Food grade plastics are a staple of the food and beverage industry because they increase safety, reduce maintenance costs, and improve compliance. Food grade plastics are also lightweight and easy to machine, making them the perfect replacement for metal parts. Whether you need to lower operating expenses or speed FDA compliance, food grade plastic machining has a solution.
Problem: Harsh chemicals are routinely used to clean and sanitize food processing equipment, leading to shortened part life and increased maintenance repairs.
Solution: Unlike metals, food grade plastics have excellent chemical resistance, chemical compatibility, and corrosion resistance. They can withstand harsh, abrasive cleaners and acids, as well as hot water and steam, without losing any of their properties or structural integrity. There are a variety of chemical resistant plastics to choose from, depending on the types of chemicals you use and the operating temperatures the plastics will be exposed to. As food grade plastic machining experts, we can help you choose the right plastic for your application.
Problem: Workers need to easily identify component cleanliness and quickly detect in-line plastic contamination of food products.
Solution: Blue food grade plastics are widely used in the food and beverage industry because of their high visibility. If foreign material were to accidentally fall into the food product, it could be rapidly identified in-line, reducing contamination and recalls. Blue plastics also make it easier to determine the cleanliness of components as spores, mold, food and detergent residues are more visible than they are on other colored materials.
Problem: Because food processing typically involves moving products or packing, friction can cause excessive wear and tear, reducing the lifetime of a part.
Solution: Low-friction plastics have a long wear life, greatly reducing maintenance costs and downtime. They can also eliminate the need for external lubrication, reduce noise between mated parts for quieter operation, and protect surfaces from marring and scratching. Low-friction food grade plastics can withstand high amounts of stress and can also run dry in certain conditions. They are an excellent choice for bearings, rollers, slides, bushings and more.
Food grade plastic parts work harder and longer than metal components, improving efficiency, reducing maintenance costs, and streamlining production. All of our food grade plastic parts are ISO 9001:2015 and FDA compliant and undergo a rigorous quality inspection before shipping. Whether you need augers, rollers, chute liners, hoppers, OEM parts, a prototype or more, we can machine you a solution. Contact us today at (610) 926-3245 or email site2@readingplastic.com.
