Category: Food Grade Welding

Welding of all kinds plays a large role in commercial-grade food equipment. From the shelving units used to store fresh, frozen, and dry foods to stoves and ovens used daily, welding operations are used in the manufacturing process. Stud welding, in particular, is a commonly used manufacturing technique for many types of equipment used in restaurants, hospitals, hotels, and other commercial kitchens as well as in food production and packaging industries. Even some equipment in home kitchens is made with certain components of stud welding. Northland Fastening Systems provides everything you might need for all applications of food grade welding, from studs of all dimensions to tools for rent and purchase in addition to the expert services of our own technicians.

 

Equipment used in the food industry must meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards for sanitation, including the very specific requirements of the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This means, every step of the fabrication process must guarantee that end results meet those standards. When it comes to stud welding, regulations are in place for food grade welding processes.

 

The foundational requirements of food grade welding include:

 

1. Precise Finish: A smooth finish with the elimination of burrs and sharp particles of metal of all kinds must be accomplished. Even microscopic burrs or sharps can compromise a food grade piece of equipment. Rough surfaces should also be smoothed and finished in a way that removes any spaces for food particles to get caught and build bacteria colonies.
2. Sealed and Bolted: The full framework of a piece of equipment should be sealed at connection points. Simply bolted connection points can have opportunities for increased vulnerability to corrosion or storage of bacteria. Components that can be detached for cleaning must also be built in a way that reattaches with a full seal.
3. Correct Design: The equipment should be designed in a way that only uses internal angles or corners. External angles create spaces in which bacteria can thrive, which compromises any food grade equipment.
4. Surface Working: Surfaces should be worked in a way that doesn’t overstress the materials. Overworking can leave any layers protecting against oxidation susceptible to being quickly stripped away.
5. Compatible Weld: The stud and the surface material must be compatible. Any incompatible welds are more vulnerable to corroding and contamination food or cracking under thermal stress.

 

If you are fabricating food grade equipment of any kind, it’s critical to consider these requirements and any other standards outlined in the FSMA before beginning your project. To learn more about food grade welding, and stud welding overall, contact Northland Fastening Systems today at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online to get started on your stud welding project.

The food industry is a fast-paced field that’s required to meet the strictest standards for health, sanitation, storage, and production. Whether you work in the restaurant business, food packaging, a grocery store, or otherwise, you face daily challenges that are helped along by reliable, long-lasting equipment.

The last thing anyone working in the food industry needs is for that equipment to fail, leaving them with one more critical problem to solve. That’s why Northland Fastening Systems provides high-quality food grade welding using non-flanged stainless-steel CD studs to fabricate reliable equipment that looks great for long-term use.

CD studs are the best method of industrial stud welding for equipment utilized in the food industry. Not only is CD stud welding a faster and more cost-effective process, it also creates a product with spic-and-span lines and a clean finish. Northland Fastening Systems specializes in a range of stud welding operations, and our CD stud welding capabilities are perfect for food grade equipment.

Because of the nature of CD stud welding, our welding technicians are able to connect components of food grade equipment without needing the flux, oxidation, and time that typical welding requires. This means we can perform food grade welding for components faster and without heat concentration, which in turn allows us to weld smaller and thinner components without leaving unsightly marks behind.

CD stud welding is effective in welding components as small as 14 gauge to as large as  ⅜“ diameter with a strong connection. With this method, we’re able to create food grade equipment with benefits including:

 

1. Smooth connection points and lines that offer an easy clean and eliminate pits, cracks, or divots that could catch and hold onto dirt and food products.
2. Faster welding time so our customers save time, money, and stress in ordering and receiving equipment.
3. Strong equipment with long-lasting materials that won’t rust or stain over time.
4. Components that can be easily repaired with additional CD stud welding if they experience severe stresses leading to a break.

 

Food grade equipment made with CD stud welding is the most relied-upon equipment in all areas of the industry. Even the most delicate stainless-steel kitchen equipment is made strong and durable against the stresses of daily use with the help of CD stud welding.

For high-quality, cost-effective CD stud welding for your food grade equipment, look no further than Northland Fastening Systems. Contact us at (651) 730-7770 for industry-leading food grade welding and other stud welding capabilities or to get started on a project today with Northland Fastening Systems’ expert welding technicians.