In a previous post, we discussed the undeniable benefits of stainless steel over other types of metal. One of the most important advantages is the ease in which stainless steel can be cleaned and kept sanitary. As makers of sanitary valves that cater to the food and beverage industry, among others, this makes stainless steel the go-to material for Chemseal.

Because many of our customers are involved in the production, packaging, transportation, and distribution of foods and beverages, we thought it important to explore the types of valves that are most commonly used in these applications.

Valves utilized by the food and beverage industries can be divided into two main subcategories: direct contact and utility services. Let’s take a closer look at both.

DIRECT CONTACT VALVES

As the name implies, these valves come into direct contact with foodstuffs, whether it’s milk, soda, condiments or another item that flows through tanks and tubes. Direct contact valves “are regulated by standards from various independent organizations: 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. and NSF International, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and more,” reports Valve Magazine. These valves must be manufactured very carefully to avoid trapping particles of food or allowing bacteria to accumulate. It’s for this reason that stainless steel is the most popular option for direct contact valves in the food and beverage industries.

UTILITY SERVICES

The second type of valve commonly used in the food and beverage services industry is the utility services valve. These valves don’t come into direct contact with food, but rather handle the supply of steam, water, and other non-food resources that are necessary to the preparation, packaging, or transportation of foodstuffs.

Want to learn more about the stainless steel sanitary valves we supply for both direct and indirect use in the food and beverage industry?

Shop the full selection in our online store today.

Apr 11th 2017 Chemseal