Food & Beverage Sealing Solutions

Meeting the Extreme Demands of the Food & Beverage Industry.

The food and beverage industry is vast and diverse, with many applications. Challenges to overcome are the relevant industry-specific standards, strong temperature fluctuations, aggressive media, and high pressures. Pumps, mixers, grinders, fillers, filtration, valves, elevators, etc., all are essential applications for the market's success. In the food and beverage industry, seals are vital in ensuring the safety and quality of products. They help to prevent leaks and other problems that can cause food spoilage and cross-contamination.

In addition to food safety, quality seals are crucial for the efficiency of a food processing operation. Leaks can cause downtime and production losses. Poor-quality seals can also wear out quickly, leading to premature replacement costs .

What is FDA, 3A, & NSF?

• Aggressive Media Compatibility & Resistance - engineered materials withstand aggressive media, such as CIP/SIP cleaning agents, sugar, and syrups, and prevent aroma transfer.
• High Pressure Resistance
• High Temperature Resistance
• Compliance & Certification

• Consumer Health & Safety
• Product Quality - for optimal taste and texture

Filling System Seals - The type of seal that is used in a filling machine will depend on the specific application. O-rings are often used to seal joints and v-seals are often used to seal joints that are subject to vibration or movement.

Centrifuge Housings - The seals in a centrifuge housing are located between the rotating bowl and the stationary housing. They help to prevent the liquids from leaking out of the bowl and the solids from getting into the housing.

Pumps - Pumps are used to move liquids, gases, or slurries. Pumps often operate at high speeds, which can create a lot of force. This force can cause leaks if the seals are not properly installed or maintained. The seals in a pump are located between the rotating parts of the pump and the stationary parts. They help to prevent the fluids from leaking out of the pump and the air from getting into the pump.

Mixers - Mixers are used to combine ingredients in food and beverage production. They can be used to mix liquids, solids, or both. Like grinders, mixers often operate at high speeds, which can create a lot of force. This force can cause leaks if the seals are not properly installed or maintained. The seals in a mixer are located between the rotating parts of the mixer and the stationary parts. They help to prevent the ingredients from leaking out of the mixer and the air from getting into the mixer.

Grinders - Grinders break down food products into smaller pieces. Like mixers, grinders often operate at high speeds, creating a lot of force. This force can cause leaks if the seals are not properly installed or maintained. The seals in a grinder are located between the rotating parts of the grinder and the stationary parts. They help prevent ingredients from leaking out of the grinder and the air from getting into it.

Process & Safety Valves - Valves protect equipment and personnel from overpressure. They are typically installed in systems with a risk of high pressure, such as boilers, pressure vessels, and piping systems. When the pressure in a system exceeds a predetermined level, the safety valve will open to release the excess pressure. The seals in a safety valve are located between the valve body and the valve disc. They help prevent fluid from leaking out of the valve when closed and contaminants from entering the valve when it is open.

Tank Spray Systems - Tank spray systems are used to clean and sanitize tanks and other equipment in the food and beverage industry. They typically use high-pressure water or steam to clean the surfaces. The seals in a tank spray system are located between the spray nozzle and the tank wall. They help to prevent the water or steam from leaking out of the nozzle and to prevent contaminants from entering the tank.

ESP Food & Beverage Flyer

Food & Beverage Regulations & Standards

• FDA Regulations: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict regulations for seals in the food and beverage industry. These regulations are designed to ensure that seals are made from food-grade materials and do not release harmful substances into food.

  US FDA Code of Fed Reg

  • FDA , CFR Title 21 - (Food and Drug Administration, Code of Federal Regulations)
  • FDA CFR 21 § 177.2600 - Rubber article intended for repeated use
  • FDA CFR 21 § 177.1550 - Perfluorocarbon resins
  • FDA CFR § 177.1520 - Olefin polymers
  • EU Food Contact Reg
  • EC 1935/2004, EC 2023/2006, EU 10/2011
• 3-A Sanitary Standards: The 3-A Sanitary Standards are a set of industry standards used to ensure food processing equipment's safety and quality. These standards include requirements for seals, such as the materials they can be made from and the methods used to clean them.

  3-A® Sanitary Standard for multiple-use rubber, Number 18-03

  • Material and serviceability requirements of rubber materials intended for multiple use as product contact surfaces in the production of milk and milk products

  3-A® Sanitary Standards for multiple-use plastic materials, Number 20-27

  • For use on voluntary basis
  • Hygienic requirements for plastic materials for multiple-use as product contact and/or cleaning contact surfaces in equipment for production of milk and milk products
• NSF International: NSF International is a non-profit organization that develops and certifies standards for various products, including seals. The FDA recognizes NSF standards and are often used in addition to FDA regulations.
• Other
  • Germany
    • BfR (Federal Institute for Risk Assessment)
      • Recommendations on Food Contact Materials
    • BfR XXI
      • Requirements for commodities based on natural and synthetic rubber (e.g. NBR, EPDM, FKM)
    • BfR XV
      • Requirements for silicones
  • France
    • Arrrêté du 5 août 2020
      • Order on rubber materials and articles for food contact
    • Arrrêté du 25 novembre 1992
      • Order on silicone elastomers for food contact
  • Netherlands
    • Warenwetregeling verpakkingen en gebruiksartikelen (Regulation on consumer articles encountering foodstuffs)
    • Chapter 0 - Rules applicable to all packaging and consumer articles
    • Chapter III - Rubber products
  • Chinese Food Contact Reg
    • GB 4806.1-2016
      • General safety requirements for food contact materials and articles
    • GB 4806.6-2016
      • Food contact plastic resins
    • GB 4806.7-2016
      • Food contact plastic materials and articles
    • GB 4806.11-2016
      • Food contact rubber materials and articles
    • GB 9685-2016
      • Use of additives in food contact materials and articles
  • Japanese Positive List for Food Contact Plastics
    • Positive List for Food Utensils, Containers and Packaging, Notification 196, 2020
    • Positive List as Amendment of The Specifications and Standards for Food, Food Additives (Public Notice of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare No.370) (Promulgated on April 28, 2020) In scope only plastic materials.

When choosing seals for use in the food and beverage industry, it is important to make sure that they meet all applicable standards. This will help to ensure the safety and quality of food products. The standards may vary depending on the type of food or beverage being processed.

• For example, seals that are used for dairy products may have different requirements than seals that are used for beverages.
• The standards may also vary depending on the specific application. For example, seals that are used for high-pressure or high-temperature processes may have different requirements than seals that are used for low-pressure or low-temperature processes.