Case Study: High-Performance Seals for Industrial Food Cutting Equipment

Overview
A global leader in food-cutting technologies needed a durable, food-safe sealing solution for their industrial food slicers, dicers, and shredders. The challenge was to develop a sealing product that could withstand high temperatures, prevent contamination, and meet FDA requirements — while remaining easy to clean for compliance and efficiency.
Leveraging our deep application knowledge and innovative materials, Ergoseal partnered with the manufacturer to design, test, and implement a sealing solution that meets all operational and regulatory needs. The result is a high-performance, long-lasting seal now undergoing testing for deployment across multiple product platforms.
AT ERGOSEAL WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CUSTOMER'S APPLICATIONS.
We worked closely with them to understand their pain points. With this experience and knowledge, we are able to be innovative and plug in a solution that works.
Gerald Strenk • Global PTFE Product Manager, ErgosealSealing Issues in High-Heat, High-Sanitation Food Processing
Industrial food-cutting equipment operates under high heat, moisture exposure, and strict sanitation requirements. The existing sealing solution presented several pain points for the manufacturer:
Short lifespan – Seals degraded quickly under heat, requiring frequent replacements.
- Potential contamination risks – Older designs did not provide sufficient protection against food particle infiltration.
- Difficult maintenance – Existing seals were not optimized for quick, easy cleaning, increasing downtime.
- FDA compliance – The manufacturer needed a solution that met strict food safety regulations.
The manufacturer turned to Ergoseal to develop a sealing solution that would solve these issues while improving equipment reliability and efficiency.
A Custom-Engineered Seal for Superior Performance and Food Safety
To develop the ideal sealing solution, Ergoseal’s team met with the manufacturer to gain a full understanding of their operational challenges and requirements. Using our extensive application experience and material expertise, we designed a custom-engineered PTFE spring-energized lip seal on a silicon carbide sleeve that addressed each of their concerns.
Key Features of the New Seal:
- High-temperature resistance – Developed using proprietary materials designed to withstand extended exposure to heat without degradation.
- Food contamination prevention – Engineered to provide a secure seal, preventing food particles from entering equipment components.
- Easy-to-clean design – Optimized for quick sanitation cycles, minimizing downtime while maintaining strict hygiene standards.
- FDA-compliant materials – Ensuring compliance with food safety regulations while maintaining durability.
Enhanced Performance, Safety, and a Growing Partnership
The high-performance sealing solution is currently in the testing phase, but early results indicate:
- Extended product lifespan – Improved material durability reduces seal wear and tear, minimizing replacement frequency.
- Reduced contamination risks – The new design provides better protection against food infiltration, supporting compliance with FDA and industry standards.
- Increased operational efficiency – The easy-to-clean design reduces downtime and improves equipment turnaround time.
- Scalability across platforms – The solution is being evaluated for implementation across multiple equipment models in the customer’s product line.
Because of our proven track record in high-performance sealing solutions, the manufacturer is now exploring additional applications for Ergoseal’s engineered seals, further strengthening our partnership.
Looking for a custom-engineered sealing solution? Contact our team today to learn how Ergoseal can help optimize performance and compliance in your industrial equipment.

BECAUSE OF OUR CURRENT CAPABILTIIES,
this customer approached us to see what options we could offer them. We worked closely with them to understand their pain points and engineered a solution tailored to their specific needs.
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