GAS EQUIPMENT FOR FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY

In food and beverage production, the gases used in processing and packaging are classified as food additives under European law. Every gas that contacts a food product must comply with EC Regulation 1333/2008. Every piece of equipment that delivers or controls that gas must comply with EC Regulation 1935/2004. These two regulations are inseparable. The gas enters the production environment with a certified purity grade.

The equipment must preserve that purity from the cylinder to the point of application. A non-compliant component anywhere in the gas circuit breaks the compliance chain and invalidates the food additive status of the gas at the point of use.

Rotarex designs and manufactures the complete Foodline range of food-grade gas equipment: pressure regulators, supply and switchover boards, point-of-use solutions, fittings, and accessories.

The entire range is fully compliant with EC Regulation 1935/2004, covering materials, process, quality, and packaging. It is compatible with all food-grade gases in common use: nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, argon, nitrous oxide, helium, hydrogen, and gas mixtures.

Use of gases in the food industry

Freezing and chilling
Carbonation of beverages
Modified atmosphere packaging
Temperature control
Preserve fresh products from oxidation
Speed up growth of fruits and vegetables
Transportations

Main requirements for the gas system

No contamination of the gas in contact with the food
Safety of the equipment
Precise gas flow
Gas identification
One stop shop supplier for all gas equipment

FOODLINE, A FULL RANGE OF GAS EQUIPMENT FOR FOOD PROCESSING COMPLIANT WITH THE EC 1935/2004

Fully EC 1935/2004 compliant

Prevents gas contamination
Materials, process, quality and packaging comply with the E.U. Regulation
Specific labelling and laser marking
Packaging in accordance with the EU regulation

Proven quality

Appropriate compatibility certificates provided
Specific laser marking including the EU regulation logo
Insured traceability for all products
Almost 100 years expertise as an innovation and quality leader

A complete food handling range

All the equipment to configure a complete gas distribution system
Pressure Regulators, Switchover Board, Connectors, Line Valves and Accessories
One-Stop shop for your gas handling needs

How Gases Are Used Across Food and Beverage Production

Food and beverage production relies on gases authorized as food additives under EC 1333/2008, including CO₂(E290), N₂(E941), O₂(E948), Ar (E938), N₂O (E942), He (E939) and H₂(E949). These gases are used at multiple stages of manufacturing, from primary processing to packaging, storage and transport, each step having specific requirements for purity, flow rate and pressure stability.

Carbonation of Beverages

Carbon dioxide (E290) is the primary gas for beverage carbonation.

Precise pressure and flow control at the carbonation point directly determines the dissolved CO₂concentration in soft drinks, beer, sparkling water and other carbonated products.

Outlet pressure stability at this stage translates directly into product consistency across production batches.

Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Modified atmosphere packaging uses controlled blends of nitrogen (E941), carbon dioxide (E290), and oxygen (E948) to displace ambient air inside food packaging.

The gas mixture is selected to slow oxidation, inhibit microbial growth, and extend shelf life without additives. Delivery consistency and gas purity are critical at this stage: any contamination or pressure variation alters the protective atmosphere inside every package.

Cryogenic Freezing and Chilling

Cryogenic freezing and chilling use liquid nitrogen and carbon dioxide to achieve rapid temperature reduction in meat, seafood, bakery products, and prepared foods.

Controlled injection of cryogenic gases into tunnel or spiral freezers requires precise flow regulation to maintain process temperature and minimize product moisture loss.

Equipment must perform reliably under continuous operating conditions in low-temperature environments.

Inert Blanketing and Oxidation Prevention

Nitrogen (E941) and argon (E938) blanketing prevents oxidation during storage and transfer of sensitive food products, including edible oils, wine, and fruit juices.

A continuous inert atmosphere prevents contact with atmospheric oxygen, preserving product quality and extending shelf life.

Helium (E939) is used in specific analytical and packaging applications requiring an inert gas with different diffusion properties.

Controlled Atmosphere Storage and pH Control

Controlled atmosphere storage regulates the composition of the storage environment to slow the respiration of fresh produce and extend shelf life.

Nitrous oxide (E942) is used as a propellant in specific food applications.

Carbon dioxide is also used for pH control and for suppressing microbial activity during cold-chain transport of perishable goods.

Why Food and Beverage Producers Choose Rotarex

Full EC Regulation 1935/2004 compliance across all Foodline products: materials, process, quality, and packaging
GMP documentation under EC 2023/2006: controlled production environment, individual serial numbers, full process records
Pressure equipment compliance under PED 2014/68/EU alongside food contact compliance
Compatible with all EC 1333/2008 food-grade gases: N₂, CO₂, O₂, Ar, N₂O, He, H₂, and gas mixtures
Specific laser marking including the EU regulation logo on every product
Insured traceability across the supply chain, supporting HACCP and ISO 22000 operations
Appropriate material compatibility certificates provided with every product
Complete gas distribution range from cylinder supply to point of use: one supplier, one compliance framework
Nearly 100 years of expertise in gas control engineering

Why Food-Grade Gas Equipment Requires Dedicated Engineering

Standard industrial gas equipment is not qualified for food contact service. It does not meet the material compatibility, traceability, or documentation requirements of applicable food contact regulations.

Using non-compliant equipment in a food production gas circuit creates a regulatory gap that breaks the compliance chain established by EC 1935/2004.

Contamination Risk at Every Connection Point

Any material in the gas circuit that can migrate into the gas stream must comply with food contact regulations.

This includes valve bodies, seals, lubricants and internal surface finishes. Substandard materials introduce contamination at the component level that then reaches the food product directly.

Gas purity must be maintained from the cylinder through the full distribution system to the point of application. Standard industrial components are not selected, tested, or documented for this requirement.

Food-grade equipment requires materials verified and certified specifically for food contact service.

The Compliance Chain: From Gas to Point of Use

Food-grade gases are delivered to production facilities with a certified purity grade that qualifies them as food additives under EC 1333/2008. This certification applies to the gas at the point of delivery. From that point, the equipment takes over.

If any component in the distribution circuit introduces contamination, alters the gas composition, or lacks the required traceability documentation, the food additive compliance of the gas at the point of use cannot be verified. This exposes the food producer to liability under food safety regulations, regardless of the quality of the gas source.

Rotarex Foodline equipment is designed to preserve the certified purity of food-grade gases throughout the full distribution circuit, from the cylinder connector to the point-of-use regulator.

Proven Quality and Traceability

Food industry gas equipment must be traceable across its full service life. Rotarex Foodline products are manufactured in a controlled production environment. Each product is assigned an individual serial number that enables full traceability through the supply chain.

Specific laser marking on every Foodline product includes product identification and the EU regulation logo, satisfying the labelling requirements of EC 1935/2004 and EC 2023/2006. Appropriate material compatibility certificates are provided with every product.

These documents directly support the traceability records required by food safety management systems including HACCP-based programs and ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 certified operations.

Nearly 100 years of expertise in gas control engineering underpin the Foodline range.

The combination of regulatory compliance, comprehensive documentation, a complete product range and a single compliance framework makes Rotarex a one-stop-shop supplier for food-grade gas handling.

A Complete Food-Grade Gas Distribution System

Managing a food production gas circuit requires a full set of compatible, compliant components from the cylinder supply point to the point of application. Rotarex Foodline covers every stage of this circuit with a dedicated range of food-grade equipment, providing a complete one-stop-shop solution.

Supply and Switchover Boards

Supply and switchover boards manage the connection and transition between gas cylinders in a food production installation.

The MOD 200 F diaphragm single-stage supply board with balanced-valve technology provides stable gas supply control for single-bank configurations, with support for up to three cylinders and a purge line. Inlet pressure up to 200 bar (2900 psig); outlet pressure 16 to 50 bar (232 to 725 psig); nominal flow up to 180 Nm³/h.

The CEN 200 F high-flow automatic switchover board ensures uninterrupted gas supply by automatically switching to the reserve bank when the primary supply reaches a defined threshold. It supports up to six cylinders, with manual reset and alarm contact capability.

Inlet pressure up to 200 bar; outlet pressure 16 to 30 bar (232 to 435 psig); nominal flow up to 150 Nm³/h. Continuous gas supply is critical in carbonation and MAP packaging lines where any interruption directly affects product quality.

Pressure Regulators

Precise pressure regulation is critical for consistent gas delivery across food processing and packaging applications. The Foodline pressure regulator range covers a wide spectrum of flow and pressure requirements, with all wetted materials selected and tested for EC 1935/2004 compliance.

The SC290 F single-stage high-pressure cartridge regulator delivers stable outlet pressure with PCTFE seat seal, Hastelloy diaphragm, and PTFE O-ring. Inlet pressure up to 200 bar; outlet pressure 16 or 35 bar; nominal flow 50 to 75 Nm³/h in nitrogen. Compatible with oxygen service.

The S800 F single-stage high-pressure regulator uses balanced-valve technology to minimize the effect of inlet pressure fluctuations on outlet pressure. Inlet pressure up to 200 bar; outlet pressure 16 or 50 bar; nominal flow 50 to 100 Nm³/h. AISI 304 or Hastelloy diaphragm, EPDM O-ring.

The DC50 F high-flow low-pressure line regulator covers downstream applications requiring high flow at reduced pressure. Inlet pressure up to 20 bar; outlet pressure 8 or 15 bar; nominal flow up to 120 Nm³/h for 15 bar service.

The S15 F line regulator provides a second level of regulation downstream of the supply or switchover board. Inlet pressure up to 25 bar; outlet pressure 10 bar; nominal flow 50 Nm³/h. Compatible with oxygen service.

Point of Use

The MS15 F integrated point-of-use solution combines an S15 F type regulator and a VLM 200 valve in a single compact assembly.

It provides local pressure control at the point of gas application, reducing the number of connection points in the circuit.

Aluminum body; inlet pressure up to 25 bar; outlet pressure 10 bar; nominal flow 50 Nm³/h.

Accessories

The Foodline accessories range completes the food-grade gas circuit. The VDF diaphragm line valve provides high-integrity shutoff with Hastelloy diaphragm seal and PCTFE seat, available in 50 bar and 230 bar inlet versions, in female-female, male-female, and female-male orientations.

Pigtails are manufactured in electropolished stainless steel and are available in straight and elbow versions. Cylinder connector standards covered include AFNOR, DIN, BS, CGA, UNI, and NEN.

The FX06 F flexible hose uses a stainless steel 316L double-braid construction with stainless steel internals, rated to 200 bar for DN 1/4' and 150 bar for DN 3/8' configurations, with a stainless steel safety cable as standard.

Cylinder connectors are available in chrome-plated brass or stainless steel, covering all international standards: AFNOR, DIN, BS, UNI, and NEN. All accessories carry full EC 1935/2004 compliance documentation.