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Process Seals Develops New Hygienic Design-compatible Washer for Food and Beverage, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries

ELGIN, Ill., Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To address the ever-present risk of germ and bacterial contamination, Process Seals developed a new aseptic Hygienic Usit® washer especially designed for hygienic design applications. The washer reliably seals screw and bolt heads to protect aseptic isolators and areas that make contact with both the product and external influences from the risk of contamination.

Process Seals' Hygienic Usit washer seals externally, cleanly isolating the space between the bolt and the surface from all external influences to protect the product. Other current applications are internally vulcanized, trapezoidal and leave air spaces where fluid and product deposits can collect. As processes cannot completely clean the area under the bolt head, an unsanitary area can develop.

"Despite the enormous risk of germ or bacterial contamination, plant constructors and operators in the process industry often use non-compliant bolt washers that create a breeding ground for bacteria," said James Lippert, U.S. sales manager, Process Seals. "With its specialized design, our Hygienic Usit washer establishes new hygienic standards in sealing technologies for the food and beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical industries."

The Hygienic Usit's sealing bead is made of 70 EPDM 291 material, which is compliant with Food and Drug Administration, EC 1935/2004 requirements and is biologically safe according to United States Pharmacopoeia Class VI criteria up to 121°C, making it the ideal choice for hygienically demanding applications in the process industry. Additionally, the washer is specially constructed for use with hexagon bolts with flanges (DIN EN 1665) and is available in the standard sizes M5, M6, M8, M10, M12 and M16.

Process Seals, a division of the international Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, is a sealing solutions supplier for the food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. As a specialist in process engineering applications, the company has more than 160 years of technological knowledge and market expertise. For more information, please visit www.freudenberg-process-seals.com.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is the largest member of the Freudenberg Group, a family enterprise with more than 34,000 employees in 59 countries. Having started with the first Freudenberg Simmerring® in 1929, the technology specialist now offers a broad range of sealing solutions consistently tailored to the needs of its customers in various branches.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is linked to customers by five sales channels, each of which represents an established brand in its respective market: Automotive Sealing (automotive industry/original equipment), Corteco (automotive industry/aftermarket), Simrit (general industry), Merkel (heavy industry) and Process Seals (process engineering).

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has major branch offices in Europe, North and South America. Together with its partners NOK Corporation, Japan, Sigma Freudenberg NOK, India and NOK-Freudenberg Group, China, the company forms a worldwide network providing customers around the globe with reliable high-quality products.

SOURCE Process Seals