There is a growing trend among companies that produce personal care products to adopt cGMP’s related to their process equipment. This became necessary as many of these companies were acquired by larger pharmaceutical companies, who already comply with more stringent design standards. Also, this change was driven by implementation of additional regulations on more products by the FDA and other governing bodies.

Enerquip has seen this trend evolve, and has proactively guided many of our customers through the impact of these regulations on their shell and tube heat exchangers. Customers who produce cosmetics, neutraceuticals and dietary supplements, and even pet care products historically requested non-sanitary process equipment including heat exchangers. Upgrading to higher quality sanitary stainless steel shell and tube heat exchangers has resulted in many benefits to our customers’ operations.

The longer life span of our stainless exchangers reduces down-time for change-out of equipment. Stainless steel materials are corrosion resistant, with reduced maintenance time and cost, and no repainting is needed. Stainless surfaces are also more easily cleaned, either mechanically or by CIP systems.

Replaceable tube bundles in sanitary U-tubes allow shells and bonnets to be re-used, and bundles can be upgraded to higher alloys if needed. Regulatory officials prefer sanitary stainless steel equipment, due to the sanitary design features and the full traceability of the materials that make up the heat exchanger. This reduces the risk of compliance issues that could delay inspections and start-ups.

Some customers are taking their standards to the next level, from sanitary to pharmaceutical grade, using heat exchangers with a double tubesheet design to minimize any risk of cross-contamination of their product by utility fluids. Seamless tubes are also preferred, and an improved surface finish on product contact surfaces enhances their cleanability.

The helpful heat exchanger experts at Enerquip understand the applications for heat exchangers in the personal care industry and can assist you with designing the perfect exchanger for your product, at whatever sanitary level you require.

Enerquip’s QC Manager and Engineers sit on advisory committees for 3-A and ASME-BPE, the organizations that guide the design and fabrication standards for sanitary equipment. This ensures our customers that we will remain on the leading edge of regulatory requirements and best practices, which results in better, safer equipment for our customers’ operations.