Sanitary pipe fittings are used in environments requiring a higher level of sterility, cleanliness, and hygiene. The purpose of a sanitary pipe fitting is to prevent the spread of bacteria in sterile systems of pipes while controlling the flow of liquids. The design of these fittings makes it easy to disassemble and manually clean or integrate into an automated cleaning process. Manufacturers use stainless steel to make most sanitary pipe fittings. Stainless steel enhances these fittings’ durability, cleanliness, and ease of maintenance.

 

Some common industries that use these fittings are medical, food and beverage, dairy, and pharmaceutical. Sanitary pipe fittings ensure that products produced in these industries remain safe for human use and consumption.

 

Smooth Manufacturing Processes with Stainless Steel Sanitary Fittings

The food and medical industries are highly controlled environments with complicated processes. Most manufacturing processes are highly complex and require constant maintenance and upkeep. Manufacturing that requires a highly sterile environment complicates the process further. Choosing stainless steel sanitary fittings can lessen the maintenance burden due to the high-quality, ease of use, design, and materials used to produce each pipe fitting. Using sanitary pipe fittings with the piping systems or connecting pipes and tubes to vats or steel drums with these fittings can result in a smoother manufacturing flow.

 

Choosing Sanitary Pipe Fittings

A few considerations should be taken when choosing the correct stainless steel sanitary fittings for your environment and application.

  • Degree of finish:

The finish of a sanitary pipe fitting is essential because the degree of finish required by application varies across industries. When choosing stainless steel sanitary fittings, the grade of steel used can produce the correct finish needed for the industry. Stainless steel is the most common material used. Depending on the application, specific grades of stainless steel should be used. For example, 316 stainless steel has better resistance to high temperature because the molybdenum in the steel can dampen the influence of elevated temperatures; when the application involves food,  316 or 304 stainless steel are more available as these grades are resistant to damage caused by acidic foods and cleaners. Besides, 316 and 304 steel have a smoother finish and are easier to keep clean.

 

  • Corrosion resistance:

Liquids can corrode fittings, resulting in damage to manufacturing equipment or loss and damage to the product. Both scenarios are costly. Choosing the proper stainless steel sanitary fittings will reduce or eliminate corrosion concerns.

 

  • Easy connections:

In fast-paced environments, hoses, tubes, or piping are commonly required to be disconnected or reconnected multiple times throughout the manufacturing process. When choosing sanitary pipe fittings, the handiness of connection should be a point of focus. Using stainless steel sanitary fittings that are easy to disconnect and reconnect is important. Camlock coupling manufacturers produce fittings designed to be easily connected, require no tools, and provide one of the strongest seals in the industry.

 

  • Fastening:

The degree of complication when fastening a stainless steel sanitary fitting should be a consideration when choosing a sanitary pipe fitting. Are tools required when securing the connections? Will additional hardware be needed? Will maintenance be a concern?

 

Proper Use of Sanitary Pipe Fittings

The fittings should be installed and used per manufacturer specifications to get the expected result from stainless steel sanitary fittings. There are a few considerations to ensure proper installation and use of these pipe fittings.

  • When using sanitary pipe fittings, the fittings must be used with similar fluids, temperatures, and pipe system pressure. Subtle changes in those factorsmay result in the breakdown of fitting materials and can cause damage to equipment and product. It is vital that each fitting be used according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
  • When servicing equipment, manual damage can occur to these fittings. When manual damage has happened to a sanitary pipe fitting, replace or repair the fitting immediately. Failure to repair or replace the fitting could fail the connection, damage to equipment, or loss of product.

 

  • Working in dusty environments or areas with particles from heavy grinding can significantly impact the performance of the fitting resulting in a failed connection. Additionally, dusty surroundings can decrease the life of the fitting requiring a replacement sooner than expected. Avoid using sanitary pipe fittings in these environments.

 

 

Stainless Steel Sanitary Fittings Made by Union Metal

Union Metal Products manufactures the highest quality stainless steel sanitary fittings in the industry. Its sanitary pipe fittings are easy-to-use and a reliable solution for quickly coupling pipes and joints. Each fitting comprises wearable parts that are easy to remove and replace. These pipe fittings are used in various applications where sterile environments are required. You can find sanitary pipe fittings made by Union Metal Products worldwide. Its stainless steel sanitary fittings are made to industry standards under ISO9001 quality standards.

 

Conclusion

Properly using stainless steel sanitary fittings can result in a smooth manufacturing process. Using these pipe fittings correctly will lessen the chances of failed connections, material breakdown from corrosion, and product loss.

Union Metal Products has been delivering the most reliable and highest-quality stainless steel sanitary fittings for over 15 years. Backed by strict adherence to ISO9001 quality standards, its sanitary pipe fittings enjoy top-notch quality. 

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