Sanitary Temperature Sensors for Food & Pharma

What makes a sensor sanitary?

A sanitary temperature sensor is designed to be cleanable and to avoid crevices where product or bacteria can accumulate. The key design points are the wetted material, surface finish, connection type and sealing method.

Stainless-steel 316L is the usual wetted material. Tri-clamp, DIN 11851 and other hygienic connections allow quick removal for cleaning and maintenance. The probe should have a smooth transition between the sheath and the connection, with no exposed threads in the product zone.

Temperature sensor types

Pt100 RTD probe: the usual choice for accurate product temperature in tanks, pipes and skids.
Thermocouple: useful for fast response or higher temperature, but less accurate at low temperature.
Transmitter: 4–20 mA or RS485 output for the control system.

For hygienic pressure measurement, see our sanitary pressure transmitter.

CIP and SIP considerations

Clean-in-place and sterilise-in-place cycles expose the sensor to hot water, steam, caustic and acid. Confirm:

Maximum cleaning and sterilisation temperature
Chemical compatibility of the wetted materials and seals
Mounting orientation and drainability
Whether the sensor must be removed before cleaning

A Pt100 in a 316L sheath with a hygienic connection is a common starting point, but the cable and connector also need to survive washdown.

Documentation and certification

For food and pharmaceutical projects, customers often ask for:

Material certificates for wetted parts
Surface finish specification
Calibration certificate
3-A / FDA / EC 1935/2004 documentation where applicable
Traceability and batch records

Tell us which documents your project requires before ordering. Not every product is certified for every scheme, and the certificate scope must match the project.

Installation tips

Keep the sensing tip in the product flow, not in a dead leg.
Use a thermowell if the sensor must be removed without draining the line.
Avoid mounting the sensor at the top of a tank where air pockets can form.
Use a calibrated transmitter or controller input matched to the RTD wiring.

Ordering checklist

Product and cleaning temperature range
Connection: tri-clamp size, DIN 11851 or custom
Insertion length and probe diameter
Pt100 class: A, B or tighter
Wiring: 2, 3 or 4 wire
Cable and connector requirements
Documentation and calibration

See our RTD sensors and sanitary pressure transmitter, or contact us with the hygienic connection and documentation requirements.