The kings of pharmaceutical hoses - bestsellers of 2021

Within the pharmaceutical industry, there are very specific rules and requirements regarding the specifications of hoses and their ability to transport cosmetic and medicinal products – without imparting any taste or leaving any residue on the product. In other words, choosing the right hoses for pharmaceutical production is absolutely essential to maintaining a high level of production safety, not only for the sake of consumers but also for the staff at the production facility. 

This time, we take a closer look at our bestsellers for 2021, all of which have proven their worth in operation and continue to set the standard for cleanliness and durability. 

Our Dynamic series is designed to handle the dynamic loads characteristic of modern production lines. The hoses are reinforced with a spiral and multiple layers of polyester, providing a robustness that ensures a long service life even at high temperatures. The standard version serves as a versatile universal hose suitable for many different environments where flexibility is required for stable operation. 

However, when working with dry media such as pharmaceutical powder, a specific challenge arises: static electricity. Here, Dynamic Antistatic is the right choice, as the hose is designed to dissipate charges and thus increase safety for both staff and product. 

For the most critical process stages, where temperatures fluctuate between -73°C and +260°C, standard solutions are rarely sufficient. Here, PharmaForce C – a teflon hose (PTFE) with a fully vulcanised silicone cover – is the optimal solution. The combination of Teflon’s extreme chemical resistance and the silicone cover’s smooth surface makes the component ideal for environments with extremely high hygiene requirements. 

The outer cover prevents deposits of media and dirt, making cleaning quicker and more efficient in a busy working day. As the hose is corrugated and reinforced with stainless steel braid, it retains its integrity even under high pressure. 

If your process involves media with a high alcohol content or operates under extreme temperatures, this places special demands on the hose’s chemical inertness. The Clearway series is one of our most popular silicone hoses for precisely these purposes, including the production of, for example, hand sanitiser or other alcohol-based preparations. The silicone ensures that the medium is not affected by the hose material, which is essential for maintaining the purity of the product. 

The range is available in both D and SD versions, the latter of which is fitted with a built-in stainless steel spiral. This spiral makes the SD version particularly suitable for process applications involving high vacuum pressure, where the hose would otherwise risk collapsing. 

The choice of a pharmaceutical hose should never be based on gut feeling, but on a thorough analysis of the specific operating conditions under which the component must perform. The wrong choice not only leads to unnecessary downtime, but can, in the worst case, compromise the safety of your entire setup. You should therefore start by assessing the nature of the medium: Are you dealing with aggressive chemicals, oils or high-alcohol liquids? Because the material’s chemical resistance is the foundation for stable medium transfer, this assessment becomes the natural starting point for any optimisation. 

When evaluating your next solution, you should ask yourself the following questions: 

• What temperatures and pressure conditions do we operate under? Fluctuations in thermal load require materials that retain their flexibility without becoming porous. 
• What does our cleaning cycle look like? The hose must be able to withstand repeated CIP/SIP cleaning without the material degrading or releasing particles into the medium.  
• Is mechanical reinforcement required? If the process involves vacuum or severe vibrations, an integrated spiral is often necessary to maintain the hose’s integrity. 

When selecting hose solutions for pharmaceutical production, it's not just the component itself you're buying – it's the underlying documentation. To ensure full traceability and compliance with regulatory requirements, you must prioritise solutions where every detail is verified. It is about minimising the risk of material contamination, which can compromise your end product. Without the right certification, the company risks not only costly production stoppages but also challenges during future audits. 

In your search for the right solution, you should focus particularly on these elements: 

• Material integrity: Confirmation that the material is chemically inert and tested to the highest standards. 
• Full traceability: The ability to trace every single hose back to its specific batch via unique batch numbers. 
• Declarations of conformity: Documents proving that the component meets international pharmacopoeia requirements. 

Our hoses are always supplied as complete packages, with safety built in through comprehensive certificates. We ensure that our solutions comply with the classic regulations and standards that the industry relies on. This includes, amongst others, USP Class VI, EC 2023/2006 (GMP) and FDA approvals. 

Do you have very specific requirements and need assembly? No problem – we are experts in bespoke solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. Our sales consultants are always on hand with sound advice and valuable guidance when needed. They can help you find exactly the right rubber hose based on your production requirements. 

Contact them today by email inquiry@alfotech.eu or give them a call on +45 7020 0422. 

Please also note that the hoses highlighted above can be ordered online via our webshop. We often deliver within 2–3 days.