Food/Dairy and Pharmaceutical - Latest Developments in Welding Specifications for Sanitary Process Piping
Latest Developments in Welding Specifications for Sanitary Process Piping
Photo courtesy of Shambaugh & Son
Featuring
Model 8-4000

Increasing concern for the safety and integrity of food, dairy and pharmaceutical products and the need to bring biopharmaceutical products to market in a timely fashion has led to improvements in industry standards to facilitate the cleanability and sterilizability of product contact surfaces. The biopharmaceutical industry recognizes that the orbital welding process makes it possible to consistently achieve crevice-free welds with a smooth surface which decreases the affinity for colonization and growth of microorganisms and increases the efficacy of CIP. Orbitally welded systems, installed with proper fabrication techniques and documentation, are in compliance with 21 CFR §211 Subpart D, facilitating piping system validation as well as providing excellent performance in service. This has made orbital welding the preferred joining technology for the biopharmaceutical industry in the United States.

The cost of orbital welding and other advances in fabrication technology must be considered in light of the high cost of contamination of food and pharmaceutical products which may be distributed to a worldwide community.

Reprinted from Tube International
March, 2001

Click here for full article...