To help original equipment manufacturers meet the stringent regulatory and quality requirements that affect the food equipment industry, Victrex launched a dedicated PEEK1 food product grade at the Fakuma show in Germany. Compared to metals, the new "VICTREX FGTM" range of high performance thermoplastics offers OEMs additional benefits in terms of cost effectiveness, productivity and performance, and achieves the colorless appearance consumers expect.

Food & Beverage (F&B) Manufacturing equipment companies are faced with a variety of health, safety and hygiene requirements set by regulators, industry and consumers. In addition, VICTREX PEEK uses Industry 4.0 technology to provide food and beverage manufacturers with the opportunity to optimize efficiency and reduce production costs compared to using metals.

Reduce parts production costs – enhance reliability and maintenance cycles

In the short term, part manufacturing costs can affect component costs. For example, metal components may require expensive multi-step manufacturing processes. Alternative materials or scalable manufacturing process options, such as injection molding, can reduce component costs in large quantities. In the long run, the total cost of ownership of parts can be reduced by selecting more optimized materials (such as high performance polymers) and/or designs that extend component life and reduce downtime costs or product quality losses.

Currently, mechanical components used in the food production industry require regular maintenance. For example, this may be due to the corrosion of metal components. Such corrosion may cause local environmental pollution; for example, stainless steel in a salty environment at a temperature above 60 °C. In addition, exposure of components to extreme temperatures and chemicals can cause deterioration and damage; the lubricant required for moving parts can also cause contamination.

“In order to protect consumers and enforce social and environmental standards, the regulatory landscape of materials used in food, beverages and drinking water is becoming increasingly complex. Updated, more stringent requirements for better taste, longer shelf life, clean labels, products Differentiation and consumer safety requirements pose further challenges for companies, and the VICTREX PEEK food-grade product portfolio is addressing these challenges,” said Victrex Manufacturing and Engineering Director Steve Dougherty.