There are several reasons why stainless steel tube fittings are the most commonly selected in any type of processing industry. Stainless steel is a durable and long lasting material. With the 304/316 grades of stainless steel approved for use in sanitary processes, fittings, valves, and pipe can be installed once and have a life cycle of decades of use.
The main reason for the selection of food grade stainless steel tube fittings in sanitary processes is the resistance to corrosion. Even in highly corrosive media, the fittings will last for extended periods of time. In addition, and despite their strength, these fittings are relatively lightweight, which means they can be used on lightweight types of tubing without requiring additional mounting or stabilizing of the system.
New and Replacement Fittings
When looking for new or hard to find replacement stainless steel tube fittings, it is critical to buy from a trusted supplier. Often the lower cost fittings that are imported from other countries are not manufactured to the exacting standards required by companies based in the USA.
This can result in both new and retrofit types of fittings being extremely difficult to install with the current tubing, pipes, and system. When the fittings have to be modified or adjusted to fit, they become a source of risk for leaks or failure of the system at that point. The small amount saved on cheap fittings is simply not worth the risk.
