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Pumps | EHEDG Working Group Update
Hygienic pump design
The EHEDG Working Group ‘Pumps’ convened in Amsterdam last week for a highly productive face-to-face session dedicated to revising Guideline 17, addressing the hygienic design and application of pumps, homogenisers and dampening devices used in the food and beverage industry. This review marks a critical update in support of food safety, equipment cleanability, and international regulatory alignment, especially amid increasing global demand for more hygienic and efficient processing systems.
Shaping the Future of Hygienic Fluid Transport
Guideline 17 serves as a benchmark for designing pumps and related components that not only meet hygienic safety standards but also withstand rigorous operational conditions. It covers a wide spectrum of positive displacement and dynamic pumps, from centrifugal and lobe rotor pumps to high-pressure homogenizers and pulsation dampeners.
The guideline outlines expectations for clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilisation-in-place (SIP) capabilities, optimal material selection, product surface finishes, and the elimination of potential contamination risks such as dead legs and shadow zones. These are essential requirements for ensuring that food-contact surfaces are free from microbial hazards and are durable under repeated cleaning and processing cycles.
Incorporating cross-references to other EHEDG documents and comparing best practices with 3-A Sanitary Standards, the document aims to offer a globally relevant framework for both European and international applications.
Next Steps: Peer Review in 2026
To build on this momentum, a follow-up face-to-face meeting is scheduled for November 27, 2025, at the EHEDG Head Office. The goal is to finalise the technical framework and produce a peer-review-ready draft by the first quarter of 2026.
This upcoming review process will be an opportunity for a broader circle of EHEDG subject matter specialists and stakeholders to evaluate the draft guideline, share practical feedback, and contribute to a document that supports better hygienic design across the global food supply chain.
We would like to thank the Chair of the Working Group ‘Pumps’, Ralf Stahlkopf (Fristam Pumpen) and team members Hubert Brodalka (SPX Flow), Antonio Toso (CSF), Franz Vinnemeier, Gabriele Hehl (Prominent), Gunter Zimmermann (Nestlé), Hans-Joachim Johl (LEWA), Markus Schröer & Silvia Grasselli (GEA), Maxime Chevalier (PCM Europe), Poul Daugaard (Alfa Laval) and Stephan Mannl (Evoguard GmbH).
