and temperature resistant
Eliminating flavor carryover

One of the biggest challenges in beverage processing is flavor carryover, which can occur when, for example, water is bottled after the same equipment is used with a strongly flavored energy drink.

 

FoodPro® V8T90 is a high-performance fluoroelastomer (FKM), intended for use in beverage filling lines for soft drinks, energy drinks, liquid food and near water products. Specially formulated, it prevents flavor molecules from migrating into seal materials, which could then be released and absorbed by beverages in subsequent filling processes.

Flat gaskets

Formulated from virgin polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and enhanced with high-quality approved fillers, FoodPro® HMF 48 is a universal solution for flat gaskets. It is available in a wide range of thicknesses and sheet formats, facilitating simple and inexpensive production of almost any seal geometry. Alongside full compliance and compatibility with a wide range of food and cleaning processes, the material is engineered for strong performance in all operating conditions.

 

Maximum wear resistance

Zurcon® FoodPro® Z81, an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), demonstrates exceptional high extrusion and wear resistance and low friction performance. This material is ideal for reciprocating, very slow rotating and oscillating applications, and can be used with ceramic surfaces, as well as abrasive media and countersurfaces.


Media and temperature resistant

Based on ultra-clean technology, Turcon® FoodPro® MF6 is engineered for unrivalled media and high temperature resistance. Performance in food migration and cleanability
tests proves this PTFE material is suitable for the widest range of applications, including those that have repeated contact with liquids, acidic and fatty foods. It also withstands harsh CIP and SIP regimes and many different cleaning solutions, including caustics, acids or disinfectants.