Excellence in the Food and Beverage Industry

Source: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies

"Our commitment to extreme quality at Tillsonburg has been recognized many times, but earning NSF 51 is a significant milestone for us,” said Geoff Dunn, Product Marketing Manager at Tillsonburg. “Food and beverage is a key growth area for us, with the outstanding products we offer, our commitment to quality control, and now NSF 51 certification, we are poised to be the industry benchmark."

Unlike the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, which primarily focus on the materials used, NSF 51 encompasses a comprehensive evaluation process, including formulation reviews, extensive testing, and facility inspections. NSF 51 standards are considered more stringent than those set by the FDA. They set its regulations based on the material itself. The FDA conducts extraction testing to confirm that materials do not leach harmful substances, but it does not test the final product or the manufacturing process. Once the material is deemed safe it goes on the FDA approved material list and is often left for manufactures to self-declare if the final product is FDA approved.

While the FDA sets essential regulations to ensure the safety of materials used in food equipment, NSF 51 goes a step further by requiring their third-party certification. NSF requires the manufacturer to provide the full recipe used to manufacture the seal. They review the formulation to ensure both FDA and their more stringent regulations are met by all ingredients. Next, they conduct testing on the seal that will go into the equipment to ensure no unexpected or unsafe leaching occurs. Finally, they come to inspect the facility where the seals are manufactured to ensure the environment meets all sanitary and other safety requirements. Once passed this inspection is required annually to keep NSF 51 certification.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Tillsonburg facility joins the ranks of its other North American NSF 51 certified facilities in Santa Ana, California, and Morristown, Indiana. With this certification, the company now offers ten NSF 51 certified materials, with EPDM 291, Fluoroprene XP, 70 FKM 727 Gaskets, and 70 VMQ 630861, being the new materials manufactured at the Tillsonburg facility. This achievement highlights Freudenberg Sealing Technologies dedication to providing the highest quality solutions for its customers.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies invites its customers and partners to explore the benefits of using Freudenberg brand materials that are NSF 51 certified. By choosing these certified materials, companies can ensure the highest standards of safety and quality in their food equipment manufacturing processes. Leave your contact information, and a expert will reach out to help you find the ideal solution for your needs. Together, we can set new benchmarks in the food and beverage industry.