Introducing Nylon White FS: Expanding 3D Printing for Food and Beverage Factory Floors

In food and beverage manufacturing, companies aim to boost efficiency and reduce costs. Additive manufacturing offers a flexible and fast way to create custom parts, helping to keep production lines running. However, the limited availability of food-contact-certified filament materials has hindered its broader adoption in the industry.

Food and beverage manufacturers must ensure that production parts in direct contact with food or close to it comply with strict food safety regulations. These parts need to be made from food-contact-certified materials; without certification, they cannot be used in any area involving food. Consequently, this restricts the application of additive manufacturing to safe areas away from food, such as secondary and tertiary packaging.

Markforged is excited to introduce a food-contact-certified additive manufacturing material for food and beverage facilities. This material allows manufacturers to integrate 3D printing into their operations while ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

Nylon White FS

Nylon White FS is a non-abrasive, unfilled nylon certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI Standard 51 and compliant with FDA CFR Title 21. It is suitable for production tooling and MRO applications in food and beverage factories where food-contact-certified materials are required.

NSF's certification involved a thorough audit of material formulation, toxicology, cleanliness, and the manufacturing facility. The standards ensure that the material does not contaminate food and that equipment remains easy to clean and sanitize.

Nylon White FS in filament form is certified for food contact, but safety considerations extend beyond this certification. It's important to ensure that part geometries do not trap food or fluids, that surfaces are smooth and easy to clean, and that parts are used within their rated conditions. Cleaning must also maintain food safety. These guidelines apply to all components in contact with food, not just 3D-printed parts. Companies should adhere to their validation processes when assessing the food safety of Nylon White FS parts.

To help address some of these considerations, Markforged has developed a 3D Printing Guide for Food and Beverage Applications that contains guidelines and best practices.

Food and Beverage Applications

Some companies classify parts as "food-contact" or "non-food-contact," with food-contact parts requiring certified materials. Others use the "Zone Concept," defined as:

• Zone 1: Touches food directly.
• Zone 2: Close to food but does not touch it.
• Zone 3: Adjacent to Zone 2, with some cross-contamination risk.
• Zone 4: Remote from food processing, posing little risk of cross-contamination.

Parts for Zones 1 and 2 must usually be made from food-contact certified materials, while those for Zones 3 and 4 typically do not have this requirement. In short, food-contact-certified materials are necessary for 3D printing parts in Zones 1 and 2.

Applications

Nylon White FS is perfect for production tools and replacement parts in food and beverage manufacturing, as well as for machine builders serving this sector.

It is a great fit for Zone 2 applications such as tooling and MRO for primary packaging, pre-processing, and processing steps. Example applications:

• Conveyor guides and pushers
• Chutes and funnels
• End-of-arm tooling
• Factory aids such as brackets, shrouds, and mounts

Nylon White FS parts are suitable for Zone 1 applications if users follow protocols to ensure compliance with food safety requirements.

Unlock 3D Printing in Food-Safe Environments

Markforged has delivered value to food and beverage companies for years, but the potential of additive manufacturing remained untapped due to the lack of a food-contact-certified material. With Nylon White FS now available, manufacturers can explore more 3D printing applications in food processing and packaging, enhancing their operations.

• Minimizing tooling and MRO part lead times and inventory costs
• Resolving line-down situations as quickly as possible with minimal costs and labor
• Optimizing line changeovers

Conclusion

Nylon White FS is a game-changer for food and beverage manufacturing, offering a food-contact-certified solution for additive manufacturing. With its certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 51 and FDA compliance, Nylon White FS unlocks new possibilities for 3D printing in Zones 1 and 2, making it ideal for production tools, MRO parts, and more.

If you're looking to integrate 3D printing into your food and beverage operations while ensuring compliance with food safety standards, Nylon White FS is your ultimate solution. Be sure to check out Chemtron, Singapore’s leading distributor of Markforged printers, to explore how Nylon White FS can transform your manufacturing capabilities. Take your operations to the next level with Chemtron and Markforged!