Manufacturers in the food and pharmaceutical industries can be assured of full conformity with three crucial EU regulations following the launch of a new generation of Donaldson’s Dalamatic food-grade compliant filter bags.
By guaranteeing compliance with the necessary Regulation EC 1935/2004, Regulation EU 10/2011 and Regulation EU 2023/2006, Donaldson is providing an upfront confirmation that all materials used in its Dalamatic filter bags are suitable for use in all appropriate processes involving direct and indirect food-contact applications. The bags will be of particular interest to facilities handling foodstuffs including corn, flour, spices, cereals and sugar, as well as milk, fruit and coffee powders, etc.
“Many companies can be frustratingly vague about which declaration of compliance their filtering bag provides, so end-customers often can’t tell from the information they provide whether they are 100% EU food grade compliant or not,” explains Darek Kotowski, Engineer II, IAF AM, Donaldson Europe. “By demonstrating that we have in-depth knowledge of the regulations, while providing all required information and a declaration of compliance with each bag, we ensure our end-customers have peace of mind.”
A clean bill of health
Produced at Donaldson’s Klasterec plant in the Czech Republic, the Food-Grade Compliant Dalamatic bags are manufactured using individually certified compliant cuffs, main media and thread. They are available in three media types to suit different conditions and in filter surface areas ranging from 0.7m2 to 2m2.
Six sizes of Tetratex Contact filter bags are being offered, using a strong, premium ePTFE membrane media that is well-suited to handle the diverse range of temperatures and chemical conditions commonly encountered in food or pharmaceutical settings, without the risk of cross-contamination. Offering continuous resistance up to 150°C, these are also available in Anti-Static form to prevent the accumulation of hazardous static charges on the media surface, reducing the risk of explosions within the collector casing.
Six filter surfaces of Dalamatic bags based on Polyester Oleophobic Anti-Static media are also available, with their continuous resistance up to 135°C providing a high-quality solution for the majority of temperature and chemical environments in this sector. Their stainless-steel matrix scrim offers surface electrical resistance of less than 10^8 Ω, preventing the accumulation of dangerous static charges on the media surface and reducing the risk of explosions inside the collector casing. An oleo/hydro treatment improves dust cake release, especially when dealing with oily or moisture-sensitive products, making it particularly suited for use in pet food applications.
Additionally, six sizes of Dalamatic bags based on Dura-Life media are available. Dura-Life Food Grade Compliant Dalamatic bags offer continuous resistance up to 135°C and are suitable for chemical environment applications including acidic and weak alkaline conditions at ambient temperature.
Finally, for applications where the highest level of food grade standards is not always required, five sizes of Dura-Life Dalamatic bags are being offered. Providing a new level of efficiency in filter media, their enhanced surface loading prevents media penetration, boosting pulse cleaning efficiency and reducing pressure drop, while outlasting traditional polyester bag filters by up to three times.
In addition to the guarantees that all materials in Dalamatic bags are inherently food-safe, the adoption of Regulation EU 2023/2006 ensures that Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are in play from the earliest production stage to avoid the risk of any contamination that may preclude the use of the all-important wine glass and fork symbol of food contact approval.
“We and our suppliers must not only undertake extensive cleaning and sanitation procedures at our production plants, but also ensure our employees take the necessary personal hygiene measures after being trained to enter and work in the clean room where these products are manufactured,” concludes Darek. “We also have full product traceability, with individual labelling, to provide the history of every bag produced, before they are packaged to deliver a two-year shelf-life before being stored in a food-grade location.”
