Unique Industries and Packaging Machinery - Corrosive Chemicals

Stainless steel is the go-to construction material for just about all packaging machinery. Among other things, stainless steel is a strong and durable material, which can be easily fabricated during manufacturing and easily cleaned after entering production. Which is why we are not going to discuss stainless steel today. Instead, we will look at a unique but common issue, working with products or in environments that are corrosive to stainless steel.

As resilient as stainless steel can be, there are some chemicals that will eat away at even stainless material, most notably acids. For these projects, Liquid Packaging Solutions will manufacture what we like to call corrosion resistant packaging machinery. This is somewhat of a misnomer, as stainless steel is also known for its general corrosion resistance, but when referring to corrosion resistant packaging machinery, we are referring to equipment typically manufactured using HDPE, taking the normal course of our own production away from steel and to a plastic material.

Though many different machines can be manufactured using HDPE material, the two main components of a packaging machinery that benefit from such construction are the liquid filler and the conveyor system. Filling machinery is usually the one piece of equipment that directly handles the product, having to move it from a bulk source through a product pathway and into the waiting containers. Given that there is a necessity for contact with the corrosive product and taking in to account accidents like spills, leaks, splashes and other occurrences, the bottle filler is the most likely to be affected by the corrosive nature of acids. Using an HDPE material decreases the negative impact of the contact and prolongs the life of the equipment itself.

Second, the power conveyor system will transfer containers from one machine to another, often running from one end of a packaging system to the next. Stainless steel conveyor systems can become the victim of a splash or spill as well, as they will be holding the bottles or other containers in place during the filling process. In addition, the power conveyor system, while running, could spread the corrosive product across the entire line or conveyor, inflicting more damage on the machine. Using an HDPE material for conveyors when dealing with an acid or highly corrosive chemical can also protect the power conveyor system from premature wear and tear and again prolong the life of the conveyors themselves.

Again, while filling machines and power conveyors are not the only pieces of equipment that can be manufactured in a corrosion resistant manner, they are the most common due to the interaction with the product. To learn more about corrosive packaging machinery or to discuss your own needs with a Packaging Specialist, contact LPS today!