Sanitary Welding

nAs one of the premier choices for welding services anywhere in Canberra and New South Wales, Topweld General Engineering has worked with many industries in the past, among them are those that deal with the production and processing of food, medicine, and other types of products that humans or animals consume. Because of the health concerns associated with the mishandling of these products, sanitary welds need to follow strict guidelines. Sanitary welding is a particular process of joining two pieces of metal together in order to create a seal that is impermeable to fluids and gas. The sanitary welding process is often used in the food and beverage industry, as well as in the pharmaceutical industry, in order to create a sanitary environment that is free of impurities. It is not a job that just any welder can do, but fortunately, the expert craftsmen in Topweld aren’t just any welders.n

What Makes a Weld Sanitary?

nAs previously mentioned, not all welds can be considered sanitary, because there are specific criteria that the weld must meet in order to achieve that classification. There are a few key factors that contribute to what exactly is sanitary welding. Without going too much into technical jargon, the following are:n

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1. The weld itself must be free of any imperfections or defects that could provide a foothold for bacteria or other contamination. 

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2. The weld joint must have a smooth surface, free of any sharp edges or burrs that could harbor bacteria. 

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3. The weld joint must be properly cleaned and disinfected to ensure that it is free of any harmful microorganisms.

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nOf course, there is much more to the craft than these basic guidelines. It takes years of experience as a welder in order to ensure that they are met. For that reason, we reserve sanitary welding jobs for the most talented metal fabricators in the company with sufficient training and expertise under their belt.nn

Materials Used

nThere are a variety of metals that we use for sanitary welds. Some of the most common include stainless steel and aluminum. They may look very similar, but each of these metals has its own benefits and drawbacks that should be considered when choosing which one to use. During the design phase, the welder picks the most appropriate alloy to use given a specific application.nnStainless steel is easily the most popular choice for sanitary applications owing to its high durability and resistance to corrosion, which makes it ideal for use in wet environments such as the interior or pipes. Additionally, it is easy to clean and sterilize, further adding to its appeal. When welding stainless steel, we pay close attention to the filler metal so as to maximize the effect of the chromium anti-rust barrier. Its main drawbacks are that the alloy has very poor electric conductivity and it is much more expensive than the alternative. Aluminum, on the other hand, is also a metal our team specializes in that is quite popular in sanitary welds. It is one of the easiest metals to fabricate because it is malleable, lightweight, non-toxic, and resistant to corrosion. It performs worse, however, in aqueous environments, so the alloy is limited in its capabilities compared to stainless steel. That said, aluminum welding is still widely used in other industries that don’t use saline water. With all that said, which one of these two alloys do you think would best suit your project?n

TIG Welding VS. MIG Welding Technique

nTIG welding (Tungsten Inert Gas Welding) is the preferred technique in sanitary welding as it provides the welder with increased control over their work. In the hands of a trained metal fabricator, sanitary TIG welding can produce clean and strong welds that are less likely to harbor other impurities. When calibrated properly, MIG welding (Metal inert gas) can also be used for sanitary work, especially when working on large metal fabrications. The main issue is that the speed and streamlined experience of this welding technique may become its downfall when it comes to precise joints and sections of a sanitary weld.n

What Are the Uses of Sanitary Weld?

nSanitary welds creates aseptic conditions in metallic surfaces that protects materials passing through them from becoming contaminated by unintended reactants, and other harmful substances. They also allow for easy and reliable cleaning.n

Food Manufacturing

nThe most common use of sanitary welding is in complex machinery and food grade equipment that handles the processing of raw materials into food that will be sold to and consumed by a large number of people. For this reason, the industry must abide by strict rules in all stages of production in order to ensure public health safety. Sanitary stainless welding is a good example of the application of this type of work in the food industry.n

Medical and Pharmaceutical

nSimilar to the food industry, the medical and pharmaceutical industry must also follow guidelines such as sanitary weld that are meant to ensure that their products are safe to consume or be used in the medical environment. Syringes, for instance, must be completely free of contaminants before they can be used as they will come into direct contact with a person’s bloodstream.n

Agriculture

nFarmers usually process their crops in bulk, so it is very important to keep the machinery and other food grade equipment they use clean and safe to avoid harmful substances from contaminating and potentially ruining an entire yield. The rice mill or the many milk processing equipment used in dairy industries make for good examples. Like processed food, sanitary stainless steel welding plays a vital role in maintaining the quality of these machines and their products.n

Petrochemicals

nSanitary welding is also important in handling petrochemicals that produce products like detergent, paint, and even explosives. For these products, it is incredibly important that the interior is clean with a smooth surface so that no material that is unaccounted for ever gets mixed in during the manufacturing process. Once again, stainless steel is a fantastic material to utilize for this purpose.n

Plumbing

nKeeping the water supply and drainage systems in a residential building prevents blockages, leaks, and of course, water contamination. Not to be confused with plumbers, sanitary pipe welding is concerned with the structural integrity of the entire pipe system, rather than isolated problems.n

How TopWeld Can Help you?

nnContact A Welding and Fabrication Expert Today!nn

How Can Topweld Help You With Sanitary Welding Process?

nIf you want expert welders, there’s only one company you should call. TopWeld General Engineering is the best solution that knows what you’re looking for in a metal fabricator for sanitary welding work. We assure you that our team is experienced and has a good track record when it comes to the complete process of sanitary welding. We have the necessary equipment and resources to get the job done right. Finally, we are open to negotiations to make sure you are getting the most out of every dollar. Structural welding, pipe and tube installation, sheet metal fabrication, we have it all.n

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LOOKING FOR Sanitary Welding PROJECT?

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Questions And Answers

nWhat is the cleanest type of weld?nnTIG welding is by far one of the best ways to get a clean weld. It is much slower than other welding processes, but it can create stronger welds because fabricators have a greater sense of control over their workpieces.nnHow Much Does Welding Work Cost in Canberra?nnWelding work costs around 50 – 60 AUD depending on the scale of the project and the rate per hour of the welding company. Additional costs may be incurred by materials and other necessities.nnWhat is Sanitary Welding?nnSanitary welding is a special kind of welding service that joins two or more metals together in such a way that the surface is clean and safe from contaminants.nnWhy Do You Need Sanitary Welding?nnMachines that process food, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals need to be welded with extreme care and precision to ensure that their contents do not get contaminated during the manufacturing stage. Sanitary welding is a special branch in metal fabrication responsible for that specific task.