Flexible, colorful, FDA-compliant

The PU hoses of the TU-X214 series from SMC are FDA-compliant for broad use in regulated applications within the food and pharmaceutical industries or medical technology. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

In Detail – Polyurethane Compressed Air Hose Series TU-X214

Both in the food and pharmaceutical industries, hoses are used that must be manufactured in accordance with the highest hygiene standards for direct contact with food or medications. Especially globally used solutions make the use of materials indispensable that, according to international guidelines such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are particularly durable and do not release any substances. For this purpose, SMC has developed the robust and flexible polyurethane hoses of the TU-X214 series: These are suitable for many applications with outer diameters of 4 to 12 mm and can be used not only in the food industry but also in pharmaceutical applications thanks to their FDA and EU No. 10/2011 conformity confirmed on both the inside and outside.

Whether under process conditions in the food or pharmaceutical industry: Components such as hoses must, on the one hand, have high material resistance, for example to withstand the effects of aggressive liquids like acids. On the other hand, they should have smooth surfaces to prevent germ accumulation and enable easy cleaning. SMC, the specialist for pneumatic and electrical automation, has developed a polyurethane hose series TU-X214 that meets these conditions. It is characterized by high flexibility and kink resistance and complies with the requirements of Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 and FDA § 177.2600, due to the omission of external markings or print on the outside and internal markings. The latter, as a government authority, is responsible for controlling all goods marketed in the USA — making their specifications binding for German companies exporting there. The confirmed FDA conformity of the TU-X214 series qualifies the PU hoses for use in an international environment, and they also serve a wide range of applications thanks to their advantageous properties and variations.

Simple color coding for reduced risk of confusion

The TU-X214 series offers a total of five different sizes with outer diameters of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 mm. As a special feature, SMC offers the PU hoses in eight different colors: In addition to three translucent (light-permeable) colors — red, blue, and clear (material color) — there are five opaque (non-light-permeable) colors: white, black, yellow, green, and orange. This allows for highly complex tubing arrangements to be made particularly clear through simple color coding — enabling easy identification of connections at a glance, thus reducing the risk of confusion by users (Poka Yoke). Additionally, the translucent colors allow insight into the interior of the hoses, which are available in 20-meter lengths, facilitating easy inspection and problem detection. They are designed for a maximum pressure of 0.8 MPa (at an operating temperature of 20°C) and a temperature range of -20 to +60°C (compressed air) or 0 to 40°C (water — not frozen). They thus cover a broad spectrum of applications.

Designed for use in regulated applications

The high-quality PU hoses of the TU-X214 series have already proven their durability and robustness in many different fields of application — and thanks to FDA conformity, they are especially suitable for regulated applications such as medical technology, pharmaceuticals, or the food industry. The key factors for meeting the FDA requirements are, on the one hand, the use of durable materials and, on the other hand, the omission of any printing. This allows the PU hose to be used even in open processes during food production. “The positive properties of our TU-X214 series, such as the wide color selection, offer, among other things, the advantage of avoiding potential confusion during maintenance,” emphasizes Torsten Klein, Manager of Strategic Markets Food at SMC Germany. “Many users also employ FDA-compliant hoses in non-critical areas of their systems or machinery,” Klein adds. “The reason is as simple as it is plausible: They are thus on the safe side.”