Selecting the right hygienic valves for an application can have a significant impact on the overall process efficiency, product quality, safety, and compliance with industry standards. Here are several ways in which choosing the appropriate hygienic valves can make a difference to the process:
Product Integrity: Hygienic valves are designed to maintain product integrity by preventing contamination, minimising dead spaces, and ensuring smooth flow without trapping particles or bacteria. Selecting valves with sanitary designs, such as smooth internal surfaces, crevice-free construction, and hygienic seals, helps preserve product quality and purity.
Cleanability and Sterilisation: Hygienic valves are engineered for easy cleaning, sterilisation, and maintenance. Their design facilitates thorough cleaning without disassembly, reduces the risk of microbial growth, and ensures compliance with hygiene standards. Choosing valves that are CIP (Clean-in-Place) and SIP (Sterilise-in-Place) capable streamlines cleaning procedures and minimises downtime.
Operational Efficiency: The right hygienic valves contribute to operational efficiency by providing accurate flow control, minimal pressure drops, and reliable performance. Valves with precise control mechanisms, low friction materials, and optimised flow paths help optimise process parameters, reduce energy consumption, and enhance overall efficiency.
Regulatory Compliance: Hygienic valves play a crucial role in meeting regulatory requirements and industry standards for cleanliness, safety, and product quality. Choosing valves that are certified by organisations such as EHEDG, 3-A Sanitary Standards, or FDA ensures compliance with hygienic standards and facilitates regulatory audits and approvals.
Compatibility and Flexibility: Different applications may require specific valve types, sizes, materials, and configurations. Selecting hygienic valves that are compatible with the fluid, temperature, pressure, and operational conditions of the application ensures optimal performance and reliability. Valves with modular designs, interchangeable components, and customisable options offer flexibility to adapt to changing process requirements.
Cost-Effectiveness: While initial investment may be a consideration, selecting high-quality hygienic valves can lead to long-term cost savings. Reliable valves with durable construction, minimal maintenance requirements, and extended service life reduce downtime, replacement costs, and operational disruptions, ultimately improving the return on investment.
Choosing the right hygienic valves for an application is crucial for maintaining product integrity, ensuring cleanliness and sterilisation, optimising operational efficiency, complying with regulations, ensuring compatibility and flexibility, and achieving cost-effectiveness. Proper valve selection is a strategic decision that impacts the entire process and contributes to overall success and performance in hygienic fluid processing applications.
ITS can provide technical process expertise to help you with selection. With a wide range of high-quality valves available in our portfolio, we can advise on the best valves to suit your application, fitting environment and budget. ITS can support with manifold projects, individual valve requirements, upgrades or complete refits.
Get in touch:
