Everything you need to know about silicone hoses

With more than 30 years of experience behind us, we know everything about using silicone hoses in the process industry - and that's a lot! We have also built up a large and varied product range that meets the needs of our customers, whether they produce food, medicine or chemicals. We carefully select our products and always prioritize quality.

In this guide below, we not only explain what silicone hoses are, but also what factors you should consider when choosing the next hose model in the category. Perhaps you produce high-alcohol spirits? Or is your production taking place in a laboratory or cleanroom where high hygiene standards are required? Don't worry - our silicone hoses cover a wide range of usage scenarios.

Read along and learn more!

Silicone - a unique material for demanding production environments

Silicone is a synthetic material that combines flexibility, durability and chemical stability. In the process industry, it’s particularly valued for its ability to withstand extreme temperatures - both hot and cold - without becoming rigid or losing its shape. In addition, silicone is biologically inert and does not react with liquids or release harmful substances. The material inhibits bacterial growth and is easy to clean, making it ideal for production environments where hygiene and product integrity are paramount.

It can also withstand UV radiation, ozone and a wide range of chemicals to last for many years, even in harsh production environments.

Silicone hoses in the process industry

Due to the unique properties of the material, silicone hoses are widely used in the process industry. They’re particularly popular in pharmaceutical and food production, where high hygiene and consumer safety are crucial. For example, in laboratories and cleanrooms, silicone hoses are used to transport liquids without the risk of contamination, while in the food industry they help ensure a clean and safe transfer of ingredients without affecting taste or quality. In addition, silicone hoses are resistant to repeated cleaning with steam and chemicals - a property that makes them ideal for production environments with strict hygiene requirements. The high flexibility and abrasion resistance also ensures they can handle both low and high pressure without losing shape or function.

Choosing the right silicone hose requires a thorough assessment of several factors. First of all, you need to consider the temperature and pressure of the medium. If the is meant for transporting hot liquids or steam, it's important to choose a variant that can withstand high temperatures without losing its flexibility or structural integrity. Similarly, consider the pressure conditions - will the hose be exposed to high pressure or does the application require a vacuum-proof solution? Wrong choices can lead to deformation or bursting, which can cause downtime and contamination. What’s your operating environment and what are the resistance requirements?

Another important factor is chemical compatibility. Silicone hoses are often used to transport food, medical fluids or chemicals, but not all silicones are equally resistant. Alcohol and certain aggressive cleaning agents can affect the material over time, which can lead to degradation or contamination of the product. In addition, the flexibility and Shore hardness of the hose should match your application. A softer hose provides increased flexibility and easier installation, while a harder variant provides better dimensional stability and durability at higher pressure. Does the hose need to bend often or is a firm structure preferable? The right choice depends on the specific application and the production environment’s requirements.

All silicone hoses from our warehouse are ozone and weather resistant, resistant to both ultraviolet light and static electricity, and designed for taste- and odor-free transport of media - properties that make them especially suitable for food and pharmaceutical production. They cover a wide temperature range from as low as -60°C and as high as +200°C, depending on the media. The silicone hoses can also be sterilized via air or steam up to +200°C.

Clearway-SD Platinum premium hose

Clearway-SD Platinum is our premium silicone hose for the most demanding applications and can transport media with alcohol percentages up to 96% without affecting taste or smell. The construction makes it extra strong with a burst pressure of 10 bars. The platinum-cured silicone with a high-gloss finish ensures a smooth, ozone- and weather-resistant surface that is highly hygienic. The built-in stainless-steel spiral and polyester reinforcement provide high flexibility and durability, making Clearway-SD Platinum ideal for confined spaces and demanding production environments. The hose withstands temperatures from -60°C to +200°C and steam sterilization at +135°C. It meets standards such as EC 1935/2004, FDA and USP Class VI for maximum safety and quality.

Platinum Cleanroom: High quality for high hygiene requirements

The Platinum Cleanroom silicone hose is specially developed for the pharmaceutical industry where cleanliness and safety are essential. It is packaged in an ISO 7 certified cleanroom and delivered in double packaging to ensure maximum hygiene from production to use. The platinum-cured silicone with a smooth inner surface prevents particle build-up and ensures optimal flow. The hose is extremely flexible and can withstand temperatures from -40°C to +200°C, making it suitable for demanding process conditions. With approvals such as FDA Title 21 CFR 177.2600, USP Class VI and ISO 10993, it meets the highest standards for medical and biotech applications.

Smooth and FDA-approved silicone hose for laboratory use

Our smooth and FDA-approved silicone hoses, which are especially ideal for laboratory use, are available in both platinum and peroxide cured versions with or without reinforcements. In addition, we also offer a variant with built-in synthetic fabric for extra reinforcement. The common denominator is that they’re all extremely flexible and very user-friendly. They’re also available in different hardnesses measured on the Shore Durometer (Shore Hardness Scale). For example, our peroxide-cured silicone hose without reinforcements comes with a hardness of Shore 60, while our peroxide-cured silicone hose for peristaltic pump has a hardness of Shore 55. The temperature range of these models goes from -40°C to +200°C and both are autoclavable.

Take the opportunity to get valuable free advice and book a short online meeting with one of our experienced sales consultants. With regular customer visits, they have built up an in-depth knowledge of the use of silicone hoses in the process industry.

Whether you work with food production, pharmaceutical processes or chemistry, our experts can guide you to find the right hose solution to match your specific needs and liners. We offer a personal and professional approach to ensure you get the best solution for your business. Contact us today via inquiry@alfotech.eu or give us a call on +45 7020 0422 so we can mark your calendar and help you get started.

Silicone hoses are suitable for transporting liquids with both high and low temperatures. They’re also good for liquids with high alcohol content. In addition, silicone is a durable material that’s stable to a wide range of chemicals.

This means that the silicone hoses meet the strict requirements set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are therefore suitable for use in food and pharmaceutical production.

The Shore Durometer (or Shore Hardness Scale) is a measurement of the hardness of certain materials. For silicone hoses, it’s used to determine the flexibility and strength of the hose.

Silicone is stable to many chemicals, making silicone tubing ideal for laboratories, pharmaceutical production and the cosmetics industry.