Food Grade Stainless Steel

In hygienic industries such as food and packaging, it is crucial that all equipment meets stringent requirements for cleanability, corrosion resistance, hygiene, life and safety. Food grade stainless steel (SS) - typically AISI 304 or 316 - is therefore the standard choice for machinery and enclosures that come into direct contact with food. In particular, stainless steel 316 (also called 'Food Grade Stainless' called) is popular for its increased resistance to corrosive substances such as salt and acids. Below we discuss the main advantages of food grade stainless steel in hygienic applications, and show the added value of combining it with robust SimplexTouch panel PCs (such as those from SimplexWaterproof) offers for companies seeking reliable automation with minimal downtime.

Key benefits of food grade stainless steel in hygienic environments

• Easy to clean: Stainless steel has a very smooth and non-porous surface, which makes it difficult for dirt and microorganisms to adhere. This makes stainless steel surfaces easy to clean and disinfect according to strict hygiene protocols in the food industry. Unlike many other materials, stainless steel does not release harmful substances, is resistant to aggressive cleaning agents and can be thoroughly cleaned and even sterilized repeatedly without deterioration
• High corrosion resistance: Food grade stainless steel is resistant to acids, moisture and salts released during food production and cleaning. Thanks to a thin chromium oxide layer on the metal surface, stainless steel is highly corrosion resistant. This protective layer prevents rusting and material degradation, even with frequent contact with food acids or cleaning chemicals. As a result, stainless steel equipment lasts much longer in corrosive environments without compromising material integrity or hygiene.
• Hygienic surface: Because stainless steel has a naturally smooth finish, it improves hygiene in production environments. Bacteria and dirt have little chance of adhering to the surface or settling in crevices. With a polished or high-gloss finish, this effect is further enhanced: the smoother the stainless steel surface, the less risk of bacterial growth and contamination. This allows strict hygiene and food safety requirements to be met without additional coatings or treatments.
• Longevity and durability: Investing in stainless steel pays off through the material's long life. Stainless steel is mechanically strong, temperature resistant and abrasion resistant, making stainless steel installations function reliably for years. Because the material does not corrode or flake off, it requires less frequent maintenance or replacement. Thus, machines and parts remain operational for longer, which benefits the continuity of the production process. So with stainless steel, companies can count on durable equipment that withstands intensive use and frequent cleaning without problems.
• Safe for food contact: Food grade stainless steel is inert and food safe. It does not release any foreign odors, flavors or toxic substances into food products. Unlike painted or galvanized materials, for example, stainless steel does not release particles that can contaminate products. This prevents contamination of food products and guarantees that quality, taste and color remain intact. Due to its neutral nature, stainless steel meets international food safety standards, which is essential to comply with legislation and audits around HACCP and food contact materials.

Thanks to this combination of properties, stainless steel is by far the most widely used material for equipment in hygiene-sensitive sectors. Many international standards and guidelines for hygienic design (such as EN 1672-2 and EN ISO 14159) therefore recommend the use of stainless steel because of its excellent corrosion resistance and smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces. Food grade stainless steel allows companies to meet strict hygiene requirements without compromising the reliability or longevity of their facilities.

Robust stainless steel touch screens in the production environment

By combining food grade stainless steel with industrial touch-panel PCs (such as the SimplexTouch all-in-one PCs from SimplexWaterproof) create additional benefits for production environments. These robust touch solutions have a fully sealed stainless steel housing, which means they are optimally protected against water, dust and dirt. In practice, this results in systems that can be used even in wet or aggressive environments continue to function reliably, easy to clean Be and provide minimum downtime - even during intensive cleaning procedures.

Reliable automation

A stainless steel panel PC with hygienic design offers the same computing power and functionality as a regular industrial computer, but packaged in an enclosure built for the harshest conditions. Because the enclosure is seamlessly constructed of high-quality stainless steel (often 316), the internal system is superbly protected from external influences such as moisture ingress, temperature fluctuations and corrosive substances. These devices are specifically designed to operate in harsh environments continue to perform without unexpected downtime. So in environments such as food production, where 24/7 operational reliability of automation systems is crucial, a rugged stainless steel touch PC gives peace of mind: the chance of failure due to environmental factors is minimal. The result is reliable automation that operators and technicians can rely on, even in wet or cool production halls where standard electronics would fail.

Easy cleaning and hygienic design

Stainless steel touch-panel PCs are made to to be flushed along with the rest of the line. Typically, these systems meet high protection classes, e.g. IP66 or IP69K, which means they are completely dustproof and waterproof - even against high-pressure cleaning and hot water jets. The front panel typically features a flat, scratch-resistant glass touchscreen that fits seamlessly to the stainless steel bezel, with no edges or gaps for dirt to accumulate. This allows operators and cleaning teams to quickly and thoroughly hose down or wipe down the screen and enclosure, just like other stainless steel machine parts. Even aggressive cleaning agents and disinfectants do not attack the stainless steel housinga. The hygienic finish - with rounded corners and food-safe seals - ensures that the touch system is not a dirt trap and easily meets the strictest cleaning protocols. This makes frequent cleaning between production runs or during product changes a quick routine job, without extra effort or special tools.

Minimal downtime and high efficiency

Because these touch solutions can take a beating and are easy to clean, this translates directly into fewer production interruptions. With traditional electronics, care must often be taken during cleaning (e.g. cover or switch off first), but a water- and dust-proof stainless steel panel PC can in-place be cleaned without risk of downtime. This means that at the end of a production day, cleaning of both machines and control panels can be done in one go. Thanks to robustness and corrosion resistance, this type of system lasts longer With no need for frequent repairs or replacements, further reducing unplanned downtime. So in intensive production environments where every minute counts, the combination of food grade stainless steel and a durable touch PC increases uptime. Operators can quickly restart after cleaning and do not have to wait for equipment to dry or reinstall. Ultimately, this leads to a more efficient production with maximum plant availability.

In short, food grade stainless steel forms the backbone of hygienic production equipment thanks to its cleanability, resistance to corrosion, hygiene and durability. Combined with specially designed stainless steel touch-panel PCs - such as the SimplexTouch series - companies in food processing, packaging and other hygiene-sensitive industries can benefit from reliable automation that seamlessly meets their stringent hygiene requirements. These robust, hygienic touch solutions not only ensure product safety and quality, but also keep the production process running smoothly with minimal downtime, even under the most demanding cleaning regimes