When going deeper into the stainless steel industry, we will see that there are many types of stainless steel used for different needs and applications. In particular, Hygienic Stainless Steel plays an important role in the production of products related to medicine or food. This article Hoa Giang will help you understand more about this type of stainless steel!
What is Hygienic Stainless Steel?
Hygienic/Sanitary stainless steel is a type of stainless steel that has been specially surface-treated to achieve a high level of polish both internally and externally (typically >180 Grit). This results in an extremely smooth surface, significantly reducing the adhesion of bacteria, mold, and other contaminants.
Typically, the surface of stainless steel is polished by the manufacturer according to the specific requirements of each industry. For pipes and fittings, in addition to the external polish, the internal polish is a paramount factor. The degree of internal polish determines its usefulness in creating a hygienic or sanitary element.
Outstanding characteristics of hygienic stainless steel
Why is it called hygienic stainless steel?
This type of stainless steel is named hygienic due to the following characteristics:
- Prevents bacterial adhesion: The extremely smooth surface makes it difficult for bacteria, mold, contaminants, and other microorganisms to adhere and proliferate. This is crucial in environments requiring high levels of cleanliness such as food, pharmaceutical, and medical production.
- Easy to clean: Thanks to its smooth surface, cleaning equipment made from hygienic stainless steel is much easier. Regular cleaning with common detergents can completely remove dirt.
- Ensures hygiene and safety: The anti-adhesion properties of bacteria make this type of stainless steel an ideal material for producing equipment that comes into direct contact with food, ensuring food safety for consumers.
Advantages of hygienic stainless steel
Hygienic stainless steel possesses all the outstanding advantages of stainless steel:
- Excellent corrosion resistance: They have excellent corrosion resistance, ensuring a long product life, especially in industrial production.
- High heat resistance: They can withstand high temperatures without deformation or degradation.
- Durable against environmental impacts: Good load-bearing capacity, pressure resistance, and resistance to rust and deformation.
- Shiny surface: Besides aesthetics, the smooth surface of sanitary stainless steel is a major advantage. They are easy to clean and resist dirt.
- Non-polluting: Sanitary stainless steel does not react with chemicals, does not create toxic compounds, ensuring product and consumer safety.
What are the different types of Hygienic stainless steel?
Classification based on Steel Grade
Hygienic stainless steel can be categorized into the following grades:
- Type 304: The most widely used, offering a balance of strength, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness. It finds application in food processing, beverage production, and other clean environments.
- Type 316: Providing superior corrosion resistance, especially in chloride-containing environments, this grade is ideal for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and demanding applications.
- Type 304L: A low-carbon variant of 304, offering exceptional corrosion resistance and workability. It is widely used in chemical processing, particularly in chloride-containing environments.
- Type 316L: A premium grade with outstanding corrosion resistance, making it suitable for harsh environments like seawater and chemical processing. Applications include pipelines, tanks, and components exposed to corrosive substances.
Classification by Use
Based on the use of stainless steel in production and industry, they include the following types:
- Stainless steel valve
- Stainless steel tubes
- Stainless steel elbow (Union)
- Union cap
- Stainless steel reducing bulb
- Stainless steel tee
- Stainless steel cap
- Surveyor/tank glass
- Stainless steel elbow
- Stainless steel clamp set
- Stainless steel cross
- Ferrule Stainless steel
Classification by Surface Finish
The surface finish of sanitary stainless steel is often measured by its roughness (grid). The higher the roughness, the smoother and easier to clean the surface. Common surface finishes include:
| Surface Finish | Specification Ra (μm) |
| #180 | 0.8 – 1.6 |
| #220 | 0.6 – 1.2 |
| #240 | 0.5 – 1.0 |
| #320 | 0.4 – 0.8 |
Classification by Standard
Depending on the field, there are different standards for stainless steel. Some common standards for sanitary stainless steel are:
- DIN 11850 standard
- SMS standard
- BPE standard
- ISO standard
- 3A standard
In addition, there are other standards, depending on the industry, manufacturers will produce suitable stainless steel according to the standards of that industry.
Applications of Hygienic Stainless Steel
Thanks to its superior properties, hygienic stainless steel finds extensive use across numerous industries and daily life applications.
Food Industry Applications
The food processing industry heavily relies on stainless steel conforming to SMS and DIN standards for equipment such as:
- Food processing machinery: Grinders, mixers, cutters, and conveyors fabricated from sanitary stainless steel guarantee food safety, prevent contamination, and facilitate cleaning.
- Food storage vessels: Tanks designed for storing milk, fruit juice, and spices are constructed from sanitary stainless steel to enhance food preservation and prevent microbial growth.
- Food pipelines: Pipes used for transporting milk, drinking water, and sauces are made of sanitary stainless steel to maintain product quality and protect consumer health.
Pharmaceutical Applications
The pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on stainless steel equipment and systems that adhere to stringent ISO and 3A standards. These include:
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment: Mixers, packaging machines, and chemical storage tanks fabricated from sanitary stainless steel guarantee product purity and prevent contamination.
- Chemical storage vessels: Tanks designed for storing various chemicals and solutions used in pharmaceutical production.
- Pharmaceutical pipelines: Pipelines for transporting various solutions and chemicals during the pharmaceutical manufacturing process.
Chemical Industry
In the chemical industry, stainless steel must exhibit high corrosion resistance. It must meet standards such as DIN and ISO, specifically for:
- Chemical storage tanks: Tanks for storing highly corrosive acids, bases, and salts.
- Chemical pipelines: Pipelines for transporting various chemicals in chemical plants.
- Heat exchange equipment: Made of sanitary stainless steel to ensure product quality and equipment durability.
Medical Industry
In the medical industry – an industry where antibacterial properties are very important, stainless steel used in this industry often has to meet 3A and ISO standards:
- Surgical tables: Surgical tables made of sanitary stainless steel are easy to clean and ensure sterility.
- Medical carts: Medical equipment carts, patient carts… made of sanitary stainless steel are easy to clean and ensure patient safety.
- Other medical equipment: Other medical machines and equipment such as dialysis machines, ventilators…
Other Industries
Besides, sanitary stainless steel also used in many others industries, such as:
- Seafood processing industry: Tanks, conveyors, seafood processing machinery.
- Beverage production industry: Tanks, pipelines for drinking water, beer, wine…
- Electronics industry: Used for manufacturing equipment and components in clean environments.
- Semiconductor industry: Used in the production of semiconductors, where stainless steel requires very high standards such as BPE, 316L…
Considerations when choosing Hygienic stainless steel
When choosing hygienic stainless steel, customers need to pay attention to the following points to make a suitable choice:
- Determine the correct needs and purpose of use to choose the right type of stainless steel.
- Choose the steel grade: Depending on the working environment, the chemical properties of the contact material, and the durability requirements to choose the appropriate steel grade.
- Choose the thickness: The thickness of the stainless steel sheet affects the load-bearing capacity, pressure, and durability of the product. Consider the size of the product, working pressure, and requirements for rigidity.
- Supplier: Choose a reputable supplier with experience in the field of sanitary stainless steel. Can provide full information about the product, quality certificates, and technical support, ensuring that the product meets the standard.
Hoa Giang is proud to be a supplier of Hygienic stainless steel products, European standards, manufactured in Thailand. Our products are carefully researched to ensure the highest safety for production, meeting DIN, SMS, BPE standards, …. With each order, Hoa Giang provides full quality certification documents. Customer trust and satisfaction are our goals. Our stainless steel products are chosen by leading factory systems: Saigon Beer, Hanoi Beer, International Milk, Lavie, Unilever, Vinamilk, Masan, Orion, Hau Giang Pharmaceutical…
NOTE: Hoa Giang is the SOLE and EXCLUSIVE Distributor of GHWA Thailand in Viet Nam. All other suppliers with the GHWA brand name are FAKE!
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HOA GIANG STAINLESS STEEL GROUP
Address: No. 19 Bach Dang, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (028) 38485518~9
Email: sales.visinh@inoxhoagiang.com
Website: www.inoxhoagiang.vn – www.inoxhg.vn – www.hwayangvn.com