Hose Assemblies with PTFE Liners Meet Stringent Hygienic Requirements

Elapharm hose assemblies from Elaflex in Hamburg, Germany, comply with the high demands related to cleanliness and hygiene, such as those specified in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The seamless, smoothly extruded, FDA-compliant liners of DuPont Teflon PTFE make a major contribution to this. Using a proprietary production technology, these liners are bonded homogeneously and uniformly to the rubber construction, which is made of EPDM plus a high-strength, temperature-resistant aramid braiding and a coil of high-tenacity stainless steel wire. Together, these individual components offer an excellent combination of flexibility, anti-kinking and pressure/vacuum resistance.

Due to the ultra-high chemical resistance of the Teflon PTFE liners to nearly all media used in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, the potential applications for Elapharm hoses are virtually unlimited. Depending on the medium, the service temperature range is between -30 °C and 140 °C at operating pressures from -0.09 bar (vacuum) to 16 bar. The inherent nonstick effect of the inner fluoropolymer liner reduces the cleaning effort to a minimum even when high-viscosity media are conveyed. This, together with the speed of emptying the system for cleaning purposes or for changing the media, can provide significant cost savings in production.

The Elapharm hoses have been developed in conjunction with ContiTech Schlauch GmbH in Korbach, Germany. They are available in two versions, from DN 13 to DN 50. The seamless smooth liner of the OHM type conforms to DIN 26055-3 Type B and is made of black, electrically conductive Teflon PTFE. It can therefore also be used in Ex Zones 0 and 1. The outer sheath of EPDM is also black and electrically conductive. The I version is provided with a liner of white electrically insulating Teflon PTFE. Its blue EPDM cover is also electrically insulating. Furthermore, it complies with the requirements of the FDA regarding extractable components.

Elaflex supplies both types of Elapharm hoses as a complete assembly with crimped hose fittings. Users choose between flush-mounted hose tails (gap-minimised) and patented hose fittings with a beaded Teflon PTFE liner (free of dead spaces or hold spots) for the demanding requirements regarding media purity. Assembly is carried out by the manufacturer, therefore ensuring short delivery times. Series production of the new hoses is due to begin by mid-2013.

ELAFLEX - Gummi Ehlers GmbH, +49 40-540 005 1069, info@elaflex.de, www.elaflex.de.