Food safe valve terminal

"Safety in food production is ensured by international directives and standards such as the EC Directive 2006/42/EC for Machinery and EN 1672-2 and EN ISO 14159 for hygiene requirements,” explains Jacqui Hanbury, Product Manager at Festo. "To help system builders and food producers meet these requirements as simply as possible, Festo has developed a range of automation components for use in hygienically critical environments and those subject to intensive cleaning.”

With FDA approval for all external materials and the valves being lubricated using NSF-H1 food-grade grease, the valve terminal can be used in both food and splash zones. A redundant seal system allows trouble-free, intensive cleaning with high pressure jets or foam, enabling installation in locations with harsh environmental conditions subject to cleaning in accordance with IP69k.

Offered with the electrical interface on the front or back, the MPA-C supports multi-pin, fieldbus or Ethernet communications. Individual sub-bases are combined to provide between 2 and 32 valve positions offering exactly the right amount of valves for your application and each valve can be in a separate pressure zone if required. In addition, dependant on the level of protection required, each position can be supplied with or without manual override. 

Valve types include a 5/2-way single solenoid valve, which for safety applications can have a mechanical spring return; a 5/2-way valve with double solenoid and a 5/3-way valve, which can be exhausted, pressurised or closed in mid-position. Dual versions of 3/2 and 2/2-way valves are also available and the MPA-C 3/2-way valve can accommodate a specific air supply connection per valve if required.

Festo's ‘Clean Design’ portfolio is a complete range of components and solutions. In addition to the MPA-C valve terminal, Festo offers FDA-certified tubing and fitting combinations (NPCK with PFAN), NEBV electrical connecting cables and stainless steel cylinders, such as the CRDSNU or DSBF.