Food and Beverage Industry
At Fakuma, Victrex is introducing a PEEK portfolio specifically developed for the food sector to help OEMs comply with the strict regulatory requirements and high quality standards of the food industry. Compared to metals, the new “VICTREX FG™” family of high-performance plastics offers additional benefits in terms of cost-effectiveness, productivity, and performance for OEMs—while meeting consumer expectations for neutral taste.
OEM manufacturers in the food and beverage industry face numerous health, safety, and hygiene requirements imposed by regulators, the industry, and consumers. In addition to the use of Industry 4.0 technology, specialized VICTREX PEEK polymers offer food and beverage manufacturers the opportunity to optimize efficiency and reduce production costs compared to the use of metals.
Reduce component production costs, improve reliability and extend maintenance intervals
The cost of complete assemblies can often be influenced in the short term by the manufacturing costs of individual components; for example, manufacturing components from metals may require expensive multi-step machining. Choosing different materials or tailored manufacturing processes, such as injection molding, can reduce component costs at appropriate production volumes. However, component costs can also be reduced in the long term by selecting optimal materials, such as high-performance polymers, and designs that extend component lifespan and reduce failure costs or quality losses.
Machinery components used in the food production industry must be maintained regularly because, for example, they are made of metal and are therefore susceptible to corrosion. If corrosion occurs, it can lead to contamination in certain environments, such as when stainless steel is exposed to salty environments at temperatures above 60°C. In addition, extreme temperatures and chemicals can damage components, or contamination can result from lubricants, which may be necessary for moving parts.
“To protect consumers and implement social and environmental standards, the regulatory environment for materials used in food, beverages, or drinking water is becoming increasingly complex. Updated, stricter requirements, combined with demands for improved taste, longer shelf life, clear ingredient labeling, product differentiation, and consumer safety, present further challenges that VICTREX PEEK’s food-grade portfolio can help address,” says Steve Dougherty, Director of Manufacturing & Engineering at Victrex, ahead of Fakuma in Friedrichshafen (October 16–20, 2018).
New portfolio to improve cost-effectiveness and productivity
Victrex offers specialized PAEK products that meet, among other things, the EU10/2011 testing requirements. This can help reduce costs for household appliances or commercial equipment and improve productivity and output in industrial facilities. Regulatory compliance typically entails significant costs. The approval of new materials by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) often costs over 100,000 euros per case and can, in some instances, take well over a year. And that does not even include in-house testing and validation for a specific application, let alone the approval of the component itself for food contact. The cost risk can be reduced if the manufacturer has already had its materials certified by NSF International. Pre-approved materials can result in cost savings of around 10,000 euros and time savings of about twelve weeks.
The VICTREX FG portfolio includes PEEK polymer grades intended for food contact that meet the stringent testing requirements of all or at least one of the following standards:
- Food: U.S. FDA 21 CFR 177.2415 (all types approved); European Union Regulation 10/2011 (all types approved except carbon fiber types); South American Mercosur GMC RES 02/12; 32/07; 32/10);
- Drinking water: WRAS, United Kingdom; KTW, Germany, including KTW guideline tests and DVGW W270 microtests.
Further development of applications based on food-grade products, combined with many years of PEEK expertise
The food industry has been relying on Victrex’s PEEK-based solutions for some time now. The range of applications extends from cookware and beverage dispensers for commercial and private use to industrial applications such as food-contact components in conveying systems, aseptic processes, sensors, gears, and filling nozzles. The company’s in-depth PEEK expertise is based on nearly 40 years of experience with this high-performance polymer and collaborative partnerships with the industry. In Austria, Victrex PEEK is distributed by Plastoplan Kunststoffe.
