Production plants in the food and pharmaceutical markets naturally place hygiene as a top priority – a focus which also applies to the enclosure technology they use.  

With its new, hygienic design, air/water heat exchangers, Rittal is offering a standardised solution for efficient enclosure climate control in applications where hygiene is critical. Thanks to their IP69K protection category, the units are suitable for use in industries such as food and pharmaceuticals which use high-pressure cleaning systems.

High levels of hygiene are, of course, essential in food and pharmaceuticals production plants and it is no surprise, therefore, that the systems and components which are used within these hygiene-critical areas must meet exacting requirements.   

The latest addition to Rittal’s enclosure climate control range is an air/water heat exchanger specifically for use in this type of environment.

This wall-mounted heat exchanger has a number of critical features, including a roof pitch of 30 degrees, which makes it impossible for objects to be placed on top of it and of course, the pitch means liquids quickly run off the top.  Furthermore, the external gasket is made of silicone and meets the FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 Guideline, preventing contamination between the housing of the air/water heat exchanger and the enclosure itself. 

The heat exchanger features a housing made of stainless steel (Euronorm 1.4301) which is brushed on the outside (grain size 400) and has a surface roughness under 0.8 µm, making it easy to clean. The housing is also rated as IP69K (DIN 40050-9) to withstand high-pressure cleaners and daily cleaning with a steam cleaner. 

They can be installed as wall-mounted units on the side, rear panel, or door of an enclosure. Two versions of the unit are available, offering the option of cooling outputs of either 700 watts or 1,300 watts.

Further information at www.rittal.co.uk and www.friedhelm-loh-group.com or on twitter @rittal_ltd.