In the food industry, the design of the pipework directly determines product safety and plant availability. When processing viscous, crystalline, or allergen-containing media, the entire system must be designed for low-friction and gentle transport. STW GmbH manufactures stainless steel assemblies and skids that meet the highest hygiene standards.
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Pipeline construction for highly viscous and abrasive media
The transport of viscous masses or crystalline ingredients such as sugar places extreme demands on flow dynamics and materials. To minimize system wear and keep flow resistance low, we focus on the critical nodes in the system:
Protection against abrasion
Crystalline media cause friction. Raised weld seams act as disruptive contours and are therefore more susceptible to mechanical damage.
Reduced flow resistance
Highly viscous materials are inherently difficult to move. An extremely precise, flat seam inside the pipe is essential to avoid further increasing flow resistance and impeding material transport.
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Residue-free emptying
Frequent recipe changes require systems that can drain completely without leaving any residue. This is the only way to reliably prevent cross-contamination – especially by allergens – from a process engineering perspective. The fundamental prerequisite for this is a consistently dead-space-free and completely drainable pipe geometry.
To achieve this, we rely on state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, both in material preparation, such as cutting tubes using modern tube laser technology, and in welding using cutting-edge orbital welding systems. The result is pipe installation of the highest standard. Here are a few examples:
Flow-optimized geometries
Instead of rigid 90-degree exits, the tube laser cuts tangential connections and flow-optimized angles with millimeter precision.
flared collector pipes
When there are multiple branches from a main pipe, the number of welds is reduced by using a special manufacturing technology to “flare” the main pipe, thus requiring fewer welds.
Gap-free fits
The components can be welded extremely cleanly. Difficult-to-clean corners and edges where product residue could accumulate are physically eliminated.
Avoid cross-contamination with dead-space-free piping systems. We would be happy to show you our options…
Thermal stability to protect against double loads
Food processing is often characterized by rapid temperature changes – from intense cooling to subsequent hot cleaning. These thermal fluctuations lead to constant expansion and contraction of the stainless steel.
If a skid is fitted under constraint during assembly, a dangerous double load of mechanical stress and thermal expansion occurs during operation. This can lead to cracking, primarily in the sensitive zone directly adjacent to the weld. We prevent this through two core principles:
Stress-free design
Each system is manufactured and assembled in such a way that it can be integrated into the existing structure without mechanical constraints.
Precise suture preparation
A durable, resilient weld begins long before the welding itself. Clean cutting, thorough deburring, and consistent tack welding under forming gas are standard practice for us.
Ensure maximum system availability through stress-free installation. Plan your next skid with STW GmbH.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about pipe installation in the food industry
We focus on hygienic weld quality to avoid interference contours or cleaning shadows.
To guarantee completely residue-free emptying and thorough cleaning of the system when changing recipes. This is the only way to reliably prevent cross-contamination, especially by allergens.
If a system is assembled under mechanical stress and then subjected to extreme thermal changes (such as cooling and hot cleaning), hairline cracks develop – usually directly in the area adjacent to the weld. Stress-free assembly and proper piping design, e.g., the use of sliding carriages or the inclusion of expansion joints or compensators, are crucial here.
