Requirements for food-contact materials are evolving. New regulatory requirements, increasing product safety expectations and the growing demand for BPA-free solutions are creating new challenges for food manufacturers, confectionery producers and food processing equipment manufacturers.

With the introduction of EU Regulation 2024/3190, companies are facing evolving requirements for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. Companies throughout the value chain must ensure that selected materials not only meet technical and hygiene requirements, but also address current regulatory developments.

These requirements extend beyond direct food-contact applications. They also influence material selection for food processing environments, from chocolate and confectionery moulds to transparent inspection windows, machine guards and protective covers that must withstand frequent cleaning and disinfection.

With Inspria® GP, Vivak® and Axpet®, Exolon Group offers a portfolio of transparent plastic sheet solutions for modern food-grade applications. These materials support food manufacturers, confectionery producers, machine builders and equipment manufacturers in implementing safe and efficient solutions for the food industry.

From Chocolate Moulds to Food Processing Equipment 

The production of chocolate products demonstrates a wide range of requirements in modern food-grade applications.
Whether pralines, chocolate Easter bunnies, seasonal figures or other confectionery products, manufacturing begins with highly precise moulds that must deliver excellent detail reproduction, superior surface quality and resistance to repeated cleaning and disinfection cycles.

During production, transparent machine guards, protective covers and inspection windows contribute to safety and process control. They enable operators to monitor production processes without compromising hygiene or efficiency.

Transparent plastics also play an important role beyond production. Hygienic barriers help separate sensitive processing areas, while partitions, product dividers and information holders support hygienic and professional retail environments.

Typical Challenges

• Compliance with evolving food-contact regulations
• Adoption of BPA-free material solutions
• High hygiene and safety requirements
• Frequent high-temperature cleaning and disinfection cycles
• Transparency for process monitoring and quality control
• Long service life of moulds and machine components
• Efficient production processes
• Hygienic product presentation

Typical Applications and Recommended Materials

The Right Material for Your Food Grade Application 

Inspria® GP – Designed for Demanding Food Grade Applications 

Inspria® GP has been developed for applications requiring transparency, durability and long-term performance. The material combines high temperature resistance, good chemical resistance and excellent impact strength.
As a result, Inspria® GP maintains dimensional stability and optical quality even under frequent cleaning and disinfection cycles. In addition to machine guards, protective covers and inspection windows, the material is particularly suitable for durable chocolate and confectionery moulds.

Key Benefits

• High temperature resistance
• Good chemical resistance
• Excellent impact strength
• Outstanding transparency
• Suitable for frequent cleaning and disinfection cycles

Vivak® – For Precise Moulds and Complex Geometries 

Vivak® is known for its excellent thermoforming properties and is particularly suitable for applications requiring outstanding detail reproduction. In the confectionery industry, Vivak® is frequently used for chocolate moulds, praline moulds and seasonal moulds. The material is also suitable for inspection windows, protective covers and hygienic barriers in food processing environments.

Key Benefits:

• Excellent thermoformability
• Outstanding detail reproduction
• High transparency
• High-quality surface finish

Axpet® – Transparency for Retail and Point-of-Sale Applications
Axpet® is particularly suited for point-of-sale applications where transparency, visual appeal and ease of processing are essential. Typical applications include information holders, price tag protection, partitions and other display solutions used in food retail environments.

Key Benefits:

• High transparency
• Excellent surface quality
• Good processability
• Attractive appearance

Food Grade Applications at a Glance

• Chocolate and confectionery moulds
• Machine guards and protective covers
• Inspection windows and viewing panels
• Hygienic barriers
• Production partitions
• Retail partitions and product dividers
• Information holders and price tag protection

FAQ:Frequently Asked Questions

How do new food-contact regulations affect material selection?
New regulatory requirements increase the importance of selecting suitable materials for food-contact and food-processing applications. Companies must ensure that materials meet both technical and regulatory requirements.

Which BPA-free materials are suitable for food-grade applications?
Modern food-grade applications require materials that combine regulatory compliance, performance and processability. Exolon Group offers transparent plastic sheet solutions that combine regulatory compliance, processability and long-term performance for a wide range of food-grade applications..

Which plastics are suitable for chocolate moulds?
Vivak® and Inspria® GP are commonly used for chocolate, praline and seasonal moulds. While Vivak® offers excellent thermoforming performance, Inspria® GP provides additional benefits in applications involving frequent cleaning and disinfection cycles.

Which material is suitable for machine guards in the food industry?
Inspria® GP and Vivak® are widely used for machine guards, protective covers and inspection windows. Both materials provide high transparency and support safe process monitoring in food production environments.