Air is an important component. Is your air clean enough?
Food processing companies invest millions in hygienic areas, clean rooms and stringent quality controls, but what about the process air that flows through your production lines?
When handling fine powders, grains and ingredients, air and food dust have a common player - the filtration system. In some situations, for example, powder is transported pneumatically and collected with a dust collector. The recovered powder is then reused as an ingredient, which is why reliable filtration is essential.
If air passes through untested or uncertified filters, or if recovered food powder comes into direct contact with filters that alter the composition of the food, this can undetectedly compromise food safety, shorten shelf life and jeopardize regulatory compliance.
How can you be sure that your current filtration equipment meets the latest regulatory and operational requirements?
This article looks at why choosing the right certified filter is important and how it can directly contribute to regulatory compliance, ISO 22000 certification and production efficiency.
The overlooked danger above your production line
Invisible dust can cause visible damage - to products, people and compliance with regulations.The dust that is collected in your production line's dust extraction system doesn't just disappear - it comes into direct contact with your dust extraction filters. Without proper extraction and certified filtration, this process can lead to dust contamination in cleanrooms, damage machinery, introduce microbiological hazards into products and result in regulatory violations that can lead to fines or shutdowns.
The use of non-FCM compliant filters can lead to unintended hazards such as
- chemical migration from adhesives or polymeric components,
- uncontrolled microbial growth on untreated surfaces,
- filter media wear in high moisture or high temperature applications,
- non-compliance with legal regulations, which can lead to product recalls or loss of certification.
Dust extraction filter: Certified for contact with food
Our dust extraction filters for use in food processing are made from harmless raw materials and are certified as FCM (Food Contact Material). They meet the strictest standards of the food industry, including
ISO 22000:2018, which includes HACCP principles for proactive hazard control,
EC 1935/2004 for compliance with the regulations for materials that may come into contact with food,
(EU) No. 10/2011, which deals specifically with plastic materials
(EC) No 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practice (GMP ) for materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs
One dust does not fit all - adapt media to your process
Choosing the wrong filter medium in food dust collection systems can lead to dangerous buildup, reduced efficiency, microbial growth or even explosion hazards, especially when handling fine, sticky or electrostatically charged dusts.
For this reason, Hengst offers a wide range of tested and validated filter media with a 100% polyester base and additional FCM-compliant surface treatments to suit the characteristics of your dust and process conditions:
- Conductive layer: to prevent the risk of explosion from electrostatically charged dust, such as sugar, flour or starch.
- Non-stick coated membranes: For easy cleaning and to prevent microbial accumulation of ultra-fine dust such as cocoa or instant coffee and sticky particles such as sugar.
Product differentiation through filter media options and coatings
All media types that are part of FCM's qualified dust extraction filters are manufactured to ISO 22000:2018 standards and tested to ISO 16890, ensuring filter efficiency and performance for predictable results and longer life.
Specialized solutions for complex requirements in food production
From handling flammable to sticky particles, every plant environment requires highly specialized filtration solutions.
We develop certified Filter cartridges, Pleated bag filters and Flat filter elements for use in:
- Coffee roasting and grinding - handling oily, flammable particulates.
- Cocoa processing - requires non-stick, breathable surfaces for light, airy powder.
- Grain milling and blending - with large amounts of flour or bran waste.
- Sugar refining - handling sticky and hygroscopic particles.
- Spice blending and packaging - avoiding cross-contamination.
- Baking ingredient handling - where separation of allergens is critical.
Our bespoke Filter Elements are optimized for high efficiency and extended change intervals, minimizing disruption and ensuring your equipment remains compliant and efficient.
Certified for safety: from EC 1935/2004 to ISO 22000
Compliance with Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 is the basic requirement - ISO 22000 is the benchmark.While Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 sets the legal frame for food contact materials, the ISO 22000 standard goes one step further by integrating HACCP, traceability and continuous improvement throughout the food production chain - including our manufacturing process for FCM Filter Elements.
By moving from Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 to ISO 22000 compliance, our production site in Denmark demonstrates not only its commitment to regulatory compliance, but also its excellence and global leadership in food safety.
What are the benefits of working with a certified filter manufacturer?
Hengst dust extraction filters from Nakskov are tested for safety and are fully traceable. They are designed to meet all major food safety regulations while offering proven performance through customized solutions for your specific dust type and process conditions.
Benefits:
- You can be confident that a key component of the manufacturing plant, the dust extraction filters, have been designed and installed in a controlled, clean and safe environment.
- With increased transparency as Hengst Air Filtration Denmark A/S has a documented Food Safety Management System (FSMS), you eliminate these risks at source and ensure that every component of your dust collection system is suitable for direct or indirect contact with food.
- Contribute to your ISO 22000 certification process. Using key equipment from ISO 22000-certified suppliers optimizes the certification process for food and beverage (F&B) customers.
Case studies: Proven performance in food industry applications
Our certified dedusting filter elements have proven themselves in real food production environments. See for yourself how our filtration solutions have brought tangible benefits in various food processing applications:
Dust collector for sugar silos - Slovenia
To handle fine, explosive crystal sugar dust, a European sugar manufacturer required a safe, ATEX compliant and EC1935 certifiedfiltration solution. Hengst supplied 64 Star Bottom Pleated Bags with antistatic media and cable grounding, providing exceptional conductivity (only 67.4 Ω) and emissions below 3 mg/m³ - ideal for ensuring food safety and preventing explosions.
Read the case study.
Handling protein powder - California, USA
When Hengst faced problems with the glued tape strips on competitor's gusseted pouches, the company introduced CMF145 Multifit pleated bag filter to Ultrasonic welding technology from Weltech. These allowed for secure attachment and easy removal, eliminating contamination risks and service interruptions.
Read the case study.
Conclusion: Clean air is food safety
Whether roasting coffee, processing cocoa, grinding grain, refining sugar or blending spices, Hengst Filtration helps you protect product integrity while maintaining production efficiency.
We offer Customized technical solutions and technical support, to give you exactly what you need, when you need it. Whether you're upgrading existing systems or specifying new equipment, Hengst is your trusted partner for safe, certified and highly efficient dust extraction filters.
Get in touch
Contact our team for any questions and support regarding Filter Cartridges, Pleated Bags & Flat Cells
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