Hygienic Valves
Hygienic valves are specially designed to be used in sanitary and aseptic
(sterile) applications. Industries using hygienic valves include dairy, brewing,
beverage, pharmaceutical and bio-chemical industries. The FDA expects that
processing equipment including valves be drainable, cleanable and able to
be sterilized to minimize the potential for contamination.
The weir style valve as become a standard in hygienic valves because it can
be drained and has fewer product entrapment areas than other types of valves.
Hygienic valve manufacturers have developed valves with minimal product contact
surfaces, reduced hold-up volume and minimized areas of pipe where a substance
may stagnate. All of these efforts by hygienic valve manufacturers are intended
to increase the purity and sterility of the final product.
Like other types of valves, hygienic valves may be produced in many configurations
and from a variety of materials which include metals and plastics.