Fittings fit and clean for food production

The clamping connections of the KFG2H-C series impress not only with their FDA compliance but also with their hygienic design in Clean Design, which is particularly easy to clean and prevents residues of liquids or other deposits and contamination. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

The connectors of series KQG2-F (top left) and KQB2-F (top right), as well as the terminal connections of series KFG2-F (bottom left), are not only FDA-compliant but also offer engineers a particularly extensive range of applications with 17 and 10 different variants, respectively. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

A clean production of foodstuffs places high demands on the components used there. Especially for export to the USA, manufacturers must comply with the regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to sell their products on the local market. This also applies to small parts such as clamping and plug-in connections. An extensive and FDA-compliant portfolio of various fittings made of metal or stainless steel is offered by SMC with its series KFG2H-C, KQG2-F, KQB2-F, KFG2-F – the first of which even features a Clean Design that allows for particularly quick cleaning.

Process safety and product quality are indispensable prerequisites in the food industry. To meet these requirements, hose connections for media such as compressed air, water, or steam must also be designed according to the applicable standards. This includes materials that comply with the particularly strict guidelines of the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With the series KFG2H-C, KQG2-F, KQB2-F, and KFG2-F, SMC offers an extensive portfolio of clamping and plug-in connections that are ideally suited for the food industry. These solutions from the specialist in pneumatic and electrical automation feature, among other things, a comprehensive variety, are resistant to temperature and corrosion, and in the case of the KFG2H-C series, are designed for easy cleaning, preventing the accumulation of liquids after cleaning.

From resistant and FDA-compliant to Clean Design

The construction of the fittings from stainless steel 316 (except for series KQB2-F = C3604 – chemically nickel-plated) makes the fittings of the series KFG2H-C, KQG2-F, and KFG2-F particularly resistant to temperature and corrosion. They are therefore suitable for media such as compressed air, water, and steam (KQB2-F = only compressed air and water) and ambient as well as media temperatures in the range of -5 to 150 °C or -65 to 260 °C (KFG2-F).

The blue-colored seals of the KFG2H-C series, which enhance detectability and visibility, are made of a special fluororubber (FKM) and thus meet the requirements of §177.2600 of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the case of the KQG2-F, KQB2-F, and KFG2-F series, the seal or O-ring is made of FKM and is also FDA-compliant. All mentioned series are designed for an operating pressure range between -100 kPa and 1 MPa.

The KFG2H-C series offers a particularly easy-to-clean clamping connection. Thanks to its rounded design in Clean Style, the accumulation of liquids after cleaning is prevented, as these easily bead off the surface and cannot remain in corners or edges – this also applies to other deposits and dirt. Additionally, the straight thread with O-ring sealing enables hygienic assembly.

Variety of plug-in and clamping connections

While the KFG2H-C series is available as a clamping connection in one variant for thread sizes M5, G1/8, G1/4, G3/8, and G1/2, and for the respective hose sizes (outer/inner diameter) of 4/2.5, 6/4, 8/6, 10/7.5, 12/9 mm, users can choose from a total of 17 variants for the KQG2-F and KQB2-F series, and 10 variants for the KFG2-F series. For example, the KQG2-F and KQB2-F series include variants such as straight push-in fittings with external thread, Scotch-Y connectors, T-branch connectors, angled push-in fittings, and plug-in reducers, as well as angled push-in fittings and shut-off plugs. The KFG2-F series features options such as elbow fittings, Scotch clamp fittings, angled clamp fittings, rotatable push-in fittings, straight clamp fittings, and union nuts.