304L (1.4307) and 316L (1.4404) stainless steel buttweld pipe fittings for dairy, brewing, juice processing, soft drinks, distillery, and food ingredient manufacturing. EHEDG hygienic design principles. FDA and EC 1935/2004 food-contact compliant. Surface finish documentation available. EN 10204 3.1 certification standard.
Request Food Grade Fittings Quote| Application | Grade | EN W.Nr. | Surface Finish | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy (milk, cream, whey) | 304L or 316L | 1.4307 / 1.4404 | Ra ≤0.8μm (3-A Standard) | Low chloride — 304L sufficient; 316L if CIP with high NaOCl |
| Brewing (beer, wort) | 304L | 1.4307 | Ra ≤0.8μm | Low chloride product — 304L is industry standard |
| Fruit juice / concentrates | 316L | 1.4404 | Ra ≤0.4–0.8μm | Organic acids (citric, malic) — 316L for better corrosion resistance |
| Soft drinks / CO₂ beverage | 304L or 316L | 1.4307 / 1.4404 | Ra ≤0.8μm | CO₂-charged water — low aggressivity; 316L if chlorinated CIP |
| Distillery (spirits, ethanol) | 304L or 316L | 1.4307 / 1.4404 | Ra ≤0.8μm | Low corrosivity — 304L adequate; 316L for aged spirits with chloride |
| Brine / salt solutions | 316L or 317L | 1.4404 | Ra ≤0.8μm or per spec | High Cl⁻ — 304L NOT suitable; 316L minimum; 317L (3.2% Mo) for severe brine |
| Seafood processing | 316L | 1.4404 | Ra ≤0.8μm | Seawater and brine contact — chloride pitting risk; 316L mandatory |
| Sugar / confectionery | 304L or 316L | 1.4307 / 1.4404 | Ra ≤0.8μm | Low corrosivity — 304L standard; 316L if CIP uses hypochlorite |
| CIP / SIP circuits | 316L | 1.4404 | Per product circuit | NaOH + HNO₃ / HCl + NaOCl CIP agents — 316L for long-term CIP resistance |
304L (1.4307) — adequate for:
316L (1.4404) — specify when:
Industry standard for dairy, brewing, and low-chloride food processing. Excellent formability, weldability, and surface finish capability. EC 1935/2004 food-contact compliant. Suitable to -196°C. Lower cost than 316L.
Preferred for brine, seafood, juice, and high-chloride CIP circuits. Mo-bearing for better pitting resistance. FDA and European Pharmacopoeia food-contact approved. Also the WFI pharmaceutical standard.
304L (EN 1.4307, X2CrNi18-9) is the standard for dairy, brewing, and low-chloride food processing. 316L (EN 1.4404, X2CrNiMo17-12-2) is specified where CIP chemicals include hypochlorite, the product contains chlorides (brine, seafood), or where organic acids are present (juice processing). EHEDG, 3-A Sanitary Standards, FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, and EC Regulation 1935/2004 permit both grades for food contact. For European markets, EC 1935/2004 compliance documentation should accompany the material certificate.
EHEDG and 3-A Sanitary Standards specify internal surface Ra ≤0.8μm (32μin) for most food-contact applications — equivalent to a 2B mill finish or a No. 4 mechanical polish. For dairy applications, Ra ≤0.8μm is required by 3-A Standard 03-07. For juice and higher-hygiene applications, Ra ≤0.4μm may be specified. Surface finish documentation (Ra measurement reports) is available on request. All food-grade fittings must be free from crevices, pits, and surface defects that could harbour contamination or prevent effective CIP cleaning. The pipe bore should transition smoothly at fittings to avoid dead zones.
Yes. Both 304L (1.4307) and 316L (1.4404) stainless steel fittings can be supplied with EC 1935/2004 food-contact compliance documentation (Declaration of Compliance). The applicable EU regulation for stainless steel food contact is (EU) 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles, and Commission Regulation (EC) 1935/2004. Material certificates (EN 10204 3.1) confirming grade, heat number, chemistry, and mechanical properties are standard. Specify your food-contact compliance documentation requirements in your RFQ.
