From staples like white bread to trends like pistachio cruffins, all kinds of tasty products make it to our pantries thanks to the hard work of food processors. Before the work even begins, you need the right equipment to ensure the finished product is safe and high quality.
When it comes to rotary airlock valves, how do you know which options will best support your compliance and production requirements? It’s not always as simple as choosing stainless-steel materials.
The truth is that “food grade” looks different for everyone. There are some non-negotiable features, but certain components, such as the rotor, will vary depending on the characteristics of your ingredient. Let’s consider the terminology.
Defining ‘food grade’
At ACS Valves, the standard food-grade finish for rotary airlock valves includes stainless-steel contact surfaces (i.e., the housing, endplates, and rotor assembly), polished surfaces on the rotor and inlet and outlet throat, and sanitary shaft seals and lubricant.
A Radius Pocket Rotor, or a rotor with U-shaped vanes, may also be included in that definition. U-shaped rotor pockets work best with sticky ingredients that tend to pack, like sugar and flour. If your material is like that, your valve’s components should have smooth surfaces to enable easy cleaning and prevent buildup.
Washdown duty
If your application has high standards for hygiene and frequent cleaning schedules, you need a washdown-duty rotary valve to withstand cleaning with water or chemical solutions at high pressures or temperatures. Otherwise, washing can cause corrosion or rust inside the valve, which can lead to contamination. At ACS Valves, sanitary valves can be designed for washdown duty as an option, so you don’t have to worry about causing damage or shortening the valve’s lifespan.
Quick cleaning
This one’s easy: a quick-cleaning rotary valve is one designed to speed up cleaning and inspection. To make that happen, our engineers created a valve on rails. Just release a set of T-handles, pull, and your rotor will slide out of the housing. Then wipe down the rotor and slide it back in. It’s a lot faster and easier than the standard process, which involves using tools to remove the valve’s heavy endplate.
Our Quick-Clean is also cast with sloped planes and rounded edges to minimize any cracks or dimples that could form on the surfaces, which means fewer areas where material can get stuck and contaminate product down the line.
Sanitary and compliant
A valve housing cast in 304 or 316 stainless steel is the gold standard for sanitation because it excels at resisting bacterial growth. All surfaces that touch your product should be smooth and non-porous with a No. 4 finish.
Besides stainless steel, there are other sanitary coatings available to fit the needs of your application. Lectrofluor coatings for rotors can reduce contaminant buildup for fine powders. XTR-Coat is especially helpful when you have corrosive materials like salt, because it prevents surface cavities from forming inside the valve.
When it comes to specific regulations — whether it’s FDA, USDA, NFPA, or OSHA codes — your supplier should be able to explain how their product helps you stay compliant.
What does ‘food grade’ look like for you?
Which rotors, coatings, and materials are best to keep your product sanitary and compliant? To answer that, we like to start with a conversation. Call ACS Valves to tell us about your application, and we’ll suggest a configuration that delivers everything you need without any frills.
