Investment Casting for the Food Industry
Custom Parts for Food Processing, Production & Handling Equipment
R2 Quality Castings is Wisconsin’s #1 foundry for producing custom investment cast parts for businesses in the food industry. We provide high-quality parts for food processing, production, and handling equipment. Our engineers have the experience and expertise to produce the parts you need at tight tolerances with superior finishes. With a wide range of metal alloys to suit any application, trust R2 Quality Castings for all your food industry investment casting needs.
What is Investment Casting?
Investment casting, also known as precision casting or lost-wax casting, is vital to the food industry for producing custom, one-piece metal parts and components. Ideal for use in the food industry, precision cast parts are non-porous, strong, durable, and easy to clean. R2 Quality Castings has the resources and capabilities to deliver exceptional custom investment cast parts, no matter the alloy or complexity!
R2 Quality Casting’s Investment Casting Capabilities for the Food Industry
R2 Quality Castings is a trusted manufacturer of custom precision cast parts and components for the food industry. We have the capabilities to produce precision-cast parts within tight tolerances, up to 1” plus or minus .010, and plus or minus .003” for every additional inch up to 10”. Our foundry uses a liquid argon blanketing system with all our investment cast components to eliminate impurities and defects, resulting in superior part finishes and final products. Whether you need a production run of 1 or 5,000, rely on R2 Quality Castings to get it done right the first time!
Investment Cast Turbines for the Food Industry
Turbines are vital to the food processing and production sectors, typically being used in mixing, grinding, separating, and aerating applications. Our foundry produces turbine parts and components including impellers, propellers, blades, housing components, rotors, and more. The investment casting process ensures that every component is produced with precise shapes, superior finishes, and tight tolerances.
Investment Cast Propellers for Food Preparation & Processing
R2 Quality Castings produces high-quality investment cast propellers for the food processing and preparation sectors. We specialize in 2-blade weedless and 3-blade weedless propellers. Two-blade weedless propellers are specifically designed for mixing solid or stringy materials. Three-blade weedless propellers are typically used with mixing or aeration equipment. The 2-blade weedless and 3-blade weedless propellers come with either a clipped tip design for duct applications or a full-blade tip for open liquid applications. Both propeller types feature a non-fouling blade design to prevent the buildup of unwanted, stringy materials.
Investment Cast Impellers for Food Preparation & Processing
Impellers are blades or vanes that move and mix food materials and must have smooth surfaces to prevent contamination and ensure ease of cleaning. Investment Casting is ideal for impeller production and allows for extremely precise and durable parts. Our team of engineers and precision casting specialists produce custom impellers for a variety of food processing machines and applications, from ½ pound to over 50 pounds. Contact us for a free quote!
What is Investment Casting Finishing & Polishing?
The finishing and polishing stage is a critically important step in the manufacturing of high-quality custom food parts and components. R2 Quality Castings offers a wide range of polishing options, from Roto-Dull finishing to the #4 Dairy Buff finish. The Dairy Buff finish is most often used in the food industry for its antibacterial properties. Our polishing and finishing services will have your impeller ready for use as soon as it’s delivered.
R2 Quality Casting’s Finishing Services for Investment Cast Parts & Components
Once a food prep component is completed, a certain finish must coat the part for easy sanitation and cleaning. Different finishes have degrees of grit, or roughness, producing varying outcomes. In food prep, there are two families of finishes; mechanical and chemical. Mechanical finishes require the removal of material with abrasives. Grit sizes of 120 and finer are used for mechanical polishing. Chemical finishes are what they are, chemical treatments. Quality Castings offers a wide array of polishing types for any part in the food industry, guaranteeing top product with delicious results.
Mechanical Finishes
- Mill Finish – Unpolished and dull, the finish never comes into contact with food. It’s part of the structural process of food prep equipment.
- 2B Mill Finish – Smooth and widely used since it resists heat and corrosion.
- No. 3 Finish – Semi-polished finish with a 120 grit abrasive.
- No. 4 Finish – Polished, brushed surface with a 150 grit abrasive.
- No. 4 Dairy/4A Finish – Short, polished brush lines with a 180 grit abrasive. The Dairy Finish is most commonly used for its antibacterial traits.
Chemical Finishes
- Bead Blasted – Use of glass, ceramic beads, or dry ice blasted on the component to attain a soft, satin-like appearance. The finer the blasting, the more resistant to corrosion.
- Passivation – Chemical treatment produces a film on the component, preventing corrosion.
- Pickle Passivation – A descaling, or removal of scale, leaving a clean matte finish.
- Electropolishing – Component is immersed in an electrolyte bath, removing all contaminants. The procedure leaves a mirror-like finish.
Why Choose R2 Quality Castings?
For over 40 years, R2 Quality Casting has been a leading manufacturer of precision-cast components for a variety of industries. Our team is dedicated to providing our customers with the best component casting services. From decorative bronze statues to rapid prototype development, to NDT testing services; R2 Quality Casting produces superior components tailored to the specific needs of our customers.
Benefits of Quality Food Prep Equipment
Food preparation requires careful and extensive procedures, ensuring the quality of food is safe and edible. Well-built equipment makes such factors easily attainable, proving itself worth the investment. Quality Castings provides the industry with equipment components, crafted by the best precision casting specialists. Let us supply your company with built-to-last machine parts.
Several benefits in installing top-grade equipment include:
- Prepares food correctly, eliminating risk of sickness and disease
- Consistency in required cooking result/temperature
- Saves money on continuously replacing cheap equipment
- Good use of kitchen space, keeping a safe ‘flow’ of the area
- Keeps everything clean and sanitary
- Food business operates more efficiently and effectively
R2 Quality Castings knows how important reliable food prep equipment is in the industry. Feeding a significant population of people holds a weight on their shoulders, responsible in cooking healthy, great-tasting cuisine. Don’t settle for mediocre performance, our food prep casting experts will supply you durable components, helping your business stay appetizing.
Food Industries Using Quality Casting Technology
The food industry blankets over several avenues, and entrusts Quality Castings with durable and reliable food prep products. Ranging from school cafeteria programs to crop raising, our clients require perfectly crafted components in order to fulfill their industry’s expectations. Trust our casting engineers in manufacturing the right element for your food prep needs.
Popular industries utilizing our food prep casting components:
- Education; food programs in public schools, colleges, and institutions
- Wholesale/distribution; warehousing and logistics
- Grocery; farmer and public markets
- Agriculture; raising crops and livestock
- Research and development; food technology
Whether your industry requires small or large food prep components, Quality Castings will create the perfect part. We guarantee top-notch craftsmanship in everything we make, building upon our clients’ trust and partnership.
