Question 1

5 Factors to Consider When Designing FDA Seals for Food Contact

Accepted Answer

Designing FDA seals for food contact is a critical task that involves ensuring regulatory compliance, selecting the right materials, and maintaining consumer safety. These seals are essential in food packaging, storage, and transport, ensuring that food remains safe and uncontaminated.

Here are five key factors to keep in mind:

1. Regulatory Compliance

When creating FDA seals for food contact, the first and foremost consideration is regulatory compliance. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict guidelines for materials that come into contact with food. These regulations ensure that the materials used are safe and do not release harmful substances into the food.

Compliance involves thorough testing and certification. The materials must meet specific standards for chemical composition, durability, and resistance to various conditions.

2. Material Selection

The material must comply with FDA regulations and possess the properties necessary to maintain its integrity under various conditions. Common materials include silicone, rubber, and certain plastics, each with its benefits.

Silicone: Known for its flexibility and resistance to extreme temperatures, silicone is a popular choice for seals used in both hot and cold food applications.

Rubber: Valued for its durability and flexibility, rubber suits various sealing applications but must be carefully selected to avoid substances that could degrade upon contact with food.

Plastics: Various plastics, like polyethylene and polypropylene, are used for their versatility and cost-effectiveness. However, they must be selected to ensure they do not release harmful chemicals.

3. Temperature Resistance

Food processing, packaging, and storage often involve a wide range of temperatures. Therefore, FDA seals must maintain their integrity across these temperatures. For instance, seals in freezer applications must remain flexible at sub-zero temperatures, while those used in cooking or pasteurisation must withstand high heat.

4. Chemical Compatibility

Food products contain various substances, including acids, oils, and other chemicals, which might react with the seal material. Ensuring chemical compatibility is crucial to prevent contamination and degradation of the seal.

For example, acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits can cause certain materials to deteriorate, compromising the seal’s effectiveness and leading to contamination. Similarly, fatty foods can interact with rubber or plastic, causing material breakdown. Designers must evaluate the chemical properties of the food the seal will contact and choose materials that resist these reactions.

5. Mechanical Properties

The mechanical properties of the seal, such as flexibility, elasticity, and durability, significantly impact its performance. A seal must provide an effective barrier while withstanding mechanical stresses during packaging, transport, and use.

Flexibility and Elasticity: The seal must conform to the surfaces it contacts to prevent leaks and contamination. Materials that are too rigid might not form an adequate seal, while those that are too soft might wear out quickly.

Durability: The seal must endure repeated use and mechanical stress without losing its effectiveness. This includes maintaining its properties over time despite exposure to various environmental factors.

Proper testing during the design phase can help identify potential weaknesses in the seal’s mechanical properties. This might include stress tests, fatigue tests, and real-world simulations to ensure the seal performs as expected under all conditions.

Designing FDA seals for food contact is a multifaceted task requiring careful consideration of regulatory compliance, material selection, temperature resistance, chemical compatibility, and mechanical properties. Each factor plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and longevity of the seal.

Our team are more than experienced in providing sealing solutions for a wide variety of equipment and applications used to process and produce food and beverages, having worked closely with our customers in this industry for many years.

Get in touch with our knowledgeable team here at FPE Seals

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Question 2

What is the difference between a single acting and a double-acting cylinder?

Accepted Answer

Hydraulic cylinders are used on various types of machinery and equipment, but there are two main types: single-acting and double-acting cylinders. Each type has its own distinct designs and operational benefits. In this blog, we will discuss how these cylinders work and help you determine which one is right for your needs.

How Does a Single-Acting Cylinder Work?

Single-acting cylinders operate with hydraulic fluid entering through a single port to push the piston in one direction, typically outwards. This extension is the stroke of the cylinder combined with the size and pressure, generating the desired force.

But what about retraction? A single-acting cylinder relies on an external force, such as a load, spring, compressed air, or even gravity, to pull the piston back to its original position. This makes them well suited for applications where force is only needed in one direction.

Advantages of Single-Acting Cylinders:

Their design is less complex, with lower costs and easier maintenance.
With fewer components, single-acting cylinders are smaller and lighter, ideal for space constrained applications.

Disadvantages of Single-Acting Cylinders:

Single-acting cylinders offer less control over the retraction speed and force.
Due to unidirectional control, single-acting cylinders are not suitable for tasks requiring both pushing and pulling.
Prone to ingress of moisture causing rust in the bore

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How Does a Double-Acting Cylinder Work?

Double-acting cylinders have two ports, one on each side of the piston. By alerting the directing of hydraulic fluid into either port, they provide both extension and retraction with precise control. Fluid entering one port pushes the piston out, while fluid entering the other port retracts it.

Advantages of Double-Acting Cylinders:

The ability to control the flow of fluid in both directions allows for precise control over speed and force during both extension and retraction.
Double-acting cylinders are suitable for various applications that require both pushing and pulling actions.

Disadvantages of Double-Acting Cylinders:

Their design is more complicated, leading to higher costs and potentially more complex maintenance.
With the additional port and internal mechanisms, double-acting cylinders can be larger and heavier than single-acting cylinders.

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Choosing the right cylinder for your application depends on some key factors:

If force is needed in only one direction, a single-acting cylinder might be sufficient. However, for applications requiring both pushing and pulling, a double-acting cylinder is necessary.
If precise control over speed and force in both directions is crucial, a double-acting cylinder is the better choice. However, if a basic extension is sufficient, a single-acting cylinder can save you money.

FPE Seals stocks and manufactures a full range of sealing solutions and metal parts for hydraulic cylinders. From piston seals, wiper seals, O-rings, and complete cylinders.

Order online today or contact our knowledgeable team here at FPE Seals, who will discuss your requirements based on your application, and help you find the right seal for the job.

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