SublimotionProcess® for food, pharma and high-tech
Hygienic stainless steel surface treatment
SublimotionProcess® is a hygienic stainless steel surface treatment without acids. Dirt and biofilm adhere less easily to the treated stainless steel.
That can save cleaning work and reduce the risk of contamination. You treat your parts yourself, in a Phibo installation.
- No acids and no chemical waste
- Up to 99 percent less biofilm in external research
- Label and audits on your own installation
- Patented by Phibo, surface technology specialist since 1988
The problem
Where stainless steel traps dirt and bacteria
Stainless steel is not hygienic by nature. After welding, grinding and bending, spots remain where product residues and micro-organisms take hold. That is where the risk of microbial contamination and corrosion starts. Common treatments only partly solve this: after chemical pickling, ACTALIA still found microbial residues, and after glass bead blasting, traces.
Welds and heat tint
Discolouration and irregularities remain around a weld. How you treat that weld partly determines how much rust appears later on.
Biofilm that survives your daily production cleaning
Micro-organisms attach to the surface and build a protective layer on it. Your daily cleaning does not always fully remove such a biofilm, and what remains can recontaminate the next production run.
Powders that stick
Flour, starch, sugar and cocoa cling to hopper walls. The worse they slide, the steeper and taller the hopper has to be.
Iron particles on the surface
Grinding residue left on stainless steel is a source of rust. The stainless steel surface must be clean to form its protective oxide layer.
Stricter rules for acids and pickling paste
Pickling is done with acids, and the rules governing their use keep getting stricter. The chemical waste has to be disposed of separately, and that costs money.
The solution
What this surface treatment does to stainless steel
The process cleans and conditions the stainless steel surface in a single step, with no acid bath or pickling paste on your shop floor. It is a full alternative to pickling and passivation, glass bead blasting and electropolishing. It is also a sustainable process: no chemical waste and a closed loop. Phibo backs this up in a BAT (best available technique) declaration.
Smooth and even
On stainless steel with a 2B finish, ASML confirmed a roughness Ra below 0.8 µm. The finish is uniform, across the weld too. Product residues have less to cling to.
Microcracks closed
The projection closes microcracks and pores, without distorting the part the way glass bead blasting does. Dirt and bacteria find fewer places to hide.
No applied layer
Protection comes from the stainless steel's own oxide layer. According to ArcelorMittal-OCAS, a thick, high-quality passive film forms after treatment. There is no coating that can wear off.
The surface, measured in micrometers
- Chemical pickling
- Glass bead blasting
- SublimotionProcess®
Comparison
SublimotionProcess® compared with four common finishing treatments
To give stainless steel a hygienic finish, most companies today choose from these techniques.
- Electropolishing an electrochemical process in an acid bath that dissolves a thin layer of metal and smooths the surface.
- Pickling and passivation acids remove heat tint and iron particles, after which the stainless steel restores its oxide layer.
- Glass bead blasting dry blasting with glass beads, for an even matt finish.
- Coating an applied layer, such as a fluoropolymer or a ceramic layer, meant to reduce adhesion.
At a glance
- Free of chemicals
- No microbial residues after cleaning
- As corrosion resistant as electropolishing
- Powders slide off better than after electropolishing
| SublimotionProcess® | Electropolishing | Pickling and passivation | Glass bead blasting | Coating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principle | Water, compressed air and an inert mineral suspension | Electrochemical, in a bath of concentrated acids | Acid bath, paste or spray, often followed by passivation | Dry blasting with glass beads | A layer on the stainless steel, e.g. fluoropolymer or ceramic |
| Free of chemicals | Yes No acids, a non-toxic suspension | No Sulphuric and phosphoric acid | No Pickling: hydrofluoric and nitric acid. Passivation: nitric or citric acid | Yes No acids, but a dry abrasive | Depends on the coating; fluoropolymers fall under the European PFAS proposal |
| Effect on the stainless steel surface | Cleans and conditions, without a layer | Dissolves a thin layer of metal, typically a few to a few tens of µm | Pickling dissolves heat tint and a thin layer of metal; passivation removes free iron | Gives the surface a matt finish | Adds a layer that can wear or come loose |
| Free of microbial residues after CIP cleaning | Yes ACTALIA, EHEDG method | Yes ACTALIA, EHEDG method | No Residues after chemical pickling | Traces after glass bead blasting | |
| Corrosion resistance (OCAS) | Yes At least equal to electropolishing, 3 years outdoors | Yes Comparable to SublimotionProcess®, 3 years outdoors | Lower than SublimotionProcess® | Lower than SublimotionProcess® | |
| Powders slide off | Yes Best overall result across the powders | No Very unfavourable due to sticking |
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Operating cost
No chemical waste and less power
Beyond the purchase, what an installation costs every day matters too. SublimotionProcess® uses no acids and no single-use materials.
No chemical waste
No acids are used, so there is no chemical waste to dispose of separately.
Closed loop
Water and suspension are filtered and reused. Up to 85 percent fewer raw materials and less waste than glass bead blasting.
Less electricity
Up to 50 percent less energy than conventional glass bead blasting. A standard installation needs less than 15 kW.
No extra protection or permits
Your operators only wear a basic PPE set for wet conditions. No specific permit or protection against harmful substances is needed, and no additional medical examinations.
External evidence
Externally tested against common techniques
Research institutes and industrial partners compared SublimotionProcess® with common techniques. These are their results.
EHEDG certified Type EL Class I for welded stainless steel tube with this finish, cleanable without dismantling
No microbial residues after cleaning
The EHEDG laboratory ACTALIA cleaned stainless steel plates using a CIP protocol. Only the plates treated with SublimotionProcess® and with electropolishing remained free of microbial residues.
99 percent less biofilm
Flanders' Food, KU Leuven, Ghent University and ILVO tested this in the Kill Film project. For three of the four micro-organisms, including E. coli, biofilm adhesion dropped by 99 percent (2 log) compared with standard stainless steel with a 2B finish. For the fourth, it stayed the same.
Three years outdoors, in harsh conditions
ArcelorMittal-OCAS placed treated plates outdoors for three years, next to a steel plant and just above seawater. SublimotionProcess® held up at least as well as electropolishing, and better than the other techniques.
Top three after welding
In the CORONA project, the Belgian Welding Institute compared eight post-weld treatments alongside an uncleaned weld. SublimotionProcess® always ranked among the three with the least corrosion, together with chemical pickling paste and electrochemical cleaning with phosphoric acid.
Powders slide off more easily
An industrial partner measured the angle at which flour, starch, milk powder, sugar and cocoa slide off stainless steel. SublimotionProcess® gave the best overall result. On electropolished stainless steel, starch and cocoa in particular stuck.
Certified
In 2016 and 2021, welded stainless steel tube with this finish obtained the EHEDG Type EL Class I certificate, cleanable without dismantling. Migration test under EU Regulation 1935/2004 passed for contact with all foods. Process parameters approved by ASML in January 2025.
Quality label
Audits show the evidence applies to your installation too
The test results apply to a process within Phibo's parameters. ASML requires its suppliers to follow those parameters. The label and the audits show that your installation does. You can present that evidence to your own customers as well.
A label to apply the process
Anyone applying SublimotionProcess® does so with an accreditation from Phibo. At every audit, this shows that you follow the process as it was tested.
Audits at handover
Phibo tests your installation first at the factory and then at your site. This proves that your installation runs the process within the parameters.
Annual inspection and certification
At the annual inspection, Phibo checks your installation again and confirms the certification. You agree the scope with us.
References
They trust Phibo's surface technology
A selection of Phibo customers across all its surface technologies, by industry.
How it works
Four steps, one button to start the treatment
The operator needs no complicated settings.
The part on the grid
The part goes into the cabinet or onto the platform, on a work grid or a turntable.
Projection under pressure
Water and compressed air project the suspension onto the surface. You set the process pressure between 0 and 7 bar.
Rinsing and blow-drying
The operator rinses the part with filtered water and blows it dry with a blow gun.
Back into the circuit
The suspension is filtered and reused. A sensor measures air consumption during every treatment.
Applications
For which parts and industries
The process treats stainless steel, as well as aluminium, titanium and brass. From small turned parts to large welded structures, wherever a surface has to be hygienic and corrosion resistant.
- Food and beverage
- Pharma
- Medical instruments
- Cosmetics
- Chemicals
- Semiconductors
- Nuclear
- Energy
- Transport
- Aerospace and defence
Installations
Mistral cabinet or Tornado platform
Phibo works with two standard installations: a cabinet for smaller parts and a platform for large ones.
Mistral manual process cabinet
For smaller and lighter parts. The operator stands outside the cabinet and works through the gloves in the front wall.
View the Mistral
Tornado process platform
For small to bulky parts. The operator stands on the platform and moves around the part. You can build the platform into the floor, or install it on your existing floor to get started sooner.
View the TornadoTechnical data Mistral manual process cabinet
| Dimensions and operation | |
|---|---|
| Internal dimensions | ± 1230 x 1230 x 1050 mm, above the work surface |
| Access | Two side doors, each with a safety switch |
| Work surface | Composite grid over the full surface |
| Loading table | Tilting turntable on trolley and rails, Ø 800 mm, max. 250 kg in horizontal position; loading by overhead crane possible |
| Option | Internal turntable Ø 1000 mm, 250 kg, instead of the loading table |
| Operation | On and off by knee switch; gloves in the front wall |
| Process pressure | Adjustable from 0 to 7 bar |
| Heating | Recommended process temperature 30 to 40 °C for greasy or oily contamination |
| Required connections | |
| Compressed air | Supply line 5/4", minimum 3/4", 1,150 l/min at 7 bar |
| Water | Minimum 1/2" BSP, 2 to 6 bar |
| Electricity | 3 x 400 V + N + earth, 50 Hz, 14 kW |
| Drain | At the level of the installation floor |
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Technical data Tornado process platform
| Dimensions and operation | |
|---|---|
| External dimensions | ± 3150 x 2000 mm (Tornado T3020) |
| Work surface | Composite grid, load capacity 500 kg/m² |
| Operation | On/off button on the process gun |
| Operators | One or two at a time |
| Process pressure | Adjustable from 0 to 7 bar |
| Required connections | |
| Compressed air | Supply line 5/4"; 2,600 l/min at 7 bar for one operator, 5,200 l/min for two |
| Water | Minimum 3/4" BSP, 2 to 6 bar |
| Electricity | 3 x 400 V + N + earth, 50 Hz, 14 kW |
| Drain | Drain or sump with submersible pump, at installation floor level or lower |
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Indicative data. The final values for your installation are stated in the quotation.
At customer sites
In use in seven European countries
Phibo has installed SublimotionProcess® equipment in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Slovenia, Romania, Poland and Spain, coordinated from Belgium.
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- France
- Slovenia
- Romania
- Poland
- Spain
Purchase
You buy the installation, and that costs less than leasing
Over the full term, leasing costs more than buying. After a number of years, the purchase has paid for itself.
Included in the price
You receive the installation ready for use. In many cases the investment qualifies for European, national or regional subsidies.
- Transport and on-site installation
- Commissioning
- Training of your operators
- Technical documentation and CE declaration
- Evidence for the benefits: test reports, certificates and BAT declaration
- First batch of suspension and protective clothing
Consumables
A suspension of inert mineral particles
The suspension consists of inert mineral particles of natural origin, mixed with water. Inert means they do not react with any substance. They are natural minerals, harmless to your operators. The whole process thus stays free of chemicals, the big difference from chemical pickling. Do not add anything to it: with other substances in the suspension, Phibo cannot guarantee the result.
From our own warehouse
You order the suspension, spare parts and protective equipment from the same partner as the installation.
- Process suspension in sealed packaging
- Boron carbide nozzles
- Rubber gloves for the cabinet
- Filters for the closed circuit
- Protective clothing for wet conditions
Service and maintenance
Maintenance, spare parts and training
You arrange maintenance, repairs and spare parts directly with Phibo. Our own technicians do the work.
Maintenance contract
We schedule the inspections of your installation and follow them up. You agree the scope of the contract with us.
Repairs and spare parts
Spare parts come from our own warehouse. Our technicians carry out the repair.
Training
During commissioning, your operators learn to run and set up the installation.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about stainless steel surface treatment
SublimotionProcess®: what is it?
SublimotionProcess® is a hygienic stainless steel surface treatment: a mechanical process without chemicals. Water and compressed air project an inert mineral suspension onto the surface. As a result, dirt and biofilm adhere less easily to the stainless steel surface.
How does it differ from electropolishing?
Electropolishing dissolves a thin layer of metal in a bath of concentrated acids. SublimotionProcess® works without chemicals, using water, compressed air and an inert suspension. In the ACTALIA cleanability test, both remained free of microbial residues. At ArcelorMittal-OCAS, SublimotionProcess® resisted corrosion at least as well, and in a sliding angle test powders slid off it more easily overall.
How does it differ from pickling and passivation?
Pickling and passivation use acids, such as hydrofluoric, nitric or citric acid. SublimotionProcess® works without chemicals. In the ACTALIA cleanability test, microbial residues remained after chemical pickling. After SublimotionProcess®, none did.
Which materials can the installation treat?
Stainless steel, as well as non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, titanium and brass. From small turned parts to large welded structures.
Is the process certified?
In 2016 and 2021, SublimotionProcess® obtained the EHEDG Type EL Class I certificate for welded stainless steel tube with this finish: cleanable in place, without dismantling. A migration test under EU Regulation 1935/2004 confirmed that the tested samples of treated stainless steel are suitable for contact with all types of food.
Should I buy or lease the installation?
You buy it. Over the full term this costs less than leasing, and the purchase pays for itself after a number of years. The price includes on-site installation, commissioning and the full documentation, among other things.
What does an installation cost?
That depends on the size of your parts, the number per day and the choice between cabinet and platform. Phibo first calls you to go through your application, then you receive a quote for your application. In many cases the investment qualifies for European, national or regional subsidies.
Learn more
The full process on sublimotionprocess.com
The SublimotionProcess® website covers the technical background, the cabinets and platforms, the industries and the certification.
Also from Phibo
Other installations from Phibo
See the other installations from Phibo.
Your quote
We will call you to go through your application
Tell us which parts you want to finish hygienically, what material they are made of and how large the largest one is. Also tell us how many parts you treat per day. You will then receive a proposal with the installation that fits. One partner, from the first conversation to the last spare part.
Phibo Industries, A.Z. Nieuwe Pontstraat 23, 9600 Ronse, Belgium. sales@phibo.be