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Alloy & Material Verification Statement (PMI / XRF Testing)Updated 2 months ago

Alloy & Material Verification Statement (PMI / XRF Testing)

Pacific Northwest Sanitary (PNW Sanitary) performs Positive Material Identification (PMI) using a SciAps X-550 XRF Analyzer to verify the alloy chemistry of incoming stainless steel sanitary components. This testing supports material accuracy, traceability, and compliance for food, beverage, dairy, and pharmaceutical processing applications.

Our PMI / XRF Process

Alloy verification is conducted on a batch-level basis to validate the material chemistry provided by our manufacturing partners. This process ensures that 304 and 316L stainless steel components conform to their required specifications and are suitable for sanitary process use.

The SciAps X-550 XRF Analyzer provides:

  • Real-time alloy identification of 304 and 316L stainless steel
  • Verification of chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and other key alloying elements
  • Confirmation of heat number and batch consistency
  • Documentation support for MTR and COC traceability

Materials Subject to PMI Verification

PNW Sanitary primarily uses PMI/XRF testing on the following product groups:

  • Tri-Clamp fittings (304 and 316L)
  • Bevel Seat fittings
  • I-Line and John Perry fittings
  • Butt-Weld fittings
  • Ferrules, end caps, elbows, tees, reducers, crosses, and laterals
  • Sanitary tubing (ASTM A270)

Regulatory & Quality Alignment

PMI verification supports compliance with the following standards:

  • ASTM Specifications – Base material specifications
  • ASME BPE – Where applicable to fittings and components
  • FDA CFR 21 – Food-contact material suitability
  • 3-A Sanitary Standards – Applicable product families
  • PNW Sanitary internal quality protocols

Documentation Availability

PMI/XRF reports may be provided to customers when required for procurement, onboarding, or validation processes.

Customers may request:

  • XRF alloy verification report (when available)
  • Material Test Reports (MTRs)
  • Certificates of Conformance (COCs)
  • Vendor Compliance Statement (PDF)

For documentation requests, email [email protected].

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