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Food Safe Polyurethane Products: Working with Custom Urethane Suppliers on Approved FDA Polyurethane Solutions

food safe polyurethane, urethane suppliers, FDA polyurethane

Many industries are turning to custom urethane suppliers for polyurethane parts and products. One of the industries that relies heavily on polyurethane is food and beverage processing. This sector utilizes a broad spectrum of custom polyurethane parts in manufacturing, packaging, and transporting. Polyurethane products manufactured for the food processing industry include FDA approved rings, gaskets, scrapers, chute liners, tabletops and custom polyurethane components.

Food safe polyurethane offers many benefits over conventional materials such as silicone and plastics including strength, toughness, durability, and versatility. Polyurethane products are known for their abrasion and wear resistance, resulting in longer service life and fewer downtimes for replacement. Polyurethanes are also tear-resistant, and can withstand a wide range of operating temperatures and environments without sacrificing quality or performance. Polyurethane is ideal for a variety of applications as it can be fully customized and formulated to meet the specific needs of each application including color, thickness, shape, and durometer (hardness). These characteristics make food safe polyurethane products an excellent solution for the food and beverage sector.

FDA Approved Polyurethane: Wet or Dry Service

Food production is a demanding industry where sanitation is critical and the risk of contamination must be minimized. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates materials that come in contact with foods. Components used in food packaging and processing equipment are required to be FDA compliant. There are two main types of food processing applications that are based on the production environment: wet and dry. The FDA grants approval for production equipment for either wet or dry service. As the names suggest, dry food compliance applies to equipment interacting with dry foods only whereas wet food compliance pertains to equipment contacting wet, aqueous or fatty foods. An example of an FDA dry application is a polyurethane guard used on a conveyor that carries dry products, such as sugar or rice. Similarly, an FDA wet application is when a polyurethane guard is used on a conveyor that carries fish or other meat products.

The FDA has a limited list of approved polyurethanes that are permissible to come in contact with food. For this reason, it is imperative that food producers work with a trusted urethane supplier, like PSI, who has the requisite experience and offers a myriad of FDA approved formulations and products. At PSI Urethanes, we offer food safe, FDA approved polyurethane formulations for both wet and dry applications – so no matter what your food processing needs are, we have a solution for you. Click here to learn more about our FDA approved polyurethane products for wet and dry food processing applications.

Additionally, at PSI Urethanes, we welcome the challenge that custom polyurethane products can bring. Our technical representatives and design staff will work closely with you – from concept to prototype to production – to create custom food safe polyurethane parts that meet your specifications and solve your problems. Our fully equipped manufacturing facility includes a versatile range of processing machinery, which allows us to work on unique, one-of-a-kind projects, as well as high volume components. We are also known for our willingness to do short-run production and prototypes.

Could your project benefit from a custom, FDA approved polyurethane solution?

Contact the team at PSI Urethanes to learn more about our custom polyurethane solutions.

Examples of PSI’s Food Safe Polyurethane Products

It may come as a surprise but the food and beverage industry utilizes a broad spectrum of FDA approved polyurethane components. Below are several examples of food safe polyurethane parts that PSI manufactures for food processing applications. All of these components can be fully customized in FDA approved formulations.

  • Sheets: urethane sheeting is the preferred material for covering the cutting surfaces of work areas and table tops as it is durable, tear-resistant, and self-healing, meaning it will not deform under pressure or extended use.
  • Gaskets: polyurethane gaskets provide high tensile strength as well as excellent abrasion resistance and load bearing abilities for food processing.
  • Washers: polyurethane washers are renowned for their high tear strength, good wear resistance, and aptitude for sealing and cushioning as well as dampening vibration and shock.
  • Chute Liners: polyurethane liners protect equipment from wear and tear, and help prevent machinery maintenance and downtime.
  • Rings: there are several uses for polyurethane rings in the food and beverage sector including capper rings for the bottling industry. Polyurethane ring seals reduce equipment downtime and material costs.
  • Rollers: polyurethane rollers offer food manufacturers excellent chemical, water, and abrasion resistance as well as a non-marking surface.

About PSI Urethanes

With over 50 years of experience delivering the highest quality urethane products, PSI Urethanes stands unequaled in helping companies in hundreds of industries around the world apply urethane products to their critical business applications. Since 1966, through our own independent research and activity in the Polyurethane Manufacturers Association, PSI Urethanes has stayed on the leading edge of urethane technology – including developing advances in new materials, comprehensive designs, and processing technologies. Today we are among the most respected and trusted suppliers of custom cast urethane products.

We operate from our 45,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, which houses an extensive stock of polyurethane products. Our fully equipped manufacturing facility includes a versatile range of processing machinery, which allows us to work on unique, one-of-a-kind projects, as well as high volume components. Our in-house engineering, tooling, and custom mold shop, produces custom and stock production orders with exceptionally fast turn-around times. From conception to prototyping, to final production runs, our technical representatives and design engineers will work closely with your staff to meet your critical tolerances and specifications. You are guaranteed to receive experienced, professional, and personalized service from the first contact through your on-time delivery, with complete confidentiality and dedication to protecting your good name.

PSI Urethanes specializes in custom urethane projects. Contact us today to see how we can help with your next project, or give us a call at 1-800-888-5156.