Saint-Gobain is highlighting the benefits of using its Versilon XFR hose for the safe transfer of food in beverages in a new white paper called “Are Hoses Used for Food and Beverage Transfer Applications Really Safe for Consumers?”
The French materials manufacturer points out that hoses used in the food and beverage processing industry serve in a variety of loading and transfer applications, and to achieve the desired performance, they’re commonly constructed in layers, including an inner liner in direct contact with food, one or more reinforcement layers and an outer jacket designed to reduce wear and tear. As a result, these hoses often consist of seven or more layers.
In addition, the hoses are regulated by the FDA, as the chemicals from the food contact layer could migrate into the transferred food or beverages and pose adverse health risks.
Questioning if testing only the inner food contact layer was enough to ensure the safety of the consumer, Saint-Gobain, which says it is committed to preserving fluid integrity and mitigating risk with all its fluid transfer prodcuts, conducted a study to test the compliance of Versilon XFR hose as a whole rather than only its food contact layer. The results of this study were published in the white paper.
Launched last year, Versilon XFR is a lightweight, suction and discharge hose designed for food and beverage transfer applications. Lighter than traditional suction and discharge hoses, Versilon XFR has excellent flexibility to facilitate pump and tank attachment. The hose is compatible with many food product types such as dairy, beer, wine and spirits.
Saint-Gobain says all of Versilon XFR’s layers are FDA compliant: its inner bromobutyl rubber tube, which reduces the risk of flavor contamination, its reinforcement layer and its smooth, convoluted blue hose cover, which is abrasion, ozone, aging, oil and chemical resistant. Additionally, the outer cover’s wide corrugated, low-friction material is easy to clean and leaves no marks when dragged on the floor. Versilon XFR hose assemblies conform to the 3-A Sanitary Standard 62-02. To further ensure strict hygienic standards, Versilon XFR can be cleaned via CIP or SIP methods.
Saint-Gobain offers complete hose and fitting solutions. Specially designed reusable ReSeal fittings, which are available for use with Versilon XFR, provide a complete and cost-effective solution for food and beverage applications. As the hose is replaced, the fittings can be reused. Additionally, Saint-Gobain offers a full line of permanent crimp-style fittings specifically designed to work with Versilon XFR for the highest standards in both quality and reliability.
For easy handling and additional protection, HoseGard hose support can be added to elevate the hose from the floor in washdown applications.
