Pinch valves

Components

Pinch valves

Name: Pinch valves
Brand: HECHT Technology
Availability: PreOrder

Components

Description

Pinch valves (also known as hose valves) are flexible valves from HECHT that regulate the flow of powders, granules or slurries by controlled compression of an elastic tube, with no moving internal valves or metal sealing surfaces in contact with the product. This minimises wear, contamination and jamming, making pinch valves particularly suitable for bulk solids and abrasive products where clean, reliable shut-off and ease of maintenance are required. Pneumatic pressure (1-5 bar, adjustable) compresses the elastomer element for an airtight seal without metal contact, with a dead leg of less than 0.5 mL – ideal for slurries. The valve is available with a pressure range up to 1, 3 or 5 bar (Compact, Standard, Industrial), and the elastomer element lasts 2 to 5 years with natural rubber or longer with EPDM for chemical applications, with a replacement time of approximately 30 minutes. The pinch valve is suitable for OEB 1-5 applications, GMP Annex 1 (2022)-compliant and GAMP 5-validatable.

See also: guide: what is a pinch valve?

Customer benefits

Clean operation: no product contact with internal metal parts
Robust and wear-resistant: long service life with abrasive products
Low-maintenance: quick replacement of elastic components
Complete enclosure: reliable sealing, even with fine powders
Flexible: suitable for use in many applications and systems
Compact design: easy installation

Frequently asked questions about pinch valves

What is a pinch valve and why does zero dead-leg matter?

A pinch valve is an elastomer-based shut-off valve for suspensions without metal parts. Zero dead-leg <0.5 mL matters because: (1) zero product loss after shut-off, (2) complete product recovery, (3) slurry-safe, (4) dust-free.

How does the elastomer pinching work?

Pneumatic pressure compresses the elastomer element → airtight seal → zero leakage. Pressure adjustable (1–5 bar). Slurry-safe. Zero metal contact.

What pressures can the pinch valve handle?

Compact: up to 1 bar. Standard: up to 3 bar. Industrial: up to 5 bar. Pressure adjustable via pneumatic control.

Is the pinch valve GMP-compliant?

Yes. GMP Annex 1 (2022) compliant, GAMP 5 validation available. FDA 21 CFR Part 11 logging built in. Validation: 2–3 weeks.

How much dead leg does the pinch valve have?

<0.5 mL. Zero dead-leg design. No internal dead zones. Optimal for suspensions.

How long does the elastomer element last?

Very long. Natural rubber: 2–5 years of normal use. EPDM: longer for chemical applications. Replacement is simple (30 minutes).

Can the valve handle OEB 4–5 activities?

Yes. OEB 1–5 compliant. Dust-free shut-off. Zero cross-contamination. Suitable for critical suspensions.

Is operator training required?

Minimal. Simple pneumatic operation. Training: 1 hour. No specialist skills needed.

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Applications

Pinch valves are widely used in:

Bulk solids handling (powders and granules)
Chemical and fine chemical industries
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Food industry
Slurry and suspension transport
Pneumatic conveying systems
Cyclones, silos, and filters

Product overview

Pinch valve – flexible, product-friendly valve

A pinch valve consists of a flexible inner tube housed within a casing. Mechanically squeezing this tube closes or opens the flow path.

Principle of operation:

The flexible inner tube forms the entire product path
An external actuator squeezes the tube shut (complete shut-off)
Releasing the pressure on the tube allows the product flow to resume
No internal mechanical shut-off valve → no product contact with sealing elements

This results in a clean, complete seal with minimal product loss.

Key features

Wear-resistant operation: no contact between the product and metal valves
Minimal product contamination: elastic material forms the entire passage
Complete seal: reliable hermetic seal
Easy maintenance: quick replacement of the elastic tube
Suitable for abrasive media: ideal for bulk solids and slurries
Wide temperature range: depending on elastomer selection
Compatible with pneumatic conveying: highly suitable for cyclones and pipes

Processing options

Pinch valves can be used for:

Start/stop control in bulk solids transport
Dosing and flow control in serial or parallel lines
Shutting off pipes during cleaning or process shutdowns
Integration into transport, storage, and processing
Cyclone outlets, filter shut-offs, and process chutes

Technical specifications (approximate)

Diameter (DN): approx. DN 25 – DN 300 (depending on model)
Elastic tube materials: EPDM, NBR, Viton/FKM (depending on product)
Housing: steel or stainless steel (316L)
Actuation: pneumatic, electric, or manual
Pressure: up to approx. 10 bar (process-specific)
Temperature: product- and elastomer-dependent

Options:

Pneumatically actuated actuators
Electric actuators
With integrated position sensors
Special elastomer selections for high chemical resistance
ATEX-compliant version
Sanitary/hygienic version for the food and pharmaceutical industries

Typical applications

Pneumatic conveying of powders and granules
Closing the outlets of cyclones and filters
Inlets and outlets of silos and buffers
Flow control in pellet and granule processes
Slurry conveying and suspension processing

Why choose Hecht Technology?

Hecht-Technology supplies valves featuring reliable, low-maintenance technology for powder and slurry processes. With our expertise in containment and product handling, we offer:

Advice on the right valve for your product and process
Integration with existing process lines
Support with selection, installation, and validation
ATEX- and GMP-compliant solutions