Although the food and beverage industry may not face the same pressures as other industries, such as power generation or oil and gas, the industry faces unique challenges that must be overcome.

The stringency of multiple compliance legislation, coupled with consumer expectations for ever-increasing diversity, provides a complex environment that can compete with or exceed almost any other industry.

At the heart of food and beverage processing is a small but important component: the humble seal.

In terms of plant production, the main challenge to overcome is to meet sanitary requirements. Seals play an important role in ensuring the perfect separation of various materials. No matter what size, temperature, application, medium, pressure or processing speed are required, they must be able to achieve this goal.

To provide an effective and robust sealing solution, you first need to determine the risks involved. Such challenges include:

The complexity of the sealing system requires engineers to take advantage of continuous advancements in technology, resulting in upgraded solutions that meet the most stringent regulatory standards. These include the use of:

The food and beverage industry contains a large number of processes. From beer to chocolate, from ice cream to convenience food, the pressure on sealing depends on the type of production performed.

Choosing the right profile and material for the sealing equipment is based on:

Of course, materials and seals must also comply with international, national and regional health and safety requirements.

The key point is that the correct sealing solution begins with a conversation to determine the engineering specification is just the beginning. Variables must also be considered, including visible and unforeseen. This will allow for the appropriate selection of the initial seals and, further down the line, the replacements that guarantee integrity and longevity.

Visit Chesterton Customseal to learn more about the world of sealing solutions for the food and beverage industry.

Maintenance and industrial lubricants should not be an afterthought 

When it comes to the service life of plant equipment, although seals are essential, they should not be considered in isolation. Lubrication is an essential element of food processing equipment, as is the use of continuous maintenance products.

The type of lubrication used is directly related to the service life of the seal, so the highest grade grease must be used to prevent premature wear. Oils and lubricants used in food and beverage applications should (depending on personal use):

Chesterton's high-performance greases provide longer bearing life and reliability even under the harshest load, temperature, water, and corrosive conditions.

Maintenance professional products must also be of the correct type and of the highest quality. For example, the sealing tape should have adjustability, high density, formability and tear resistance. It should also be able to be used with almost all chemicals and be proven effective at extreme temperatures. PTFE packing should not react to chemicals, can work in a wide pH and temperature range, and can withstand greater pressure.

Chesterton food and beverage packaging solutions include:

Thriving in an increasingly competitive environment requires organizations to periodically re-evaluate their manufacturing processes. Technology is advancing at lightning speed, which means those who cannot keep up; there is a risk of falling behind the competition. When it comes to seals, working with a company that continues to push boundaries to provide innovative and effective solutions is a key component of forward-looking planning. The time it takes to make the correct sealing choice directly affects production, yield, and baseline profit.

Chesterton Customseal is a joint venture between AW Chesterton Company and Customseal Australia. Chesterton Customseal provides customers with innovative solutions for high-performance seals, combining the powerful capabilities of the two brands in one product.

Since 1884, Chesterton has been successfully at the forefront of technology to meet the diverse needs of customers. Their sealing experts and technicians are all over the world, providing local services to Australian operators, working with them to determine the final solution to improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime and ensure compliance with local, national and international requirements.

Download our latest Chesterton Customseal food and beverage brochure.

Visit Chesterton Customseal and talk to one of our experts to discover the right sealing solution for your business.

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