Food-Grade Pneumatic Hoses for the Food & Beverage Industry

Selecting the right pneumatic food-grade hoses for the Food & Beverage (F&B) industry is crucial due to the demanding conditions involved. These processes often require strict sterilization, high-temperature resistance, and durability against harsh environments.

At Bawalaksana, we are pleased to share insights into FDA-approved pneumatic food-grade hoses specifically designed for the F&B industry. This informative guide aims to help you better understand the essential qualities of a high-performance, compliant pneumatic hose for your operations.

Food-Grade and FDA-Approved Pneumatic Hoses

But did you know there are additional standards and ethical considerations in the F&B industry? One key factor is the hose’s reactivity when in contact with food items. Important questions to consider include:

• Is the hose chemically reactive with food or beverages?
• Does the hose release harmful substances at high temperatures?
• Could the hose alter the food’s composition, smell, or taste during large-scale production?

Given the increasing focus on food safety worldwide, stringent standards are applied to ensure quality in the F&B sector. Automation systems in this industry are complex and fast-paced, which means pneumatic hoses must be durable and resistant to high temperatures, pressures, and chemicals.

Below are Bawalaksana’s top recommendations for pneumatic hoses that meet these demanding requirements for the F&B industry.

Fabuthane® 54 PU Hose (FDA Approved)

The Fabuthane® 54 Polyurethane (PU) hose is the most flexible pneumatic hose designed for the food and beverage (F&B) industry, adhering to the sector’s stringent norms and ethical standards. A Shore D hardness rating of 54 demonstrates superior abrasion resistance, in line with Food Contact Materials (FCM) regulations.

In F&B production, pneumatic hoses are frequently exposed to friction from liquids and solids.

When a hose lacks adequate durability, it becomes susceptible to damage, potentially contaminating food products. The Shore D 54 rating is, therefore, critical for ensuring pneumatic hoses are up to the task.

Key advantages of the Fabuthane® 54 PU hose include:

• No release of harmful substances: The hose does not leach hazardous plastic compounds into food, ensuring human health safety (CE Reg. 1935/2004).
• Maintains food integrity: It does not alter food’s composition, taste, or odor beyond acceptable limits (CE Reg. 1935/2004).
• Non-reactive with food: The hose material is chemically stable and non-reactive when in contact with food products (CE Reg. 10/2011).
• High abrasion resistance: Its excellent durability prevents contamination caused by wear and tear (54 Shore D).
• Food and pharmaceutical safety: Fully compliant with FDA Title 21 standards, ensuring suitability for food and pharmaceutical applications.
• UV resistance: Stabilized against light degradation, preventing material breakdown due to UV exposure.
• Wide operating temperature range: Suitable between -40°C and 60°C.
• High-pressure tolerance: Working pressure from 7-12 BAR (101-174 Psi).
• Flexible bending radius: Featuring a minimum bending radius ranging from 15 to 75 mm, making it adaptable to various configurations.
• Transparent colors: Available in a range of transparent colors, facilitating easy inspection of fluids.

The Fabuthane® 54 PU hose is ideal for applications including:

• Food contact
• Drinkable water
• Hydrolysis resistance
• Industrial automation
• Machine tools
• Robotics
• Vacuum systems

Low-Density Linear Polyethylene Hose (FDA Approved)

The Low-Density Linear Polyethylene (LLDPE) hose is a highly flexible, elastic, and durable pneumatic solution, offering excellent chemical resistance. Compared to standard Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), LLDPE provides superior performance in critical areas such as tensile strength, impact and puncture resistance, thermal stability, and resistance to stress cracking.

A standout feature of this hose is its superior Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR), which is essential in the food and beverage (F&B) industry to prevent premature hose failure that could lead to system malfunctions or production downtime.

In F&B manufacturing, pneumatic hoses are subject to high pressures, frequent friction, and ongoing environmental exposure.

When subpar hoses are used, they may crack or rupture prematurely, potentially before preventive maintenance is scheduled.

The FDA-approved LLDPE pneumatic hose offers a reliable solution, ensuring smooth and safe operations of food and beverage production lines.

Key Advantages of LLDPE Pneumatic Hoses for the F&B Industry:

• Odorless, tasteless, and moisture-resistant.
• Excellent thermal stability, stress crack resistance, impact, and puncture resistance, with a high ESCR rating.
• Non-reactive with food (compliant with CE Reg. 10/2011).
• Safe for food and pharmaceutical applications (compliant with FDA Title 21).
• UV-stabilized to prevent degradation from light exposure.
• Operating temperature range of -40°C to 60°C.
• Working pressure from 6 to 30 BAR (87-435 PSI).
• Flexible with a minimum bending radius of 15 to 240 mm.

Applications for LLDPE Hoses Include:

• Food contact
• Potable water systems
• Hydrolysis resistance
• Chemical resistance
• Industrial automation
• Machine tools
• Vacuum systems

PFA Hose (FDA Approved)

The Flexible Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) hose is one of the highest-quality pneumatic hoses available for the food and beverage (F&B) industry. It offers exceptional temperature resistance up to 260°C and a UL94 V0 Self-Extinguishing rating.

FDA-approved and designed for specialized industrial applications, the PFA hose serves as a superior alternative to Teflon (PTFE) hoses. It is especially recommended for F&B manufacturing environments involving electrical equipment, sterilization processes, and high-temperature heating.

PFA hoses, certified to meet UL94 V0 standards, perform reliably without wear or material degradation, even under extreme temperatures of up to 260°C.

This durability ensures that food products remain uncontaminated, safeguarding them from issues associated with hose aging or adverse environmental conditions.

The Self-Extinguishing UL94 V0 certification optimizes PFA hoses for maintaining safety, quality, and operational sustainability in the F&B sector. Additionally, PFA hoses surpass polyurethane (PU) and polyethylene (PE) hoses regarding heat and light resistance.

Key Advantages of PFA Pneumatic Hoses:

• Superior heat and UV resistance: Certified to UL94 V0, offering excellent resistance to heat, light, and aging.
• Wide temperature tolerance: Suitable for applications requiring chemical resistance and temperatures ranging from -60°C to 260°C.
• Low permeability: The lowest permeability among fluoropolymers in our catalog, enhancing durability in demanding conditions.
• Food safety compliance: Does not release harmful plastic substances into food (CE Reg. 1935/2004) and maintains food integrity by preventing changes in composition, taste, or odor (CE Reg. 1935/2004).
• Non-reactive with food: Chemically inert, ensuring no reactions with food (CE Reg. 10/2011).
• FDA and pharmaceutical safety: Fully compliant with FDA Title 21 standards, ensuring suitability for both food and pharmaceutical applications.
• UV stabilization: Engineered to resist UV degradation, extending product lifespan.
• Pressure and temperature resilience: Operates in a wide temperature range from -60°C to 260°C and handles pressures from 8 to 30 BAR (116 to 435 PSI).
• Flexible design: Features a minimum bending radius of 15-115 mm, adaptable to various applications.
• Transparent design: Manufactured in a transparent color for easy fluid inspection.

Applications for PFA Hoses Include:

• Food contact
• Chemical transfer
• Petroleum derivatives
• Hydrolysis resistance
• Chemical resistance
• UV resistance
• Low-temperature applications (below -60°C)
• High-temperature applications (up to 260°C)
• Low permeability
• Industrial automation
• Inflammability control
• Machine tools
• Vacuum systems
• Steam applications

Teflon Hose (FDA Approved)

The Teflon hose, also known as PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) hose, is an FDA-approved pneumatic solution known for its exceptional durability, comparable to PFA hoses. Its key advantages include:

• Outstanding flexibility.
• A low friction coefficient (non-stick).
• Suitability for high-temperature applications.
• Excellent chemical resistance.

Based on both technical data and practical use, Teflon hoses outperform PFA in terms of durability. They are the most flexible in the fluoropolymer family and offer the broadest operating temperature range.

A standout feature of PTFE hoses is their ability to transfer aggressive chemicals or corrosive gases at high temperatures. This makes them highly suitable for petrochemical, medical, and pharmaceutical use.

While PTFE hoses are among the more expensive pneumatic solutions, primarily due to their complex manufacturing and recycling processes, they remain indispensable in industries like food & beverage and petrochemicals.

Teflon hoses are ideal when your industrial process involves exposure to chemicals, oils, aggressive gases, and high temperatures (above 100°C).

Key Advantages of Teflon (PTFE) Hoses:

• Resistance to UV, heat, and aging: Certified to UL94 V0, providing long-term reliability in harsh conditions.
• Outstanding chemical resistance: Its inert properties make it ideal for transferring aggressive chemicals or corrosive gases.
• Wide temperature tolerance: The best option for applications requiring chemical resistance and operating temperatures ranging from -60°C to 200°C.
• Low permeability: Similar to PFA hoses, ensuring minimal fluid or gas leakage.
• Low friction coefficient (non-stick): Facilitates smooth fluid flow and prevents dirt or residue buildup inside the hose.
• Food safety compliance: Not releasing harmful plastic substances into food (CE Reg. 1935/2004).
• Preserves food integrity: Maintains food composition, taste, and smell without unacceptable changes (CE Reg. 1935/2004).
• Non-reactive with food: Compliant with CE Reg. 10/2011.
• Safe for food and pharmaceuticals: Fully compliant with FDA Title 21 standards.
• UV stabilized: Prevents material degradation due to light exposure.
• Pressure tolerance: Working pressures between 5 and 25 BAR (72-362 PSI).
• Flexible design: Minimum bending radius of 15 to 250 mm, allowing for versatile applications.

Applications for Teflon (PTFE) Hoses Include:

• Food contact
• Chemical transfer
• Petroleum derivatives
• Chemical resistance
• UV resistance
• Low-temperature applications (below -60°C)
• High-temperature applications (up to 200°C)
• Air brake systems
• Low permeability
• Flame retardancy
• Vacuum systems
• Steam applications

Reinforced PVC Hose (Food Grade)

The food-grade Reinforced PVC pneumatic hose offers a range of advantages, including excellent resistance to atmospheric agents and most chemicals. This PVC hose is odorless, non-toxic, reinforced with textile fibers for added strength, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 200°C, and available in up to 50 mm diameters.

One of the critical features of the Reinforced PVC hose is that it is phthalate-free.

Many conventional PVC hoses use Phthalates as plasticizers to improve flexibility, transparency, durability, and lifespan. However, phthalates can have negative health impacts, particularly for individuals with glucose regulation issues or insulin sensitivity.

Recognizing the importance of PVC pneumatic hoses in various industries while addressing these health concerns, Bawalaksana.id offers high-quality PVC hoses completely free of phthalates. This ensures safe use in food and beverage applications without compromising quality or safety.

Key Advantages of Reinforced PVC (Food Grade) Hoses:

• Highly flexible
• Neutral color for versatile use
• Odorless and non-toxic
• Low friction coefficient
• Temperature resistance up to 200°C
• Available with inner diameters up to 50 mm

Applications for Reinforced PVC Hoses Include:

• Drinkable water systems
• Food contact and food-grade processing
• Chemical transfer
• Vacuum systems

The Reinforced PVC pneumatic hoses can also handle constant pressures between 5 and 18 BAR (72-261 PSI) and burst pressures up to 15-54 BAR (217-783 PSI).

PVC Crystal (Food Grade)

The PVC Crystal hose is a transparent, food-grade pneumatic hose free from Phthalates.

Compared to Reinforced PVC, the PVC Crystal food-grade hose offers superior abrasion resistance.

In addition, this food-grade PVC hose is resistant to atmospheric conditions and a wide range of chemical substances.

Key benefits of the PVC Crystal hose include:

• Neutral color
• Odorless
• Non-toxic
• Excellent abrasion resistance
• High transparency
• Free from heavy metals
• Temperature resistance up to 100°C
• Inner diameters available up to 50 mm
• Non-reactive with food (CE Reg. 10/2011 compliance)

Applications for the PVC Crystal hose include:

• Drinkable water
• Food contact / food-grade environments
• Petroleum derivatives
• Chemical resistance
• Chemical transfer
• Compressed airlines
• Vacuum systems

Peroxide Silicone Hose (Food Grade)

The Peroxide Silicone hose is a food-grade silicone hose with a hardness rating of 60 Shore A, designed to be completely non-toxic. This hardness rating reflects the silicone’s balance between flexibility and strength.

With a 60 Shore A designation, this hose offers excellent elasticity and medium hardness, making it flexible and durable. It can withstand pressure without losing shape, ensuring reliable performance in food production environments.

The flexibility of the 60 ShA silicone ensures smooth, efficient production processes, allowing it to adapt to movement and deformation without compromising its integrity.

Key Benefits of the Peroxide Silicone Pneumatic Hose:

• Odorless
• Non-toxic
• Low friction coefficient
• High transparency for easy monitoring
• Resistant to yellowing over time
• Exceptional performance in both low and high-temperature conditions (up to 100°C)
• Suitable for transferring liquids and aggressive chemicals

Applications for Peroxide Silicone Pneumatic Hoses Include:

• Drinkable water systems
• Food contact and food-grade processes
• Compressed airlines
• Air shafts

Flexible Polyamide 12 PHL (Food Grade)

The Flexible Polyamide (PA) 12 PHL hose is engineered explicitly for material loading applications in granule form. This food-grade pneumatic hose is ideal for handling raw material granules and offers superior performance in demanding environments.

Key Benefits of the PA 12 PHL Hose:

• Highly durable and wear-resistant, ensuring long service life
• Medium flexibility, providing a balance between strength and maneuverability
• Excellent abrasion resistance for demanding industrial use
• Available in internal diameters ranging from 44 mm to 90 mm, suitable for various material loading needs
• Operates in a wide temperature range from -40°C to 80°C, making it versatile for different environments
• Supplied in straight lengths of 6 meters for convenient storage and handling
• UV stabilized to prevent degradation from prolonged exposure to sunlight, enhancing the hose’s lifespan

Polyamide hoses are widely used across multiple industrial sectors, including but not limited to oil and gas, automotive, industrial automation, and lubrication systems.

For further information, visit our Pneumatic Hoses: Types and Benefits for Industrial Applications article.

Why High-Quality Food-Grade Pneumatic Hoses Are Critical

When considering food-grade pneumatic hoses, it’s essential to adopt a broad perspective—not just focusing on FDA approval but also on ensuring production safety and efficiency.

It’s well-known that high temperatures and exposure to extreme environmental conditions are common challenges in the food and beverage (F&B) industry. These factors must be key considerations when selecting pneumatic hoses.

If the pneumatic hoses are not equipped to handle such harsh conditions, they can deteriorate rapidly. This often leads to cracks or ruptures, which cause air leaks and system disruptions.

More severe cases can result in system failures and production downtime, as the hoses may no longer function effectively.

Such problems inevitably increase production costs and force operations to halt, directly impacting productivity. Moreover, the standards in the F&B sector are more stringent than in other industries. Ethics and safety norms in F&B production are critical and cannot be ignored, as they help promote sustainability in the sector.

These standards are closely tied to ensuring operational safety, strict sterilization protocols, and minimizing the risk of contamination in food or beverage products. Therefore, choosing the right, high-quality pneumatic hoses is vital to strategically investing.

With the proper pneumatic hoses in place, the automation systems within the F&B industry can operate safely, hygienically, efficiently, and sustainably—all while maintaining high productivity.

PT. Bawalaksana Central Industrial offers the right solutions to meet these demands. As the official distributor for Mebra Plastik’s pneumatic hoses, we provide high-quality products tailored to industry requirements.

Mebra Plastik Italia is a specialist manufacturer with over 50 years of experience. It produces top-quality pneumatic hoses that are trusted by numerous industries worldwide. Its products comply with the strictest industry standards and ethical guidelines.

Now is the time to upgrade your F&B manufacturing operations with high-quality pneumatic hoses to boost productivity and operational safety. We offer competitive pricing, expert services, and tailored recommendations to optimize your investment.

Contact our Sales Engineer Team at PT. Bawalaksana Central Industrial for a free consultation or to request a quote.

Romanta Pinrih Linuwih

Pneumatic Automation Systems Expert

This article was written in collaboration with Romanta Pinrih Linuwih, an expert in Pneumatic Automation Systems, to ensure accuracy and high quality insights.