A machine that processes meat or dairy products is subject to different rules than a production line for screws and nuts. Hygiene in machine building isn’t an afterthought but a design choice: materials, construction, and accessibility are determined before the first weld is made. This guide translates the requirements into specific questions for your bidding process.
Material: 304 and 316 stainless steel
Product-contact parts made of 304 stainless steel are the standard for dry food products: granules, powders, and snacks. Acids and salts—dairy products, sauces, fish—require 316 stainless steel with molybdenum to prevent pitting corrosion. The difference lies in the numbers on the material certificate; request that certificate for the machine as well as for any parts you order later. For the rest of the machine, the following applies: galvanized steel should not be used in the product zone, and stainless steel should be used wherever cleaning water comes into contact with the machine.
Shape: open, smooth, and rounded
Hygienic construction means: no hollow profiles in the product zone, welded joints polished flush with the surface, sloped surfaces that allow water to run off, and rounded corners where product cannot get trapped. Every horizontal beam is a dust shelf; every sharp inside corner is a spot your operator skips when cleaning on Friday afternoons. Open construction takes up space but saves cleaning time—15 minutes a day adds up to 90 hours a year.
IP Rating: What the Machine Can Withstand
| IP rating | Meaning | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| IP54 | dustproof, splash-proof | dry environment, damp cloth |
| IP65 | sealed, waterjet-resistant | wet cleaning with a hose |
| IP66 to IP69K | high pressure and steam | whole grains, wet foods |
Any machine you intend to clean with water must have a control system and motors rated IP65 or higher. Lower ratings mean: a cloth and spray bottle, along with a cleaning protocol designed for that purpose.
Wet or dry cleaning
Dry products—flour, sugar, granules—should be cleaned without water: vacuum and wipe them down, because water turns powder into a paste in crevices. Wet products—meat, sauces—require wet cleaning and therefore IP65-plus certification. A single machine capable of handling both is virtually impossible to find without compromise; choose the option that best suits your primary product.
What to Consider Before Making a Purchase
Specify the following in the specifications: materials by zone (product contact, splash zone, non-contact), the IP rating of cabinets and motors, the cleaning method you will use, and the documentation you expect. For food applications, the Machinery Directive with CE marking also applies; hygiene requirements from your target market are in addition to these. If in doubt, have the vertical form, fill, and seal machine specify it for your most demanding product — such as in the case of reliable packaging solutions It's standard practice—because you can always scale back, but you can't make changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is 316 stainless steel always better than 304?
Good for corrosion resistance, but not for your wallet: 316 costs about 20 to 30% more for parts that come into contact with the product. Choose 316 for areas exposed to acids and salts, and 304 for everything else—mixed specifications are common in mechanical engineering.
Q: Does hygienic construction cost more?
Structure speaks louder than a number: an open frame and polished joints add hours to the construction time and, therefore, to the price. Weigh that against your cleaning time and audit risk—the payback calculation should be part of your quote comparison; see how much a packaging machine costs.
Q: Does cleaning affect my maintenance schedule?
Yes: wet cleaning accelerates wear on lubricants and seals. Grease the wear points more frequently and check the seals monthly instead of quarterly — an adjustment to the preventive maintenance schedule which you can factor into your calculations when selecting a machine.
Related pages
vertical form, fill, and seal machine | reliable packaging solution | maintenance of a packaging machine | Choosing a VFFS Machine | VFFS Parts
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