Tubing Hoses and Polymer Components for Food and Beverage Processing

Materials and Components for Food Processing Equipment

Food processing equipment requires materials that can withstand repeated cleaning, temperature changes, fluid contact and mechanical operation. Selecting the right tubing, sealing components, engineering plastics and protective materials involves more than checking individual material properties. Buyers and equipment manufacturers also need to consider the production medium, operating conditions, cleaning procedures and applicable food-contact requirements.

Yozonetech supplies a range of fluoropolymer products, reinforced tubing, sealing components, engineering plastics and protective materials for equipment manufacturers and industrial applications. The following product options can be evaluated according to equipment design and operating requirements.

1. Reinforced Tubing and Fluid Transfer Connections

Fluid transfer lines in food processing equipment may require flexibility, pressure resistance, chemical compatibility or specific routing characteristics. The appropriate tubing depends on the transferred medium, operating pressure, temperature, vacuum conditions and connection design.

For applications requiring additional reinforcement, consider:

• Silicone Reinforced Tubing – An option for reinforced flexible tubing applications where the silicone construction is suitable.
• Mangueira de PTFE entrançada em aço inoxidável – Combines a PTFE inner tube with stainless steel braid reinforcement for compatible equipment connections.
• PTFE Convoluted Inner Smoothbore Tube – Features an externally convoluted structure and a smoother internal flow path.
• PTFE Annular Convoluted Tubing – Can be considered for installations requiring flexible routing and a corrugated tube structure.

What should buyers specify?

When selecting tubing for food processing machinery, provide the following details:

Selection Factor	Information to Confirm
Working medium	Liquid, gas, cleaning solution or other process fluid
Operating pressure	Normal and maximum working pressure
Temperatura	Continuous and peak operating temperatures
Vacuum conditions	Whether the line operates under vacuum
Installation	Minimum bend radius and available routing space
Connections	Fitting type, dimensions and connection material
Cleaning	CIP procedures, cleaning chemicals and steam exposure

CIP and steam compatibility should not be assumed from the tubing material alone. The complete assembly, including the tube, reinforcement, fittings and seals, must be evaluated under the intended operating and cleaning conditions.

2. Sealing Components and Fluid Control

Sealing performance is essential in food processing equipment because leakage can interrupt production, create cleaning difficulties and affect equipment reliability.

Different connection points require different sealing solutions. Static joints, equipment covers, fluid connections and dosing systems should be evaluated according to contact media, temperature, pressure, compression requirements and cleaning frequency.

Yozonetech offers several material and component options:

• Silicone Seals and Gaskets – For suitable static sealing, equipment covers and connection applications.
• Expanded PTFE Gaskets – An option for compatible gasket and sealing applications.
• FEP/PFA Encapsulated O-Rings – Combine a fluoropolymer outer layer with an elastomer core.
• EPDM O-Rings – Can be evaluated for compatible sealing environments.
• PFA Valves e PFA Connectors – Components for compatible dosing, fluid transfer and cleaning circuits.

How to select suitable sealing materials

Material selection should account for both the production medium and the cleaning chemicals used between production cycles. Temperature, compression, joint design and repeated cleaning exposure can all influence sealing performance and service life.

For equipment manufacturers, it is important to confirm the actual material grade, operating conditions and compatibility of the complete sealing assembly rather than selecting an O-ring or gasket based on material name alone.

3. Packaging Equipment Surfaces and Machinery Components

Packaging machinery often includes rollers, guides, bushings, fixtures and other components that come into contact with products or operate in demanding production environments.

Depending on the equipment design, low-adhesion surfaces, wear resistance, dimensional stability and chemical compatibility may be important selection factors.

Available material options include:

• Tubo termorretrátil FEP – Can be evaluated for suitable protective or release-surface applications on rollers and equipment components.
• PTFE Sheets – Suitable for evaluating low-friction, low-adhesion surfaces, liners and insulating components.
• Fluoropolymer Films – Options for suitable surface, lining and electrical separation applications.
• PEEK Engineering Plastic Parts – Can be considered for guides, bushings and equipment fixtures.
• PPS Engineering Plastic Parts – Another engineering plastic option for compatible machinery components.
• Custom Molded PEEK Parts – Allow component dimensions and mounting features to follow equipment drawings.
• Rubber Molded Parts – Can be manufactured for suitable cushioning, mounting and sealing applications.

For custom components, equipment manufacturers should provide drawings, dimensions, tolerances, operating temperatures and expected mechanical loads. These details help determine whether a material is appropriate for the intended application.

Food-contact consideration: A material’s general chemical or thermal properties do not automatically establish food-contact compliance. Where components directly contact food, buyers should request documentation covering the finished material, manufacturing process and intended conditions of use.

4. Utility Tubing and Electrical Protection

Food processing machinery also relies on auxiliary systems for pneumatic operation, utility water, equipment drainage, electrical connections and control components.

These systems may require different tubing and protective materials from those used in direct product-contact lines.

Utility and Auxiliary Tubing

The following products can be evaluated for compatible utility and equipment applications:

• PE Tubing – For suitable utility water and auxiliary fluid circuits.
• Clear PVC Tubing – Provides a transparent tubing option for compatible applications.
• PA11 and PA12 Tubing – Can be considered for suitable pneumatic and auxiliary fluid transfer systems.
• PVC Reinforced Hose – An option for compatible utility transfer requirements.

Electrical Insulation and Cable Protection

Electrical components and control systems require suitable insulation and mechanical protection to support reliable equipment operation.

Relevant products include:

• Cabo elétrico com isolamento XLPE – For compatible electrical wiring applications.
• Polyolefin Heat Shrink Tubing – For wire insulation and connection protection.
• Protective Sleeving and Cable Accessories – For organizing and protecting equipment wiring.
• Spiral Wrap Tubing – For suitable cable bundling and protection requirements.
• PTFE/FEP Dual-Wall Heat Shrink Tubing – Can be evaluated for protecting compatible sensors and electrical components.

When specifying heat shrink products, confirm the shrink temperature, recovery ratio, dimensional requirements and temperature limitations of the components being protected. Installation conditions should not exceed the allowable limits of the complete assembly.

5. How to Specify Materials for Your Food Processing Application

Selecting materials for food processing equipment requires a clear understanding of the actual production and cleaning environment. A suitable material for one application may not be appropriate for another, even when the equipment operates in the same industry.

Before requesting a quotation, prepare the following information:

Required Information	Details to Provide
Aplicação	Fluid transfer, sealing, packaging, utility or electrical protection
Contact medium	Food product, water, oil, cleaning agent or other chemical
Temperatura	Normal operating and cleaning temperature
Pressure	Working pressure, maximum pressure or vacuum
Product dimensions	Inner diameter, outer diameter, wall thickness or part drawing
Connection details	Fittings, end connections and installation dimensions
Compliance requirements	Applicable food-contact declarations or migration requirements
Customization	Cut length, color, logo marking and packaging
Order requirements	Sample quantity, estimated volume and delivery destination

For food-contact applications, specify the exact regulatory or migration requirements for the destination market. Supporting documentation should relate to the finished material and its intended conditions of use.

Custom Supply and OEM Support

Yozonetech supports discussions on product specifications, customized dimensions, cut lengths, colors, logo marking and packaging requirements. Customers can submit drawings or technical details for an initial review before sample evaluation and quotation.

Available stock samples may be supplied free of charge, with freight arrangements confirmed separately.

Discuss Your Food Processing Equipment Project

Whether you are developing a fluid transfer line, selecting sealing components or sourcing custom materials for packaging machinery, providing clear operating conditions helps us evaluate the appropriate product options.

Contact the Yozonetech OEM and Supply Services Team to discuss your application, technical requirements and sample arrangements.