Did you know the federal government is implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)? As a machine builder, do you know how it affects you and your customers? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the most critical types of food and beverage processing – operations involving dairy, eggs, meat, and poultry. Although many facilities don’t fall under USDA jurisdiction, they still play it safe and follow USDA guidelines for equipment selection and operation. This affects OEM food machine builders by requiring their machines to be designed to prevent food contamination. With more scrutiny being placed on machine design, machine builders will be feeling the pinch.

Linear actuators in harsh food environments are required to meet USDA regulations. They either need to be corrosion-resistant to stand up to washdown conditions, or they need to be protected. But protective shielding can add cost and complexity to the design of a machine, so it’s often better to use an electric rod actuator that’s designed for the situation.

PHD’s Series ECP IP69K Washdown Electric Cylinder is out of the box USDA certified IP69K – meaning it is dust-proof and resistant to high pressure and high temperature washdown – ideal for clean-in-place (CIP) environments. It comes with the option to be full 300-grade stainless steel (-Y8 option) for USDA Product Splash Zone or it can include a sanitary tray with (–Y91 option) for USDA Product Contact Zone. The Series ECP uses many of the proven components from the Series ECV Electric Cylinder to continue its reputation of quality construction and long life.

PHD provides the capability to purchase a certified actuator out-of-the-box – giving you less to worry about with designing shields or covers to keep water and chemicals from coming in contact with internal components.

Click here to learn more about the Series ECP, or request a quote from your local distributor.