Food & Beverage
In the food and beverage industry, performance plastics offer a range of benefits that ensure both efficiency and safety in production. These materials are used extensively in food processing and packaging machinery, where their durability helps reduce wear and tear on vital parts. Performance plastics are particularly valuable in friction-resistant applications, such as conveyor systems and machinery components, allowing for smoother operation and longer lifespans. Plastic tubing and piping are essential for safely transporting various liquids, from ingredients to final products, due to their resistance to corrosion and ease of sanitation. Additionally, plastic sheets are widely used for cutting boards, providing a safe, non-porous surface that’s simple to clean and maintain, ultimately helping to preserve food quality and hygiene throughout the production process.
Materials
- Acetal (POM)
- Acrylic (PMMA)
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Nylon (PA)
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET)
- Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
- Polyetherimide (PEI)
Applications For Food & Beverage
- Bushings, bearings, cams
- Conveyor parts
- Feed screws
- Guide rails
- Machine guards, windows
- Pipes and tubes for fluid processing
- Pistons/plungers
- Rollers
- Seals, seats, gaskets
Benefits
- Lightweight for high-speed production using smaller drive motors
- Reduced maintenance and reduced contamination by eliminating lubrication
- Resistance to clean-in-place (CIP) and sanitize-in-place (SIP) cleaning chemicals
- Resistant to hot water and steam
- Long wear life
Did You Know?
PTFE, one of the first plastics used in food
processing, was discovered by accident. DuPont
engineers were experimenting with TFE as a
new refrigerant, but when the gas was stored in
cylinders it polymerized into PTFE resin.