Food and pharmaceutical industry
The importance of fluoropolymers for the sector
Fluoropolymers enable durable processing equipment, ensuring food freshness and pharmaceutical purity as well as a high level of efficiency by preventing corrosion and facilitating cleaning. As they are durable, fluoropolymers play an important role in extending the lifespan of a range of products, such as flexible plastic-based food packaging. Fluoropolymer coatings on flexible plastic-based food packaging can help keep food fresh, thereby reducing food waste and helping the EU achieve its sustainability goals.
In the European biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector alone, €270 million was saved in 2012 compared to 2008 from contamination and material failure reductions. Such improvements can be attributed to a range of factors, but fluoropolymers play an important role in these efficiency gains
Unique properties of fluoropolymers and their benefits for the sector
Fluoropolymers are crucial for many applications in the food and pharma sectors due to their unique properties.
Their non-wetting and non-stick properties and high resistance to extreme temperatures provide a number of benefits including:
Increased lifetime of components
Lower cleaning and maintenance costs
Increased productivity
by enabling the production of multiple products with the same equipment, reducing failures and improving flow of process substances
Higher production yields and quality from improved purity of process substances
Health benefits from high purity and hygiene standards, lower health risks from cross contamination and avoiding over- or under-dosage of pharmaceuticals
Lower levels and risk of exposure of workforce and environment to chemicals, including avoiding leaks
Prolonged preservation of the product
Combination of steam, heat, chemical and UV resistance enables efficient sterilization
Fluoropolymers and the future of the industry
Fluoropolymers are key enablers of innovation in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Perhaps most importantly to society as a whole, they allow for reduced food waste and increased efficiency of pharmaceuticals.
- High Efficiency Dry Powder Inhaler: Coating the inhaler and capsule with fluoropolymers significantly increased the emitted dose.