A good seal should be reliable, experience minimal wear, be easy to install, and enhance equipment performance–but the rotary shaft seals on equipment for food preparation and handling involves much more.
The wrong rotary shaft seal for a food industry application can lead to expensive downtime, costly material waste, damaged equipment, problematic production delays, and even lawsuits. That is why it is critical that the rotary shaft seals that are used in the food industry be carefully specified–which involves several challenges.
Where Are Rotary Shaft Seals Found?
Dynamic rotary shaft seals are a key component for equipment such as …
- High pressure homogenizers
- Water purification equipment
- Meat blenders
- Distilled water pumps
- Milk dispensers
- Ice cream dispensers
- Food portioning systems
- Mixers
- Screw conveyors
- Milling rice, wheat, and flower
- Holding tanks
- Hoppers
- Crushers
- Dry product filling systems
Reliable rotary shaft seals are critical for food preparation and handling that includes chocolate manufacturing, baking, beverage manufacturing, bulk material handling, material and poultry processing, feed and grain processing, and dairy processing.
Exposure to Media
Seals in the food industry can be exposed to various types of media, including water, oils, acids, adhesives, powders, semisolids, suspensions, slurrys, and more. Some forms of media, such as acids and slurries, can accelerate the rate of wear experienced by a rotary shaft seal and lead to premature failure if the wrong material is selected. The choice of a material that is compatible both chemically and with the form of media is critical.
Sterilization and Sanitation
Many times rotary shaft seals will be subjected to sterilization procedures for CIP (Clean in Place), SIP (Sterilize in Place) and COP (Clean Out of Place). These methods may require aggressive cleaning agents or disinfectants, superheated steam, and potentially corrosive acids. Finding a suitable rotary shaft seal material that can handle the sanitation and sterilization methods in place for the target equipment can be challenging but not impossible.
Another potential issue with regard to cleaning involves potential need for seals that can be disassembled and cleaned daily. The ability to spend minimal time in disassembly/assembly can have a significant effect on the cleaning process in terms of time, effort, and the quality of sanitation or sterilization achieved.
Temperatures
As just alluded to, seals may be periodically exposed to extremely high temperatures for cleaning or may simply operate in a high-temperature environment. However, not all temperature concerns relate to high temperatures: some applications involve sub-zero temperatures. The seal and material behavior at the extreme operating temperatures must be considered when specifying seal geometry and material.
Contamination
The food industry can be quite demanding when it comes to rotary shaft seals. Because food is involved, there are a myriad of concerns regarding contamination, with potential sources including lubricants for the seals, contamination from seals that have begun to leak, and contamination from the seals themselves.
Compliance with Applicable Standards
Any part of a rotary shaft seal that comes into contact with food must conform to regulations such as …
- USP Class VI
- FDA 21 CFR 177.1680, 177.1550, and CFR 177.2600
- (EU) 1935/2004
- 3-A sanitary standards 18-03 and 20-27
- NSF/ANSI standard 61 for drinking water systems
- WRAS BS 6920
- 3-A Sanitary Standards
- (EC) No. 1935/2004
And compliance involves more than just the contamination concerns just discussed. The standards and regulations also look at answers to questions such as …
- Does the material release any chemicals?
- Does it exhibit outgassing?
- Does it tend to absorb moisture?
- Does it react chemically to acidic food ingredients?
- Can the material be detected or traced?
Conclusion
Issues such as media type, sterilization and sanitation procedures, temperatures, contamination, and regulatory compliance are all challenges faced in the food industry, and that includes dynamic seals for equipment such as mixers and dispensers. Failure to address these issues leads to the premature failure of seals, which in turn leads to material waste, downtime, and production delays as well as the loss of customer confidence and even lawsuits.
At Advanced-EMC, we understand the challenges involved with specifying rotary shaft seals for the food industry. Our team has the knowledge and experience to assist you in finding the right rotary shaft seal for all your food industry applications. We will work with you to choose a sealing solution that will provide excellent reliability, easy maintenance, and outstanding performance, all while complying with all applicable standards.