In the food & beverage and biopharmaceutical industries, a quality hose assembly can mean the difference between a safe, contamination-free and profitable operation, and one that can potentially trigger serious financial and public health risks.

The perfect storm of recalls, product losses and FDA-imposed fines ranging in the hundreds of millions of dollars – not to mention the related legal ramifications – can severely impact a company’s bottom line and cause irreparable damage to consumer and shareholder confidence.

For these reasons, plant operators who work in these industries need to ensure every point of their production systems meet sanitary standards for preventing foreign objects, chemicals and particles from coming in contact with the end product. Hose assemblies, which are necessary for transferring many different substances, are a critical part of the process. Therefore, selecting the hose with the right material can eliminate many of the potential hazards and cross-contamination issues that can lead to costly operational disruptions, lost work hours and product loss. For food & beverage and pharmaceutical applications specifically, PTFE or Polytetrafluoroethylene hoses have four main advantages over other common hose materials that should not be overlooked.

Chemical Compatibility
PTFE hoses offer outstanding chemical compatibility because they are non-reactive, making them the premier choice for manufacturers who work with acids, alcohols, detergents and solvents. They can also stand up to other reactive and corrosive chemicals that erode hose performance, preventing possible contamination issues, due to excessive wear and tear.

Strong Temperature Resistance
When it comes to functioning in a wide range of temperature conditions, PTFE hoses can maintain high strength and durability in environments as low as -80°F and up to 500°F, giving your operation greater assurance that the quality and integrity of the hose will not be affected in even the most intense conditions.

Functionality Under Pressure
PTFE hoses are capable of handling pressures as high as 5,500 psi, which means they can operate in systems with high flow rates and dynamic pressure situations. By making sure your hoses are rated to resist high pressure and pressure bursts, you can reduce the likelihood of contamination that could result from having a hose that’s too weak for your process.

Versatile and Flexible
Flex-fitted PTFE-braided hoses are specially designed to eliminate the type of entrapment issues that can cause excess buildup of contaminating deposits. The addition of braids to PTFE hoses provide enhanced flexibility as the hose can be bent and configured as needed depending on its construction and size. They also work well in tough motion and vibration processes.

To eliminate contamination issues and protect product integrity, food & beverage and pharmaceutical producers should make sure to work with a trusted provider of sanitary hoses and fittings. Purity One™ and its comprehensive set of biopharmaceutical hose products, including silicone braided PTFE hoses in standard and anti-static material, are clean-room certified and meet stringent USP Class VI, FDA CFR 177.2600, ISO 1099 and European Pharmacopoeia 3.1.9 standards.

To learn more about Purity One and connect with experts in fluid transfer operations who can recommend products specific to your process and quality assurance requirements, visit www.purityone.com.