Certified beverage hoses for every application
Whether for pleasure, nutrition, or hydration, beverages are an essential part of our lives. Even though tap water is safe to drink in many parts of Europe, bottled mineral water, juices, and soft drinks still occupy significant shelf space in supermarkets. Dairy products such as milk are also a staple in refrigerated sections. In wineries and breweries, thousands of liters flow from tank to tank before being bottled as must, wine, or beer. These are the “classic” applications for beverage hoses. As food-grade hoses, however, they are also widely used in other areas: in industrial kitchens, across the entire food production chain, as feeding tubes in hospitals, or in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry.
Beverages are broadly divided into four categories in the food industry:
- Water and non-alcoholic beverages, including sparkling water, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices
- Fermented alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and sparkling wine, with an alcohol content up to 15%, and therefore significantly less than distilled spirits
- Vinegar: the acetic acid content requires acid-resistant materials during processing
- Milk and dairy products, which may contain fat
For every type of beverage, Reichelt Chemietechnik offers a suitable food-grade hose — covering the entire production process from manufacturing to bottling to dispensing.
Strict requirements for beverage hoses
Since these tubes and hoses come into contact with food, the materials used are subject to strict regulations. The FDA, European Pharmacopoeia, and BfR (Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) all stipulate that materials used in the food chain must be highly resistant and inert — meaning they must not leach substances into the product. For more detailed information on FDA material requirements for food processing, visit our online magazine.
Depending on the application, beverage hoses are manufactured as pressure or suction and delivery lines. In some environments, crystal-clear tubing is advantageous for continuous visual inspection of the lines. In drinking water treatment and extraction, drinking water regulations apply.
Each food application requires hose materials with specific properties
Key factors include:
- What medium is being transported? What is its acid or alkali content?
- Operating temperature range: Are the hoses suitable for sterilization?
- Pressure conditions: Is the hose used for transport or for suction and pressure?
- Consistency of the media: Are the mixtures homogeneous, suspensions, or fat-containing emulsions?
Due to their high-quality standards, food-grade tubing also comples with European Pharmacopoeia guidelines and is suitable for use in pharmaceutical applications and as medical tubing. Conversely, many pharmaceutical tubes can be used in food and beverage processing.
Beverage hoses for beer, wine, soft drinks, or milk can be manufactured from a variety of polymers in FDA- and BfR-compliant versions for food processing applications.
Food-grade plastic hoses
Reichelt Chemietechnik manufactures beverage hoses from various plastics depending on their intended use:
- Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM)
- Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR)
- Thermoplastic Styrene Copolymers (TPE-S)
- HYTREL®: Thermoplastic polyester copolymer (TPE-E)
- Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
- Polyurethane (PUR)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and TYGON®
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE and LLDPE)
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Applications for food-grade hoses
Food-grade hoses for non-fat beverages (soft drinks, beer, wine, fruit juices)
The most common food hoses in this category are made of PVC, PUR, NBR, EVA, EPDM, and TPE.
PVC tubes are used to transport juices, wine, lemonades, sweet must, and other beverages with alcohol content up to 13% by volume. The FDA-certified PVC pressure hose is a lightweight, crystal-clear all-rounder for fluid foodstuffs. TYGON® pressure tubes are also food-grade, FDA-compliant, and meet KTW Category C standards.
PVC beverage hoses operate in a temperature range of -10 °C to +60 °C. For sterilization (up to 30 cycles), temperatures of up to +121 °C are permitted. This tubing is designed for maximum operating pressures of 8 to 23 bar at +20 °C, depending on the hose diameter.
Corrugated or spiral hoses are also available for beverage handling. Spiral suction and delivery tubes made of PVC or PUR are reinforced with a steel wire spiral, supporting pressure ranges of 7 to 8 bar at +20 °C. Food-grade PVC spiral tubes for wine withstand pressures up to 15 bar at room temperature.
Robust double-layer EPDM hoses are ideal for non-fat foodstuffs such as mineral water, juice, and alcoholic beverages like wine and must. They cover a wide temperature range from -35 °C to +95 °C. With a red outer layer, these products are mechanically durable and pressure-resistant — operating up to 12 bar at +20 °C. They can also be used for vacuum applications up to 500–600 mbar. These EPDM hoses are FDA and BfR Category III compliant.
EVA hoses, resistant to aging and weathering, are used in the soft drink industry and for bottling systems. They have high mechanical strength, are completely taste- and odor-neutral, and resistant to most organic and inorganic media. Their near gas-tightness makes them ideal for CO₂ transport in beer and beverage systems. Operating temperatures range from -20 °C to +80 °C, with pressure ratings between 7 and 30 bar depending on the hose size.
Beverage hoses for dairy products and fatty foods made from PUR, TPE, EPDM, or NBR
NBR food-grade hoses are premium transfer lines used in the food sector. They are widely used in the food industry, in soft drink production, but most of all in the dairy sector: dairy hoses transport whey, milk, and yogurt. These products resist animal and vegetable fats and oils, and to a certain extent alcohols up to 15%. The blue-patterned outer layer is a blend of EPDM and NBR, while the inner lining is made of inert, flavorless, and odorless NBR rubber. They contain no extractable substances and are FDA or BfR compliant, depending on the version, and meet European Pharmacopoeia standards.
The smooth inner surface allows optimal product discharge and easy cleaning. For cleaning and sterilization, they can be steam-cleaned up to +120 °C or rinsed with hot water and standard cleaning agents. They are highly abrasion-resistant and operate up to 10 bar at +20 °C. The temperature range is -20 °C to +90 °C (short-term up to 130 °C).
Food hoses for non-fat and fat-containing beverages
Elastomer hoses offer high versatility and are suitable for both non-fat and fat-containing fluids.
TYGON® food-grade hoses are REACH- and RoHS-compliant beverage hoses, used for example to transport flavorings and vitamin concentrates in soft drinks. The formulation contains no phthalates, making TYGON® tubing suitable for processing foodstuffs (including those with high oil content), milk, and dairy products. Its inner surface is completely smooth, preventing particle buildup. TYGON® beverage hoses are designed for temperature ranges from -36 °C to +74 °C. These food-grade specialty hoses are FDA- and NSF-compliant and meet the standards of the European Pharmacopoeia.
EPDM hoses are used in soft drink production, dairy, and food processing, and as steam tubes they can withstand brief peaks of up to +164 °C and operate at up to 6 bar.
NBR hoses that are KTW/DVGW-compliant are used in industrial kitchens and emergency water supply lines. These highly flexible products are physiologically safe, free of plasticizers, tasteless, odorless, UV-resistant, oil- and fat-resistant. Maximum pressure: 20 bar at +20 °C; temperature range: -20 °C to +90 °C.
LDPE hoses are extremely gas-tight and resist aggressive and corrosive media. Shore hardness: D 44° (DIN 53505), temperature range: -40 °C to +60 °C. These products are completely tasteless, odorless, FDA- and BfR-compliant.
PUR suction and delivery tubes are used in the pharmaceutical and food sectors — especially for sugar, dairy, soft drink, and granular media like sugar or milk powder. They are wear-resistant and operate at 3.5 to 7 bar at +20 °C. Temperature range: -15 °C to +60 °C. FDA-, BfR-, and European Pharmacopoeia compliant.
Water hoses for drinking water treatment made of TPE, EPDM, LLDPE
LLDPE water hoses are not only used for drinking water treatment, but also in building technology, food processing, and biotechnology. The colored hoses made from LLD polyethylene combine excellent flexibility with high pressure resistance — with a rated operating pressure of 8 bar at +20 °C. Noteworthy is the smooth, anti-adhesive inner surface of these drinking water hoses. They are non-toxic, free from any extractable substances, and entirely taste- and odor-neutral. LLDPE beverage hoses are nearly gas-tight, featuring low permeability to O₂ and CO₂ and minimal water vapor transmission. The temperature range extends from -30 °C to +60 °C. Drinking water hoses made from LLD polyethylene are approved according to DVGW worksheet W270, KTW, NSF, and WRC standards.
Highly flexible water hoses made of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) are used not only as drinking water lines for cold and hot water, but also widely in food processing, the beverage industry, large-scale kitchens, and emergency supply systems. In addition, manufacturers of camping and caravan equipment also appreciate the benefits of NBR beverage hoses: The inner lining is physiologically safe, free from plasticizers, and completely taste- and odor-neutral. The outer jacket is UV-resistant, oil-resistant, and fat-resistant. NBR drinking water hoses are approved according to KTW and DVGW standards.
Universally applicable hose materials: TPE, PTFE, TYGON®
TPE hoses are true all-rounders used in beer bottling, soft drink production, dairy, and mineral water plants — also suitable for wine bottling. They resist animal and vegetable oils/fats and contain no extractable substances. Temperature range: -15 °C to +95 °C (briefly up to +120 °C for steam). Pressure resistance: up to 20 bar at +20 °C.
PTFE corrugated hoses with smooth outer sheaths are extremely flexible, suitable for tight bends and confined installations. The UV- and ozone-resistant PTFE core has excellent non-stick properties. Outer jacket: EPDM; pressure carrier: aramid braid. Pressure rating: up to 16 bar at +20 °C; temperature range: -20 °C to +150 °C.
Tubing for pharmaceuticals and medical technology
In addition to food technology and biotechnology, food-grade hoses can also be used in the pharmaceutical industry, provided they meet the stringent requirements of the relevant certification bodies.
LDPE/EVA hoses are used in biotech, biochemistry, pharma, and process engineering. Outer layer: EVA; inner layer: LDPE. FDA-, BfR-, and USP-compliant for food, beverage, and drug applications. Operating range: -35 °C to +70 °C; pressure: 2 to 5.5 bar at +20 °C.
Other pharma tubing is made of PTFE, LDPE/EVA, HYTREL®, PUR, NBR, EVA, and TPE-S.
TPE-S hoses for medical and pharmaceutical applications can be used both as beverage lines and as pharmaceutical tubing. They are employed in clinical chemistry, pharmaceutical engineering, pharmaceutical production, and in medical technology for device manufacturing. TPE-S is a thermoplastic elastomer with a Shore hardness of A 60° (according to DIN 53505) and offers a wide temperature resistance range from -40 °C to +120 °C. These hoses can also be easily autoclaved with hot air at +134 °C and are resistant to gamma radiation.
The HYTREL®/PVC pharma composite and particle hose is used for transporting particles and measurement gases, as well as liquid pharmaceutical products. It is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and considered food-grade.The inner layer made of HYTREL® — a thermoplastic copolyester — complies with FDA, USDA, National Formulary, and USP standards for food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and laboratory or medical devices. The outer layer is made of PVC-P. The operating temperature range is -35 °C to +60 °C; however, the hose can also withstand short-term autoclave exposure at +136 °C.
PTFE corrugated tubes with a smooth outer jacket are used not only as beverage lines in the food industry but also in the pharmaceutical sector and pharmaceutical production. In general, the application range of PTFE hose materials is very broad — these lines are even used in petrochemical and process engineering. Thanks to the inner corrugated PTFE structure, they are extremely flexible, allowing for very tight bending radii, which makes them ideal for confined process routes. These fluoropolymer corrugated tubes are also suitable for use in explosion protection zones, functioning as antistatic hoses. Operating pressures of up to 16 bar at +20 °C and a working temperature range from -20 °C to +150 °C make these tubes versatile and reliable choices for pharmaceutical applications.
Buy high-performance beverage hoses at rct-online.de
Order beverage hoses quickly and easily from our extensive range of food-grade, pharmaceutical, steam, and drinking water hoses. You’ll also find a wide selection of suction and delivery lines for food applications in our online shop. In addition, take advantage of our comprehensive range of accessories — from compatible hose connectors to cocks, taps and valves.All hose types are available for delivery even in very small quantities, with no minimum order surcharge, and are usually shipped directly from stock.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us at +49 6221 31250 or contact us by email.Further technical information on the materials we offer can be found in our electronic chemical resistance chart and our detailed glossary.
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Certified beverage hoses for every application
Whether for pleasure, nutrition, or hydration, beverages are an essential part of our lives. Even though tap water is safe to drink in many parts of Europe, bottled mineral water, juices, and soft drinks still occupy significant shelf space in supermarkets. Dairy products such as milk are also a staple in refrigerated sections. In wineries and breweries, thousands of liters flow from tank to tank before being bottled as must, wine, or beer. These are the “classic” applications for beverage hoses. As food-grade hoses, however, they are also widely used in other areas: in industrial kitchens, across the entire food production chain, as feeding tubes in hospitals, or in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry.
Beverages are broadly divided into four categories in the food industry:
- Water and non-alcoholic beverages, including sparkling water, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices
- Fermented alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and sparkling wine, with an alcohol content up to 15%, and therefore significantly less than distilled spirits
- Vinegar: the acetic acid content requires acid-resistant materials during processing
- Milk and dairy products, which may contain fat
For every type of beverage, Reichelt Chemietechnik offers a suitable food-grade hose — covering the entire production process from manufacturing to bottling to dispensing.
Strict requirements for beverage hoses
Since these tubes and hoses come into contact with food, the materials used are subject to strict regulations. The FDA, European Pharmacopoeia, and BfR (Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) all stipulate that materials used in the food chain must be highly resistant and inert — meaning they must not leach substances into the product. For more detailed information on FDA material requirements for food processing, visit our online magazine.
Depending on the application, beverage hoses are manufactured as pressure or suction and delivery lines. In some environments, crystal-clear tubing is advantageous for continuous visual inspection of the lines. In drinking water treatment and extraction, drinking water regulations apply.
Each food application requires hose materials with specific properties
Key factors include:
- What medium is being transported? What is its acid or alkali content?
- Operating temperature range: Are the hoses suitable for sterilization?
- Pressure conditions: Is the hose used for transport or for suction and pressure?
- Consistency of the media: Are the mixtures homogeneous, suspensions, or fat-containing emulsions?
Due to their high-quality standards, food-grade tubing also comples with European Pharmacopoeia guidelines and is suitable for use in pharmaceutical applications and as medical tubing. Conversely, many pharmaceutical tubes can be used in food and beverage processing.
Beverage hoses for beer, wine, soft drinks, or milk can be manufactured from a variety of polymers in FDA- and BfR-compliant versions for food processing applications.
Food-grade plastic hoses
Reichelt Chemietechnik manufactures beverage hoses from various plastics depending on their intended use:
- Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM)
- Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR)
- Thermoplastic Styrene Copolymers (TPE-S)
- HYTREL®: Thermoplastic polyester copolymer (TPE-E)
- Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
- Polyurethane (PUR)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and TYGON®
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE and LLDPE)
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Applications for food-grade hoses
Food-grade hoses for non-fat beverages (soft drinks, beer, wine, fruit juices)
The most common food hoses in this category are made of PVC, PUR, NBR, EVA, EPDM, and TPE.
PVC tubes are used to transport juices, wine, lemonades, sweet must, and other beverages with alcohol content up to 13% by volume. The FDA-certified PVC pressure hose is a lightweight, crystal-clear all-rounder for fluid foodstuffs. TYGON® pressure tubes are also food-grade, FDA-compliant, and meet KTW Category C standards.
PVC beverage hoses operate in a temperature range of -10 °C to +60 °C. For sterilization (up to 30 cycles), temperatures of up to +121 °C are permitted. This tubing is designed for maximum operating pressures of 8 to 23 bar at +20 °C, depending on the hose diameter.
Corrugated or spiral hoses are also available for beverage handling. Spiral suction and delivery tubes made of PVC or PUR are reinforced with a steel wire spiral, supporting pressure ranges of 7 to 8 bar at +20 °C. Food-grade PVC spiral tubes for wine withstand pressures up to 15 bar at room temperature.
Robust double-layer EPDM hoses are ideal for non-fat foodstuffs such as mineral water, juice, and alcoholic beverages like wine and must. They cover a wide temperature range from -35 °C to +95 °C. With a red outer layer, these products are mechanically durable and pressure-resistant — operating up to 12 bar at +20 °C. They can also be used for vacuum applications up to 500–600 mbar. These EPDM hoses are FDA and BfR Category III compliant.
EVA hoses, resistant to aging and weathering, are used in the soft drink industry and for bottling systems. They have high mechanical strength, are completely taste- and odor-neutral, and resistant to most organic and inorganic media. Their near gas-tightness makes them ideal for CO₂ transport in beer and beverage systems. Operating temperatures range from -20 °C to +80 °C, with pressure ratings between 7 and 30 bar depending on the hose size.
Beverage hoses for dairy products and fatty foods made from PUR, TPE, EPDM, or NBR
NBR food-grade hoses are premium transfer lines used in the food sector. They are widely used in the food industry, in soft drink production, but most of all in the dairy sector: dairy hoses transport whey, milk, and yogurt. These products resist animal and vegetable fats and oils, and to a certain extent alcohols up to 15%. The blue-patterned outer layer is a blend of EPDM and NBR, while the inner lining is made of inert, flavorless, and odorless NBR rubber. They contain no extractable substances and are FDA or BfR compliant, depending on the version, and meet European Pharmacopoeia standards.
The smooth inner surface allows optimal product discharge and easy cleaning. For cleaning and sterilization, they can be steam-cleaned up to +120 °C or rinsed with hot water and standard cleaning agents. They are highly abrasion-resistant and operate up to 10 bar at +20 °C. The temperature range is -20 °C to +90 °C (short-term up to 130 °C).
Food hoses for non-fat and fat-containing beverages
Elastomer hoses offer high versatility and are suitable for both non-fat and fat-containing fluids.
TYGON® food-grade hoses are REACH- and RoHS-compliant beverage hoses, used for example to transport flavorings and vitamin concentrates in soft drinks. The formulation contains no phthalates, making TYGON® tubing suitable for processing foodstuffs (including those with high oil content), milk, and dairy products. Its inner surface is completely smooth, preventing particle buildup. TYGON® beverage hoses are designed for temperature ranges from -36 °C to +74 °C. These food-grade specialty hoses are FDA- and NSF-compliant and meet the standards of the European Pharmacopoeia.
EPDM hoses are used in soft drink production, dairy, and food processing, and as steam tubes they can withstand brief peaks of up to +164 °C and operate at up to 6 bar.
NBR hoses that are KTW/DVGW-compliant are used in industrial kitchens and emergency water supply lines. These highly flexible products are physiologically safe, free of plasticizers, tasteless, odorless, UV-resistant, oil- and fat-resistant. Maximum pressure: 20 bar at +20 °C; temperature range: -20 °C to +90 °C.
LDPE hoses are extremely gas-tight and resist aggressive and corrosive media. Shore hardness: D 44° (DIN 53505), temperature range: -40 °C to +60 °C. These products are completely tasteless, odorless, FDA- and BfR-compliant.
PUR suction and delivery tubes are used in the pharmaceutical and food sectors — especially for sugar, dairy, soft drink, and granular media like sugar or milk powder. They are wear-resistant and operate at 3.5 to 7 bar at +20 °C. Temperature range: -15 °C to +60 °C. FDA-, BfR-, and European Pharmacopoeia compliant.
Water hoses for drinking water treatment made of TPE, EPDM, LLDPE
LLDPE water hoses are not only used for drinking water treatment, but also in building technology, food processing, and biotechnology. The colored hoses made from LLD polyethylene combine excellent flexibility with high pressure resistance — with a rated operating pressure of 8 bar at +20 °C. Noteworthy is the smooth, anti-adhesive inner surface of these drinking water hoses. They are non-toxic, free from any extractable substances, and entirely taste- and odor-neutral. LLDPE beverage hoses are nearly gas-tight, featuring low permeability to O₂ and CO₂ and minimal water vapor transmission. The temperature range extends from -30 °C to +60 °C. Drinking water hoses made from LLD polyethylene are approved according to DVGW worksheet W270, KTW, NSF, and WRC standards.
Highly flexible water hoses made of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) are used not only as drinking water lines for cold and hot water, but also widely in food processing, the beverage industry, large-scale kitchens, and emergency supply systems. In addition, manufacturers of camping and caravan equipment also appreciate the benefits of NBR beverage hoses: The inner lining is physiologically safe, free from plasticizers, and completely taste- and odor-neutral. The outer jacket is UV-resistant, oil-resistant, and fat-resistant. NBR drinking water hoses are approved according to KTW and DVGW standards.
Universally applicable hose materials: TPE, PTFE, TYGON®
TPE hoses are true all-rounders used in beer bottling, soft drink production, dairy, and mineral water plants — also suitable for wine bottling. They resist animal and vegetable oils/fats and contain no extractable substances. Temperature range: -15 °C to +95 °C (briefly up to +120 °C for steam). Pressure resistance: up to 20 bar at +20 °C.
PTFE corrugated hoses with smooth outer sheaths are extremely flexible, suitable for tight bends and confined installations. The UV- and ozone-resistant PTFE core has excellent non-stick properties. Outer jacket: EPDM; pressure carrier: aramid braid. Pressure rating: up to 16 bar at +20 °C; temperature range: -20 °C to +150 °C.
Tubing for pharmaceuticals and medical technology
In addition to food technology and biotechnology, food-grade hoses can also be used in the pharmaceutical industry, provided they meet the stringent requirements of the relevant certification bodies.
LDPE/EVA hoses are used in biotech, biochemistry, pharma, and process engineering. Outer layer: EVA; inner layer: LDPE. FDA-, BfR-, and USP-compliant for food, beverage, and drug applications. Operating range: -35 °C to +70 °C; pressure: 2 to 5.5 bar at +20 °C.
Other pharma tubing is made of PTFE, LDPE/EVA, HYTREL®, PUR, NBR, EVA, and TPE-S.
TPE-S hoses for medical and pharmaceutical applications can be used both as beverage lines and as pharmaceutical tubing. They are employed in clinical chemistry, pharmaceutical engineering, pharmaceutical production, and in medical technology for device manufacturing. TPE-S is a thermoplastic elastomer with a Shore hardness of A 60° (according to DIN 53505) and offers a wide temperature resistance range from -40 °C to +120 °C. These hoses can also be easily autoclaved with hot air at +134 °C and are resistant to gamma radiation.
The HYTREL®/PVC pharma composite and particle hose is used for transporting particles and measurement gases, as well as liquid pharmaceutical products. It is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and considered food-grade.The inner layer made of HYTREL® — a thermoplastic copolyester — complies with FDA, USDA, National Formulary, and USP standards for food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and laboratory or medical devices. The outer layer is made of PVC-P. The operating temperature range is -35 °C to +60 °C; however, the hose can also withstand short-term autoclave exposure at +136 °C.
PTFE corrugated tubes with a smooth outer jacket are used not only as beverage lines in the food industry but also in the pharmaceutical sector and pharmaceutical production. In general, the application range of PTFE hose materials is very broad — these lines are even used in petrochemical and process engineering. Thanks to the inner corrugated PTFE structure, they are extremely flexible, allowing for very tight bending radii, which makes them ideal for confined process routes. These fluoropolymer corrugated tubes are also suitable for use in explosion protection zones, functioning as antistatic hoses. Operating pressures of up to 16 bar at +20 °C and a working temperature range from -20 °C to +150 °C make these tubes versatile and reliable choices for pharmaceutical applications.
Buy high-performance beverage hoses at rct-online.de
Order beverage hoses quickly and easily from our extensive range of food-grade, pharmaceutical, steam, and drinking water hoses. You’ll also find a wide selection of suction and delivery lines for food applications in our online shop. In addition, take advantage of our comprehensive range of accessories — from compatible hose connectors to cocks, taps and valves.All hose types are available for delivery even in very small quantities, with no minimum order surcharge, and are usually shipped directly from stock.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us at +49 6221 31250 or contact us by email.Further technical information on the materials we offer can be found in our electronic chemical resistance chart and our detailed glossary.
