It is always an important topic, but especially for the upcoming Anuga FoodTec in March, the hygienic conveying of food is highly topical. Masterflex AG from Gelsenkirchen, a specialist for sophisticated hose and connection systems made of innovative high-tech plastics, fabrics and films, is focusing its attention on high-quality profile-extruded hoses with a firmly cast stainless steel spiral. "When it comes to food conveying, the food approvals of the hoses and connection systems used are particularly crucial. The conveyed food must not be contaminated under any circumstances during transport," describes Alfons Beitz, Sales Manager at Masterflex AG.
With its Master-PUR Food, Master-PO Food and Master-SIL Food hoses, Masterflex offers special hoses made of abrasion-resistant polyurethane, polyolefin and silicone specifically for conveying foodstuffs. These are equipped with an integrated stainless steel spiral and meet even the strictest food regulations.
The wheat is separated from the chaff when it comes to hose spirals
Some manufacturers still use copper-plated wire spirals on the market, which are anything but safe from a food safety point of view. After all, abrasion can expose the spirals, which then oxidize or copper particles in food are the result. Acids attack copper and cause it to form salts. For all copper salts, there are migration limits in Directive 2005/79/EU, an amending Directive to 2002/72/EC. This means that they may only be detected in very low concentrations in the transported foodstuff. For this reason, Masterflex has consistently relied on stainless steel spirals for several years, as these are even approved for direct contact with foodstuffs. The hose specialist uses only harmless raw materials and declares these as a matter of course when certifying the hoses and connecting elements. With such a careful approach to production, it is not surprising that Masterflex AG has certification for hoses and connecting elements in accordance with 2002/72/EC.
Keeping an eye on costs and bulk material
Connecting systems and system components easily, quickly and reliably, with short set-up times and optimum cleaning properties - these important requirements for the successful operation of production systems in the food industry are met by food hoses from Masterflex. Particularly practical: the transparent hoses allow food producers to keep an eye on their bulk material at all times, and thus control the conveying flow. Thanks to the largely smooth inner wall, the hoses are easy to clean. The food hose types are suitable for conveying dry media such as sugar, flour, spices, powder and milk powder, but also liquid foods. They are flow-optimized and resistant to tension and tearing.
The food hoses have excellent abrasion resistance, are temperature-resistant in a range from -60 °C to +200 °C (briefly up to +230 °C), odorless and tasteless, and are lightweight and very flexible. Electrical charges can be dissipated by grounding the support spiral on both sides.
The hoses are available as standard in DN 13 to DN 200, in production lengths of up to ten meters; special lengths are available on request.