If you’ve worked in the food processing industry for more than a few years, you know how important it is to source parts that meet both performance and safety standards. As a supplier of HOHAN Parts, I get this question all the time: Can HOHAN Parts actually be used in food-processing equipment? It’s a fair concern—after all, food safety isn’t something to cut corners on, and even a small component failure can lead to product contamination, downtime, or regulatory headaches. Today, I’m breaking down what you need to know about HOHAN Parts and their suitability for food-processing applications, drawing on years of firsthand experience working with food manufacturers, equipment OEMs, and regulatory teams. HOHAN Parts
First, let’s start with a quick breakdown of what HOHAN Parts are, for anyone who might be new to the conversation. HOHAN Parts is a line of precision-engineered industrial components—think bearings, seals, shafts, bushings, and custom machined parts—designed for heavy-duty use in everything from packaging lines to mixers, conveyors, and thermal processing equipment. For decades, we’ve served industries like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and general manufacturing, but food processing has become one of our fastest-growing segments over the last 10 years, and for good reason: we didn’t just adjust our parts to fit food equipment rules—we built them with those rules in mind from the start.
The biggest hurdle for any component used in food processing is meeting safety standards. Let’s get specific here, because this isn’t a vague “it’s safe” claim. HOHAN Parts used in food processing applications are manufactured to comply with three core global standards: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 21 CFR Part 109 and Part 177, the European Union’s EC 1935/2004 regulation, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) guidelines for meat and poultry processing equipment. These standards aren’t just checkboxes—they regulate everything from the materials used to the surface finish of the parts, because even a tiny particle of non-compliant material can end up in a batch of food.
Let’s talk materials, because that’s where the rubber meets the road (literally, in some cases). For HOHAN Parts meant for food processing, we use only materials that are certified for direct or indirect food contact. For example, our stainless steel bearing components are 316L grade, not the standard 304 grade used in many industrial applications. 316L stainless steel is more corrosion-resistant, which is critical in food processing where parts are constantly exposed to water, cleaning chemicals like bleach or quaternary ammonium compounds, and food acids (think citrus, vinegar, or tomato products that can eat away at lower-grade steel over time). When corrosion happens, you get pitting, which traps food residue and bacteria—something that’s a non-starter for food safety.
For seals and gaskets, HOHAN uses food-grade elastomers like EPDM, Viton, and silicone that are FDA-approved. We don’t use generic rubber parts here—many industrial rubber parts leach chemicals when exposed to heat or harsh cleaners, but our food-grade elastomers are tested extensively to ensure they won’t transfer any harmful substances to food. I remember a project a few years ago with a craft brewery that was using a competitor’s generic pump seals; within six months, the seals had degraded from the brewery’s acidic wort, leaving rubber particles in their beer. They switched to HOHAN’s EPDM seals specifically designed for beverage processing, and haven’t had an issue since. That’s the kind of real-world result that matters more than any lab test on paper.
Next up: surface finish. Food processing equipment is cleaned aggressively—sometimes with high-pressure steam at 180°F or higher, or caustic detergents that are meant to kill every last bacteria cell. If a part’s surface is rough, it creates crevices where food residue can get stuck, even after cleaning, leading to cross-contamination between batches. HOHAN’s food-grade parts have a surface finish of Ra 0.8 or lower (that’s a measure of smoothness, for anyone who doesn’t work in machining), which is smooth enough to prevent bacteria from colonizing. We also apply a passivation process to all 316L stainless steel parts used in food processing—this removes free iron from the surface, preventing rust and further reducing the risk of contamination. I’ve seen too many manufacturers cut corners on surface finish to save a few cents, only to face a costly product recall. For us, passivation and Ra 0.8 are non-negotiable for food-grade HOHAN Parts.
Now, let’s address a common misconception: just because a part is food-safe, doesn’t mean it can handle all food processing applications. That’s why HOHAN Parts for food processing are categorized by use case, and we work closely with each customer to match the right part to their specific equipment. For example, a part used in a cold storage conveyor for frozen vegetables has different requirements than a part used in a high-heat baking oven for cookies. Our cold-application parts are engineered to withstand sub-zero temperatures without becoming brittle, while our high-heat parts can handle temperatures up to 500°F for extended periods, which is necessary for baking, roasting, and thermal processing.
We also consider the type of food being processed. If you’re working with low-acid foods like grains or nuts, a standard HOHAN food-grade part might work, but if you’re processing high-acid foods like pickles, fruit juices, or tomato sauce, we’ll recommend a corrosion-resistant variant of our parts, maybe with an extra coating of food-grade epoxy for added protection. For manufacturers handling delicate foods like fresh produce or dairy, we also offer parts with low-friction coatings that prevent damage to the product as it moves through the line—no scratched fruit, no smudged yogurt containers, and less product waste.
Regulatory compliance is another big piece of the puzzle, and we don’t leave our customers hanging here. Every batch of HOHAN Parts destined for food processing comes with a Certificate of Compliance (COC) that outlines the materials used, the test results, and the standards they meet. This is crucial for food manufacturers, because audits from the FDA, EU food agencies, or third-party auditors require proof that every component in their equipment is safe. I’ve had customers tell me that without our COCs, they would have failed a recent audit, which could have cost them thousands in fines and lost business. That’s the kind of value we provide beyond just selling parts.
Of course, no conversation about industrial parts would be complete without talking about performance. A part that’s food-safe but breaks down after three months isn’t useful to anyone—especially food processors who run their lines 24/7 during harvest seasons or peak holiday periods. HOHAN Parts for food processing are tested to match the durability of our standard industrial parts, if not better. We’ve had a customer who runs a potato processing plant that produces 100,000 pounds of french fries a day; they were using generic bearings that would fail every 6 months, leading to 8 to 10 hours of downtime each time they had to replace a bearing. Since switching to HOHAN’s 316L stainless steel bearings, they’ve gone 2 years without a bearing failure, cutting their downtime by more than 90% and saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in lost production.
We also understand that food processing equipment is often custom-built, so we don’t just offer off-the-shelf parts. Many of our food processing customers have unique machinery that needs parts with specific dimensions or custom modifications—like a custom shaft for a mixer that fits a specific blade design, or a custom seal that fits a non-standard pump housing. Our engineering team works directly with each customer to design and manufacture custom HOHAN Parts that meet their exact needs, while still adhering to all food safety standards. We don’t push one-size-fits-all solutions because food processing is too varied for that.
Now, let’s address a question I get from smaller food manufacturers, especially craft producers or family-owned operations: HOHAN Parts are a premium product, but is the extra cost worth it? Let me be clear—when it comes to food processing, the cost of a part is nothing compared to the cost of a recall, an audit failure, or a line shutdown that costs thousands of dollars an hour. I’ve seen a small jam manufacturer go out of business because a non-compliant part caused a batch of jam to be contaminated with metal shavings, leading to a recall that cost them their entire annual profit. HOHAN Parts may cost a bit more upfront, but they save you money in the long run by reducing downtime, preventing contamination risks, and ensuring compliance.
That said, we also work with all types of food processors, from small craft bakeries to large multinational food companies, so we offer flexible pricing and lead times to match your needs. For small operations that only need a few parts, we offer small minimum order quantities, and we can ship custom parts in as little as two weeks, which is critical when you have an unexpected line failure and need parts fast.
At the end of the day, the answer to “Can HOHAN Parts be used in food-processing equipment?” is a resounding yes—but only if you’re using the right HOHAN Parts, designed and manufactured specifically for food processing applications. We don’t cut corners on materials, compliance, or testing, because we know that when our parts go into a food processing line, they’re part of the food that ends up on people’s plates. That’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly.
If you’re a food processing equipment manufacturer, plant manager, or maintenance supervisor who’s tired of dealing with parts that fail, don’t meet safety standards, or leave you in the lurch during downtime, I’d encourage you to reach out to our team to discuss your specific needs. Whether you need standard off-the-shelf bearings, custom machined shafts, or seals for a new piece of equipment, we can help you find a HOHAN Part that’s safe, durable, and compliant with all food industry regulations. We work with every type of food processing application, from meat and poultry to dairy, beverage, bakery, and produce, and we’re ready to partner with you to ensure your line runs smoothly and safely. Don’t let component issues hold back your production or put your brand’s reputation at risk—connect with our team today to learn more about how HOHAN Parts can support your food processing operations.
SHACMAN Spare Parts References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). 21 CFR Parts 109 and 177: Food additives permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption and polymers.
- European Commission. (2004). EC 1935/2004: Regulation on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. (2023). Guidelines for equipment and components for meat and poultry processing facilities.
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers. (2022). BPE-2022: Bioprocessing equipment standards for surface finish and material compatibility.
Jinan Hong’an Machinery Parts Co., Ltd.
As one of the most professional hohan parts manufacturers and suppliers in China, we offer a wide range of products with superior quality. With abundant experience, we warmly welcome you to buy high quality hohan parts for sale here from our factory. For price consultation, contact us.
Address: Quanli Heavy Truck Parts City, No. 57, Lanxiang Road, Tianqiao District, Jinan City
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