Hygienic Design in Mechanical Engineering: How Clean Design Prevents Contamination & Saves Costs

Introduction:

Hygienic design refers to engineering practices that ensure machinery and equipment can be thoroughly cleaned and maintained to prevent microbial buildup. It's about more than just using food-grade materials—it’s about shaping every part of the system to promote cleanliness, durability, and ease of maintenance.

Key Principles of Hygienic Mechanical Design

1. Smooth, Non-Porous Surfaces

Use 316L stainless steel or similarly safe materials with a surface finish under 0.8 μm Ra. Avoid textures or coatings that trap particles or microbes.

2. Avoid Metal-to-Metal Contact

Use gaskets, spacers, or food-safe isolators to prevent friction and microbial retention between contacting metal parts.

3. Don’t Mix Dissimilar Metals

Combining different metals (e.g., aluminum with stainless steel) can lead to galvanic corrosion, risking contamination and reducing the system’s lifespan.

4. Design for Drainage

Flat surfaces should be avoided. Components should be sloped (≥3°) to allow complete fluid drainage during cleaning.

5. Seamless Welds, Not Threads

Threaded connections are cleaning nightmares. Opt for continuous welds, and finish them smoothly to avoid crevices where bacteria can grow.

6. Eliminate Dead Zones

Design out areas that cleaning solutions cannot reach. Gaps, overhangs, and enclosed crevices are all common culprits.

7. Allow for CIP (Clean-in-Place) or SIP (Sterilize-in-Place)

Hygienic systems should be cleanable without full disassembly. CAD tools like SolidWorks allow engineers to verify flow paths, drainage, and access points during the design stage.

8. Use Certified Materials

Only use materials that are FDA- and EHEDG-compliant, with chemical and temperature resistance suitable for the intended cleaning methods (e.g., steam, chemicals, pressure).

Real-World Application: Our Robotic Kitchen Vending Machine

At The SolidWorks Expert, we applied these principles in the design of a robotic kitchen vending machine. This fully automated system had to prepare and dispense food in a small, enclosed environment—meaning hygienic design was non-negotiable.

We:

• Designed food-contact components with sloped surfaces and accessible corners

• Avoided metal-to-metal contact with gaskets and spacers

• Selected FDA-approved materials for all food-handling parts

• Ensured full cleanability without tool-based disassembly

The result: A smart, space-efficient robotic kitchen ready for safe, on-demand food service in public spaces.

Conclusion

Hygienic mechanical design isn’t just about compliance—it’s a smart, proactive approach to building safe, efficient, and easy-to-maintain systems. It reduces the risk of product recalls, lowers cleaning costs, and ensures long-term system integrity.

Whether you’re working on food-processing equipment, sanitary enclosures, or automated kitchen systems, CAD tools like SolidWorks can help you incorporate these principles right from the concept stage.

📣 Ready to Build It Right?

Let’s make your product safe, sanitary, and standards-compliant—without slowing down your development timeline!