The Importance of Custom Plastic Fabrication for Food-Grade and Sanitary Applications

Introduction: How Custom Plastic Fabrication Ensures Food Safety

When considering food safety, you may think of a series of hygiene protocols (wash hands, wear gloves, sanitize tools), food-safe stainless steel equipment, etc. There is another silent hero that protects food products from contamination: custom plastic fabrication.

Custom-fabricated plastics can be found in a variety of food-grade applications, from conveyor belts in meat processing plants to acrylic sneeze guards in bakeries. Custom-fabricated plastics are important in fulfilling food-grade standards and sanitary applications. As part of the food production, packaging, and preparation process, having a suitable plastic component could propel really good compliance or create significant costly shutdowns.

Welch Plastics is a custom plastic fabrication company located in Las Vegas, Nevada. We provide a wide selection of plastic fabrication solutions that meet FDA, USDA, and NSF requirements, without sacrificing durability, efficiency, or cost-effective compliance.

What Is Custom Plastic Fabrication and Why Does It Matter in Food-Grade Applications?

Custom plastic fabrication is creating plastic components by design, cutting, shaping, and assembling solutions according to your needs. Off-the-shelf plastic parts may not have the right fit, purpose, or, even worse, may not have met sanitation requirements for their intended application. Working with a plastic manufacturer to fabricate and construct made-to-measure, food-safe solutions is the better solution.

Some commonly used fabrication methods include:

• CNC machining for specific cuts and shapes.
• Thermoforming for heating and molding of plastic for trays, covers, plastic containers, etc.
• Laser cutting and etching for accuracy and no debris on cut edges.
• Injection molding for high consistency and volume inputs.
• Welding and assembling multi-part designs.

Why the Food Industry Needs Custom Plastic Fabrication for Sanitary Equipment

Instead of using a single standard like other manufacturing industries, the food and beverage industry has to comply with multiple regulatory standards. Plastics should not only have smart hygiene requirements, but they also need to stand up to bacterial assault, chemical exposure, and heat extremes.

1. A Perfect Fit = Better Hygiene

People often think of poorly fitting materials as just being a nuisance—like a lid that does not fit tightly or a gap in a conveyor belt. But poorly fitting materials have the unique quality of being a source of bacteria. Custom plastic fabrication creates parts that perfectly fit each other, and no seams or gaps can develop for contamination to occur.

2. Conformance to FDA and USDA Regulations

Materials for use in the Food Environment must be non-leachable, non-porous, and must be easily able to be cleaned. Materials like HDPE, UHMW, and special covered acrylics will meet the regulations based on good fabrication and dimensions you specify for your project.

3. Resistance to Harsh Cleaning Chemicals

The nature of the cleaning in a food establishment is aggressive, frequent, and intense. While you seek out custom plastic fabrication to install where sanitizing agents can be used proximately, plastics that have been fabricated should have a long service life (usually the expectation and consideration for it holds), and they should stand up to cleaning and cleaning chemicals without cracking, breaking down, or leaking harmful chemicals.

Why the Food Industry Needs Custom Plastic Fabrication for Sanitary Equipment?

Sanitary environments, whether it be a commercial kitchen, a clean room, or a beverage bottling facility, need materials that do more than just LOOK clean.

1. Non-porous surfaces

Unlike metal, which can corrode, or wood, which will absorb moisture, there are non-porous plastics like UHMW and HDPE that will not absorb bacteria or mold.

2. Degree of smoothness/seam-free

Custom fabrication will expose the proper joints and edges that will not allow dirt to collect in seams.

3. Lightweight but durable strength

Plastics provide stoutness without the weight, making them easy to lift and install, easy to move and relocate, and easy to maintain.

4. Custom colors for safety and organization

If it helps business and organizations create components of different colors to assist in allergen control, cross-contamination control, and even workflow.

Top Benefits of Custom Plastic Fabrication in Sanitary and Food-Processing Environments

Not all plastics are equal, especially when used in sanitary applications. At Welch Plastics, we have the opportunity to work with a variety of FDA-approved plastics, each with applications specific to its properties.

Examples of Custom Plastic Fabrication Applications in the Food and Sanitary Industries

Custom plastic fabrication touches nearly every aspect in the journey of getting food from the farm to the table.

Food Processing Equipment

• Conveyor Parts
• Paddles and mixing scrapers
• Covers and hoppers

Food Preparation Surfaces

• Cutting Board
• Dough rolling papers
• Custom trays and bins

Food Packaging & Storage Equipment

• Fillers
• Food containers
• Lids and container sealing equipment

Safety & Sanitation Barriers

• Sneeze shields
• Shower shields
• Machine guards

Plastic vs. Metal: Why Plastic Is the Better Choice for Sanitary Applications

Metal has been used for food-grade equipment for many years- but there are many advantages of plastics:

Welch Plastics: Leading Plastic Manufacturer in Las Vegas for Food-Grade Applications

Welch Plastics is here for your custom plastic fabrication needs, and we have been doing it in Las Vegas for over two decades for food manufacturers, restaurants, beverage companies, etc.

Why do clients choose to partner with Welch Plastics?

• FDA-compliant materials for food and sanitary applications.
• Precision manufacturing capabilities utilizing CNC, laser cutting, and thermoforming.
• Ability to meet deadlines, especially on expedited projects.
• The ability to assist during the design process from concept through production.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Started with Food-Grade Custom Plastic Fabrication

1. Define the Application – What and where will it be used, and how will it be used?
2. Choose the right material – Start by selecting from FDA-approved plastics and then consider physical ruggedness, higher temperatures, and chemical compatibility.
3. Design for Sanitation – Minimize seams, and prioritize easy-to-clean shapes and smooth edges.
4. Identify a recognized manufacturer – This is not an area of manufacturing where you want to make shortcuts; errors in plastic fabrication can lead to serious consequences.

Conclusion: Why Custom Plastic Fabrication Is the Best Choice for Food-Grade and Sanitary Needs?

There might not be room for compromise in the world of food-safe and sanitary applications. Custom plastic fabrication offers a safe, durable, and cost-effective alternative to traditional materials without compromising hygiene.

If your business needs custom plastic components that are FDA-compliant and engineered for the application or workflow, Welch Plastics can help.

📞 Reach out to Welch Plastics Today!

Call (702) 240-9668 to request a free consultation.

Let’s update your food-grade equipment with precision-engineered plastic solutions today.