Compliant material solutions for the food industry
Producing food grade plastic compliant with the stringent requirements of FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and European Food Contact regulations is a key requirement for thermoplastics machining operators in this field. For the Chinese market the China GB standards have to be considered. With our standard engineering thermoplastic portfolio, we also offer a special portfolio of food contact materials, which meet the specific demands of food technology in terms of safety and performance.
Ensinger provides its compliant materials with a product specific food contact certificate, declaring FDA approval for raw material, compliance with Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, (EU) 10/2011 (migration test for plastic semi-finished products) as well as (EC) 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practice (GMP) for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. For the Chinese Food market we offer declarations according to China GB standards GB 4806.1-2016 as well as GB 4806.6-2012 (positiv list for resins) and GB 9685-2016 (for additives).
Thanks to their light weight and easy-to-machine properties, food grade materials can replace metals in a variety of applications in plant and machinery for meat, fish and poultry processing, dairy products, baked goods and confectionery production. Ensinger's food contact materials enhance production, speed and safety in the manufacturing process.
We also offer special plastics for the most common detection methods. As an alternative to conventional plastics, our portfolio includes blue materials for optical detection and plastics with multiple uses. These include our blue metal detectable products as well as metal and X-ray detectable materials for direct food contacts. We offer all these products in blue as standard. This increases safety during processing and also reduces costs.
Our technical office can assist you in choosing the most appropriate materials for your food contact plastics application, including the development of new materials
Benefits FOR THE Food Industry
Ensinger can provide food contact compliant plastics, which meet stringent quality and security requirements on production safety, seamless traceability and product certifications. The food portfolio includes materials compliant with FDA, EU 10/2011 and GB 4806.1-2016 regulations. Other regulations available on request.
Scrapers, valves and pistons, chain guiders, bushings, rollers, thrust washers, gear wheels, grippers, sliding bearings etc. these are only a few applications in food processing and packaging industry. As much as the applications can vary so, do the requirements, however, they all operate in a sensitive environment. Therefore, we offer a wide range of engineering and high performance plastics for various applications with or without food contact compliance.
When replacing metals, one of the main factors to consider is the possibility of a more lightweight component, thanks to the use of plastics. For food technology, this could mean increased processing velocity and production efficiency.
In food processing lines, identifying possible fragments of plastic is a crucial function. Blue material for food contact and metal or x-ray detectable plastics in our portfolio can enhance the safety of food production processes, in full compliance with international regulations to control and limit possible migration of substances from the material to the food, to avoid any harmful influence.
Unlike other coloured materials blue plastics enure high visibility by contrast and therefore rapid in-line identification. In addition all food grade plastics from the ID series are produced by adding an additive that is detectable using metal detectors. Furthermore, our UD materials are modified with special additives that ensure both, metal and X-ray detectability. These plastics fully comply for contact with food in order to avoid contamination.
Solutions for THE Food Industry
Food safe materials
Metal detectable plastics
On food processing lines equipped with metal detectors, our detectable "ID/UD" materials can be used for greater control.
Blue materials for food
Blue is widely used in the food industry for high visibility (optical detection), easy component cleanliness and rapid in-line identification of plastic contamination in food.
Ultradetectable plastics
Chemical resistant plastics
Materials for sliding and friction
As food processing often involves moving products or packaging, the sliding or friction behaviour of food contact plastics is an important characteristic.
Machinable Plastics for The Food Industry
Food Industry CASE STUDIES
Needleblock for meat processing
Food Scraper in safety with POM-C detectable
Bakery machine equipment branded and safe
Frequently Asked Questions on Food Plastic Material
-
Semi-finished products or cut blanks are produced with plus tolerances in accordance with DIN so that the outer shell and consequently any discolouration or scuffing can be removed without fail during finished part production.
-
The main objective is to exclude negative reciprocal impact between the plastic component and the contacted foods in the form of organoleptic, colour related and primarily toxic effects. Seamlessly applied declarations of conformity at every manufacturing level are key tools in the assurance of food safety. Added to this are traceability data using the methods of good manufacturing practice (GMP) implemented in quality assurance systems with verifiable documentation of product and process data.
-
Ensinger semi-finished plastics for food industry are compliant to directives for raw material approval of FDA regulations. Read more about FDA and Ensinger products.
-
Plastic stock shapes are not finished products with a final defined purpose and geometry as specified by the regulations. Final testing for the specific application requires knowledge of all application conditions. Influencing factors include the contact medium, contact time, and temperature and cleaning conditions. Consequently, no definitive and final assessment of migration values can be carried out on the component by the stock shapes supplier. This task remains the responsibility of the plant manufacturer or operator, on the basis of the migration limit information provided.
-
Ensinger semi-finished plastics designed for food industry are manufactured in compliance with Reg. (EU) No 10/2011 and FDA approval for raw material. Find out more:
-
Drinking water is monitored in accordance with special regulations not internationally standardized at present. See more in our FAQs section.
-
In this context, Ensinger is a supplier of semi-finished products which have no use-specific finished part geometry. Following additional processing steps to become a finished part, final inspection must be carried out on the premises of the company which distributes the end product, taking into consideration the final component design. Testing on the semi-finished product can do no more than providing an indication. It does not reflect the final status of the product (such as its surface quality).
-
Food simulants conforming to a certain food category are selected in accordance with table 2 in Annex III of the regulation. Testing the migration value in food simulants A, B and D2 (or where applicable using substitute simulants), includes all kinds of foods. This also encompasses foods for which the simulants C, D1 and E are assigned where applicable in table 2.
-
Thanks to a specific traceability method Ensinger is able to determine and trace the complete process chain of its semi-finished materials. Find out more:
-
To ensure that products cannot be confused or mistaken, a product code is imprinted on them which contains the product name, article number and production batch.
-
The coding ink and coloured printing inks are tested and are verified as physiologically harmless.