Procuring Rubber Hoses For A Food And Beverage Production Facility

By Author: Rubber Fab
Total Articles: 2
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Desirable features of a quality rubber hose for the food and beverage industry include an ultra smooth inner bore, full vacuum and tubing resistant to damage from abrasion, bacteria, chemicals, microbes and/or ozone exposure. Such hoses are suitable for transferring dry bulk products as well as fluids such as milk, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine and pharmaceuticals.

To meet the needs of the food and beverage industry, hoses must transfer a variety of substances without affecting odor or taste. It is advantageous to purchase products that not only meet 3A sanitary standards, but are also approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as the the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Manufacturers fashion rubber hoses specifically for sanitary suction and discharge applications. Desirable features of such hoses include an ultra smooth inner bore, full vacuum and tubing resistant to damage from abrasion, bacteria, chemicals, microbes and/or ozone exposure. Typical uses for hoses include hot air blowing, sanitary suction, sanitary discharge and the transfer of foods, beverages ...
... or clean-in-place (CIP) pharmaceuticals.

Hoses crafted by leading manufacturers may feature seamless white ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) tubing, grey EPDM rubber, double polyester spiral reinforcement and/or dual helix wire. Hoses from leading manufacturers also perform well under a wide range of temperatures (-20F to 300F) and withstand working pressure up to 300 pounds per square inch (psi).

Hoses for more advanced applications may require seamless white nitrile or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blend tubing, grey EPDM rubber and/or synthetic high tensile textile reinforcement with static conductive filament and monofilament helix. Such hoses are suitable for transferring dry bulk products as well as fluids such as milk, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine and pharmaceuticals.

Take care to purchase the proper hose for your needs. Depending on the application, procurers require hoses of various makes, sizes, weights and flexibility. Substandard quality reduces the service life of hoses and replacing a hose is costly.

Abrasion is a major cause of damage to rubber hoses. With improper installation, hoses brush against each other and/or adjoining surfaces, compromising structural integrity. Remain alert during the installation process to prevent abrasion. Hoses also incur damage when bent or twisted beyond flexibility capabilities. Kinking, pulling and crushing are sources of additional damage. Following operating procedures including proper installation, temperature and pressure requirements increases hose longevity.

Ensure quality and reduce operational hazards by purchasing from a reputable supplier. In addition to FDA approved rubber hoses, a reputable supplier may also offer smoothbore fluoropolymer hoses, convoluted Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hoses, silicone hoses, FDA PVC hoses, sight gauges, metal detection tubes and other products.

Consider the intended application before ordering hoses, as FDA rubber hoses and silicone hoses are available in a variety of sizes. For one stop shopping, source hose assemblies, fittings and adapters as well as sanitary clamps, sanitary gaskets, tri clamp sanitary fittings, O-rings and other complementary products from the same provider.

The writer is associated with Rubber Fab Technologies Group, a supplier of a myriad of metallic hose assemblies, Sanitary Hose Assemblies, O-rings and more. Rubber Fab Technologies Group supplies products to the biopharmaceutical, dairy, food/beverage, and semi-conductor industries.