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Pure cleanliness

EHEDG-compliant load cell meets the high demands of the pharma and food industry
Pure cleanliness

Pure cleanliness
The Sartorius Hygienic Load Cell, type PR 6202, received the iF Product Design Award for 2006
Load cells do not normally come into direct contact with the product. However, since sterility is of vital importance in certain sectors of industry, the development of a hygienic load cell is only logical. The result: A load cell from Sartorius in accordance with the standards of the EHEDG is now available for the first time.

Dominic Grone

When speaking of the specifications of load cells, users cite high precision as the first priority. Robustness comes in second place, in order that weighing results continue to be precise – even in harsh production environments. For these reasons, when developing load cells, mounting kits and the associated electronics, work until now been very clearly focused on meeting the technical specifications. However, when load cells began to be used in environments demanding a high level of hygiene, developers faced a new challenge. Although load cells do not come into contact with products in automatic mixing and batching equipment, it is essential to counter creeping contamination and the resultant spreading of germs. As a result, design engineers need to bear in mind that contamination of product by build-up of grime has to be prevented and that Sartorius load cells and batching controllers have a very high degree of accuracy, resolution and reliability. For only high accuracy and reliability, combined with clean, perfectly hygienic production, leads to the high prod-uct quality desired.
Bringing opposites together
In order to meet the requirements of the EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group), it was necessary to consider cleanability in the physical design of the equipment and its component parts. Components have to be designed using materials suited to hygiene, such as stainless steel and plastic, suitable surface treatment and canted edges, in such a way that they are easy to clean and that their cleaning results can be validated. This also includes the avoidance of screws and gaps, a high degree of resis-tance to products and cleaning agents and ease of access for subsequent maintenance.
So much for the theory. In practice, Sartorius engineers were left facing a real brainteaser in order to transfer the principles of hygienic design to the design of load cells and mounting kits. After all, in many cases the specific requirements for a suitably hygienic design conflict with the technical needs. Furthermore, the solutions found must allow for the actual problems and practical realities – without limiting functionality.
Until now, bellows had protected the strain gauges; these contaminated easily and quickly became damaged. Deposits formed under the covers, which were troublesome to remove due to difficulty of access. Liquids collected on horizontal surfaces because they were not able to run off. These characteristics presented a potential threat of contamination in the same way as holes, open threads and ports for load introduction. Even the bolts on the load bearing areas were critical to functionality, since they formed gaps.
Perfect cleanliness
Not only did the new product family have to meet contemporary standards and regulations, but it also needed to consider current trends and future developments with regard to hygienic design. The weighing specialists set to work and the result they presented was the first load cell to be developed consistent with the high standards of the EHEDG. The PR 6202 Hygienic Load Cell is hermetically sealed and – as the first product for tank and hopper scales – meets the most stringent demands for hygiene, due both to its physical design features and the selection of particularly high quality materials. It is made of stainless steel, hermetically welded and available in the following load ranges: 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 25 and 50 t.
There are hardly any horizontal surfaces and no gaps. Furthermore, the load cell is just as rugged as other Sartorius products. It is watertight to IP 68 (10,000 h, 1.5 m) and water-jet proof to IP 69K, and can be used over a wide temperature range. A high degree of reliability and extremely long-term stability can be taken for granted.
The fact that the entire development process was carried out and documented in accordance with the strict requirements of the pharmaceutical industry (GMP) made an important contribution to the newly developed load cell. This has considerably simplified subsequent installation and the qualification and validation necessary in biotechnology and pharmaceutical plant.
Hall F1.0, Booth A13
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