Add hygienic design to your automation recipe

For anyone working in the food and beverage industry, total food safety is essential to protect public health, maintain consumer confidence and comply with regulations. If you are an engineer in a food processing plant or a machine builder serving this important industry, you must pay attention to the hygienic design of systems and components. Machines must not only perform effectively and efficiently, but also provide the highest level of protection against contaminants and be easy to clean.

Food production can be contaminated physically, chemically, microbiologically or by allergens. As part of a proactive prevention approach, there are five key principles for the hygienic design of automation components: material selection, easy cleaning, easy access for cleaning, proper disposal of liquids and segregation (to prevent allergen contamination). These principles maximize your food safety efforts, prevent serious consequences for consumers and minimize costly downtime for cleaning and disinfection.    

Laws and regulations

It is our duty to inform or remind you that food safety is a legal obligation. Many regulations apply to components and systems used in food production environments. Some of the most relevant regulations include EN1672-2, which sets hygiene and cleanability requirements for food processing machinery in Europe, and Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, which covers materials and articles that come into contact with food.

Regulation (EC) 852/2004, on food hygiene, states that food companies must adopt a food safety management system based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles. HACCP helps analyze processes, identify potential hazards, implement necessary controls, improve food safety and optimize operational efficiency. HACCP plans must be reviewed at least every three years or when production changes by globally certified program owners such as BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standard), SQFI (Safe Quality Food Institute), IFS (International Featured Standards) and FSSC 22000.

Food and beverage processing plants that want to pass these audits must include hygienically designed products in their URS (User Requirement Specification). Auditors will ask to show this document, along with proof of care after the machine is delivered. For example, if you require your machine builder to use actuators made of 304 stainless steel with a surface finish of RA 0.8 µm (as specified in your URS), you must verify compliance with this. Any deficiency in this will result in a nonconformity.

Designed for protection

With regard to hygienic design, the most important organization in Europe is the EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group). SMC already has an EHEDG-certified pneumatic insert coupling, namely the KFG2H-E series.

Fundamentally, each EHEDG-compliant component has a rounded design for better flow of cleaning agent and less chance of liquid buildup. Other EHEDG design guidelines include a surface roughness of RA 0.8 µm or less, corner radii of at least 3 mm, stainless steel material with high corrosion resistance and seals made of rubber materials that comply with Regulation (EC) 1935/2004. SMC offers several clean-design pneumatic products, including the CG5-X2977 stainless steel cylinder, antibacterial filters and the JSY 5000H manifold valve, as well as vacuum suction cups and elastic fingers suitable for direct contact with food. In addition, a new electric actuator expands the portfolio for the food processing industry.

Electrical performance

Electric actuators are gaining popularity in the food and beverage industry for specific applications. This type of actuator can assume more positions than a pneumatic counterpart, which makes it ideal, for example, for filling bottles smoothly and quickly without foaming. In addition, electric actuators are particularly suitable for handling different packaging formats, thanks to their flexibility and wide range of motion.

SMC's HF2A-LEY series electric actuator offers IP69K-equivalent protection against dust and water, a stainless steel housing and FDA-compliant materials, a rounded design to prevent dirt build-up, and NSF H1 food-grade grease, among other features. As a result, this actuator offers significant benefits to food manufacturers and machine builders developing cutting, chopping or filling machines, as well as other machines that require regular cleaning and disinfection.

Want optimal advice on automation components (electrical or pneumatic) for food and beverage industry applications? Then contact the team of experts at SMC. Fully qualified engineers, trained in both HACCP principles and EHEDG guidelines, are ready to advise you and provide solutions for the most diverse needs of both machine builders and food producers.