Industries Food & Beverage

Food-Safe Liquid Filtration Solutions for Food & Beverage Processing

Strainrite provides FDA-compliant filter bags, cartridges, and sanitary vessels engineered for the food and beverage industry — from raw ingredient processing through final product packaging. Featuring purpose-built Bev-MAXX, Bev-Rite, Vino-MAXX E, Guard-Rite, Trap-Rite, and Aqua-Pro specialty lines, plus 47+ years of filtration innovation from our 81,000 ft² ISO 9001-certified facility in Auburn, Maine.

The global industrial food and beverage filtration system market was valued at USD 46.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 64.1 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.2% — fueled by increasing food safety regulations, consumer demand for clean-label products, and expansion of processed food production worldwide. The FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) affects over 300,000 domestic and foreign food facilities, making reliable filtration essential for compliance. With 47+ years of filtration expertise, ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturing, and a dedicated Food & Beverage specialty line including Bev-MAXX PES membrane cartridges, Vino-MAXX E wine filtration, Guard-Rite pre-filtration, Trap-Rite contaminant traps, and Aqua-Pro water purification — all produced in our 81,000 ft² facility with class 10,000 certified clean rooms — Strainrite is the trusted partner for food and beverage processors seeking consistent quality, regulatory confidence, and cost-effective filtration performance.

Key Filtration Stages in Food & Beverage Processing

Food and beverage manufacturing requires filtration at multiple process stages to remove particulate, protect equipment, ensure product safety, and deliver the clarity, taste, and shelf life that consumers expect. Strainrite offers solutions for every stage of the production process.

01

Ingredient & Raw Material Pre-Filtration

Incoming ingredients — water, syrups, juices, oils, and flavor compounds — may contain particulate, sediment, and contaminants from transport and storage. Strainrite's FDA-compliant felt filter bags (Sure-Weld and Classic styles in polypropylene and polyester) provide reliable bulk pre-filtration at 1–200 microns. For higher-throughput operations, our MADD-MAXX large-diameter pleated elements (7" OD) and the new HIGH-FLOW elements (6.25" OD, up to 500 GPM per 60" element) deliver exceptional dirt-holding capacity in a compact footprint. The new MADD-MAXX JUNIOR (4" OD) offers 2.5x the surface area of a #2 filter bag in a fraction of the size for space-constrained beverage lines.

02

Process Fluid Clarification

Process-critical steps like clarification, fining, and decolorization require intermediate filtration to remove haze-forming particles, precipitates, and color bodies. Strainrite's Clarity Pleated Depth Cartridges — including Pur-Pleat Select (gradient density with HSL technology for gel removal) and Poly-MAXX G (nominally rated, 0.25–50µm) — deliver absolute-rated particle removal with FDA CFR Title 21 compliance. The new Duo-Pleat and Duo-MAXX dual-pleated cartridges combine a prefiltration layer with a final membrane in a single cartridge, reducing filter change-outs and extending final filter life in beverage processing.

03

Bioburden Reduction & Sterile Filtration

Final filtration before packaging ensures product clarity, microbiological safety, and shelf-life stability. Strainrite's purpose-built Bev-MAXX PES membrane cartridges deliver validated particle and microorganism retention for beverages. The Vino-MAXX E provides PES membrane filtration designed specifically for wine clarification and stabilization. Guard-Rite cartridges protect final filters from premature fouling, while Trap-Rite elements capture residual contaminants in filling lines. All cartridges feature Strainrite's Special Pleat Option for up to 25% more surface area, reducing change-outs and lowering cost per batch.

04

Final Product & Packaging Filtration

Water and steam used in CIP, rinsing, and ingredient preparation must meet strict purity standards. Strainrite's Aqua-Pro water filtration cartridges and Vent-MAXX double-layer PTFE membrane filters — validated for bacterial removal at 10⁷ CFU/cm² per ASTM F838-05 — ensure sterile process air for tank venting and aseptic packaging. The new Brevi-MAXX compact pleated cartridges (2.25" OD) provide point-of-use water and air filtration in a scalable format ideal for individual filling lines and dispensing stations.

Micro-Filtration Final filter
Bev-Maxx filter cartridges

  • designed to meet the highest standards for microorganism control for Sterile fluids

  • provides an absolute barrier to beverage spoiling micro-organisms
    can stand multiple steam sterilization cycles

Clean-In-Place
Poly-Maxx and Bev-Maxx filter cartridges

  • filter media is constructed on the latest continuous microfiber blowing equipment that accurately controls fiber diameter and integrity

  • absolute and repeatable effluent quality

Final Product & Packaging Filtration

Strainrite's Fiber Maxx, MAXX-Flow GF and Madd-MAXX-GF also serve as an excellent final filters prior to kegging, bottling or canning, or as a pre-filter to final sterilizing filters. Brewers may opt for a final sterilizing filter just before final packaging, for which we recommend the Clarity line's Bev-Maxx and Bev-Rite cartridges. These polyethersulfone, pleated filter cartridges are specifically engineered to provide an absolute barrier against beverage spoiling micro-organisms.

FDA-Compliant, GMP-Manufactured Filtration You Can Trust

FDA-Compliant, GMP-Manufactured Filtration You Can Trust

Food safety is non-negotiable. Strainrite manufactures filtration products using FDA/EC-listed materials in ISO 9001-accredited facilities, with many products made in accordance with GMP standards. Our SPMF filter bags feature 100% polypropylene construction — silicone-free and non-fiber-releasing — with proprietary all-welded construction that eliminates particulate bypass. For critical applications, our Pur-MAXX sterilizing-grade and Endo-MAXX endotoxin-removal cartridges carry USP Class VI certification and are manufactured in validated cleanrooms. We also manufacture sanitary-grade stainless steel vessels with electropolished finishes, stainless steel legs, and configurations designed for hygienic cleaning and sterilization — meeting the demanding requirements of food and beverage processing environments.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance for Food & Beverage Filtration

Food and beverage manufacturers operate under some of the most rigorous regulatory frameworks in the world. Strainrite's quality systems and product certifications are designed to support compliance at every level.

FDA/EU Material Compliance & GMP Manufacturing

All Strainrite filtration products for food and beverage applications are manufactured using FDA 21 CFR and EC 1935/2004-compliant materials. Our ISO 9001-accredited production facilities follow GMP protocols, with full lot traceability and documentation to support FSMA compliance, HACCP programs, SQF audits, and third-party food safety certifications.

USP-Validated Filters for Critical Applications

Strainrite's Pur-MAXX sterilizing-grade cartridges carry comprehensive validation including bacterial retention testing, integrity test correlation, cytotoxicity testing, and USP Class VI Biological Reactivity certification. These validated filters support cold pasteurization, bioburden reduction, and sterile filtration applications where product safety and shelf life are paramount.

Strainrite Filtration Solutions for Food & Beverage

SPORTS DRINK & JUICE FILTRATION

INCOMING WATER: POLY-MAXX FILTER CARTRIDGES

  • Absolute-rated polypropylene media.
  • Consistent and repeatable filtration.
  • Longer service life.
  • Reduced operating cost over other types of filters.

Micro-Filtration Final Filter: Bev-Maxx filter cartridges

  • Designed to meet the highest standards for microorganism control for Sterile fluids
  • Provides an absolute barrier to beverage spoiling micro-organisms
  • Can stand multiple steam sterilization cycles

MICRO-FILTRATION PRE-FILTER: POLY-MAXX FILTER CARTRIDGES

  • Designed to optimize throughput while achieving absolute and repeatable effluent quality.
  • Perfect to protect and maximize life out of final Micro filtration filters

Tank Vent: Vent-Maxx PTFE filter cartridges

  • Designed to remove microorganisms, particulate and moisture in the most demanding air and gas applications
  • Allows tanks to get clean sterile air so they can be emptied and filled safely

Bottle Forming: Vent-Maxx PTFE filter cartridges

  • Designed to remove microorganisms, particulate and moisture from nitrogen blowing processes

CIP Skid: Poly-Maxx filter cartridges

  • Absolute-rated polypropylene media
  • consistent and repeatable filtration
  • longer service life
  • reduced operating cost over other types of filters

CIP Skid: Vent-Maxx PTFE filter cartridges

  • designed to remove microorganisms, particulate and moisture from nitrogen blowing processes

CIP Skid: Pur-Maxx ESG filter cartridges

  • designed to meet the highest standards for microorganism control for Sterile fluids
  • provides an absolute barrier to beverage spoiling micro-organisms
  • can stand multiple steam sterilization cycles

Purification

POLY-MAXX DEPTH CARTRIDGES

  • Polypropylene microfiber filter media enable fine filtration with high flow rates.
  • Layered, pleated construction permits longer filter life.

PUR-MAXX E PES MEMBRANE CARTRIDGES

  • PES membrane filters permit fine filtration with high transmission of active ingredients.
  • Sub-micron filtration effects bio-burden reduction and increased shelf life.

Bottled Water Filtration

INCOMING WATER: EVP Filter Bags

  • Large surface area.
  • Graded density.
  • Longer life.
  • Fewer filter changes.
  • Reduced disposal cost.
  • Increased productivity.

MICRO-FILTRATION PRE-FILTER: Poly-MAXX Filter Cartridges:

  • Designed to optimize throughput while achieving absolute and repeatable effluent quality.
  • Perfect for protecting and extending life of final Micro-filtration filters.

Micro-Filtration Final filter: Bev-Maxx filter cartridges

  • designed to meet the highest standards for microorganism control for Sterile fluids provides an absolute barrier to beverage spoiling micro-organisms can stand multiple steam sterilization cycles

Bottle Forming: Vent-Maxx PTFE filter cartridges

  • Designed to remove microorganisms, particulate and moisture from nitrogen blowing processes

Clean-In-Place: Poly-MAXX & Bev-MAXX Filter Cartridges

  • Filter media is constructed on the latest continuous microfiber blowing equipment that accurately controls fiber diameter and integrity.
  • Absolute and repeatable effluent quality.

Spirit Filtration

Incoming Water: EVP filter bags

  • large surface area
  • graded density
  • longer life
  • fewer filter changes
  • reduced disposal cost
  • increased productivity

Main Fill: Maxx-Flow large diameter pleated cartridges

  • inside-out flow
  • high flow rates
  • higher dirt holding capacity
  • ensures that unwanted contaminates stay inside element during change out
  • virtually eliminates downstream contamination

Trap Filters: Maxx-Trap large diameter pleated cartridges

  • engineered for critical high purity applications
  • optimized throughput
  • consistent, reliable absolute-rated performance
  • increased void volume is ideal for capturing contaminates

Chill Haze: Madd-MAXX GF large diameter pleated cartridges

  • inside-out pleated micro-glass media
  • perfect for optimizing flow rate
  • removes proteins that cause haze

Pre-Final Filter: Guard-Rite filter cartridges

  • cost-effectively reduce bio-burden before final filtration and packaging
  • superior flow membrane ensures that flavor and color stay in the beverage

Clean in Place

  • In the food and beverage industry, one small contamination can cause serious health issues and ruin your business. With Strainrite filtration systems, you won't have to worry about contamination or leaks. Instead you'll benefit from streamline systems engineered for easy, efficient use and better results.

Hot Water & Steam Sterilization

Holding Tanks / CIP System Air

  • For filtration of holding tanks and CIP System air, Strainrite recommends the Vent-MAXX Cartridge (1). The Vent-Maxx gas sterilizing filters set a new standard for PTFE membrane elements. These filters utilize a technologically advanced membrane in our unique pleat construction to deliver unrivalled efficiency, superior strength, and high flow rates.

Mix Tank

  • For filtration and pre-filtration of the mix process, from your CIP System to filtered water, Strainrite recommends as a pre-filter the Pur-MAXX ESG Cartridge (2). The Pur-MAXX E-SG is engineered to meet the highest standards of microorganism control for sterile fluids. Validated for complete removal of Brevundimonas diminuta (ATCC 19146) at test concentrations of 10⁷ CFU/cm², this product is ideally suited for applications where microorganism contamination causes product defects or extra processing time due to increased fluid instability.
  • For further filtration protection a secondary Poly-MAXX (3) cartridge may be installed. More information on the Poly-MAXX can be found below.

Process Gas

  • Normal atmosphere can cause microbial growth and oxidation. Normal air is replaced in holding tanks with nitrogen or carbon dioxide. As the wine is bottled, process gas is injected into each bottle. Hydrophobic 0.22µm membrane filters assure that no particulates or bacteria are carried by the gas to the wine.
  • The Vent-Maxx (4) gas sterilizing filters set a new standard for PTFE membrane elements. These filters utilize a technologically advanced membrane in our unique pleat construction to deliver unrivalled efficiency, superior strength, and high flow rates. Vent-Maxx double layer PTFE membrane filters are designed to remove microorganisms, particulate, and moisture in your most demanding air and gas applications.

Filtration Systems for Viticulture

  • From Bordeaux to Napa and everywhere in between, nothing quite makes a dining experience like a fine glass of wine. For centuries, winemakers have picked and sorted grapes, fermented them in barrels, and aged them to perfection. Before these reds, whites, and roses can make it to your table however, they need to go through a stringent filtration process. That's where we can help.

Clarifying

  • In wine tasting, a wine is considered "clear" when there are no visible particles suspended in the liquid and when there is no "haze." A wine with too much suspended matter will appear cloudy and dull. Wine may clarify naturally as a result of gravity, with heavier particles settling at the bottom of the barrel. The wine can then be siphoned or "racked" off into a new container. But this process can take anywhere from months to years, as well as several rackings, in order to produce a clear wine. Filtration accelerates the process. For Clarifying, Strainrite offers the MAXX-Trap in a large diameter or the Fiber-MAXX, Fiber-MAXX G and Poly-MAXX G in a cartridge (1).

Fining, Polishing & Stabilizing

  • A fining agent, usually gelatin, removes tannins and some microscopic particles. Gelatin reacts with the wine components as it clarifies, and forms a sediment which is removed by filtration prior to bottling. Filtration adds polish by improving a wine's appearance, reducing a wine's aging time, reducing excess levels of tannic acid and other proteins and reducing the chance of re-fermentation in the bottle. Many wines require the removal of all potentially active yeast or lactic acid bacteria if they are to remain reliably stable in the bottle Fine filtration accomplishes stabilization. Microbial stabilization requires a filtration of at least 0.65 μm for yeast retention and 0.45 µm for bacteria retention. Strainrite's Guard-Rite (2), Poly-MAXX Select (3) and Vino-MAXX E (3) are recommended for these crucial processes

Bioburden Reduction & Sterilization

  • Before bottling, wine bottles must be rinsed with filtered water. A membrane prefilter with pore sizes of 0.80µm to 1.2µm captures the bulk of harmful organisms and protects the critical final filters from being overloaded. Created for Beverage Pre-final filtration, the Guard Rite (2) is the pre-final filter to cost effectively reduce Bio-burden before final filtration and packaging. With a depth layer and synchronized final filtration layer optimized to extend final filter life with a stainless steel insert for steam or hot water sanitization.

Commercial Beer Filtration Systems

  • America's brewing industry is rapidly growing. With over 5,000 breweries and counting across the country, beer making (and beer drinking) is evermore popular in America. From stouts, to pale ales, to sours and more, brewing fresh beer means filtering out excess particles during the brewing process. We can help you there. Our filtration systems produce quality results throughout the brewing process including:

For Incoming Water

  • Good beer begins with pure, clean water, free of any particles or sediments. At the first stage of this process, particles need to be removed from the water. Our Enhanced Vertical Pleat (EVP) filter is ideal for any brew volume. This filter rises above the competition with its high filtration performance, long life, and loading capacity, all for a great price.
  • Carbon blocks help remove chlorine, organic flavor, and sediment from tap water. A trap filter will target any remaining carbon particles.
  • With a 99 percent rated filter media for consistent and repeatable performance Madd-MAXX filters like the MAXX-Trap are a perfect fit for trap filtration. By retaining all contaminants inside the filter during change outs Madd-MAXX elements have higher dirt holding capabilities and offer hygienic superiority over typical outside in fluid filtration.
  • Madd-MAXX elements are capable of handling up to 500 gpm in a 60' length which is a perfect solution for high flow rate application.

For Mashing

  • During the mashing process, milled grain is steeped in hot water. This process activates malt enzymes and converts grain starches into fermentable sugars. The mash is then separated into clear liquid wort and residual grain in a mash filter or lautering tun. After this step, the wort is transferred to the brew kettle, and must be filtered for waste grains. This process requires a high quality filtration system, to ensure only the compounds you want make it into your beer, and nothing else. We recommend the Strainrite NMO Monofilament Mesh Filter Bag for this process.

NMO Monofilament Mesh Filter Bags are an ideal solution because they are:

  • Manufactured in a wide range of micron ratings using a single filament weave
  • They offer both excellent fabric strength and perfectly uniform openings
  • They're FDA and EU compliant
  • Monofilament mesh is available in 1 through 800 microns as standard and larger for special orders
  • Monofilament material is a perfect fit for applications where clients require no fiber migration at a high level of efficiency

For Hopping

  • The hopping process gives beer depth, balance, and signature flavors. Originally used as a preserving agent, hops are used for bittering, adding flavor or enhancing the aroma of beer. Hopping can take place at different stages of the brewing process, and for different intervals for different results.
  • A few Strainrite filters we recommend to enhance this process include:
  • The Strainrite NMO Monofilament Mesh Filter Bags, which catch boiling and finishing hops that are introduced during the brewing process.
  • Strainrite's nylon monofilament FCB (Flavor Concentrate Bag) reduce labor and material handling costs associated with dry hopping processes.

Flavor Concentrate Bags come in three different sizes:

  • FCB1 holds up to 1 pound of dry pellets (454 grams)
  • FCB5 holds up to 5 pounds of dry pellets (2.3 kilos)
  • FCB25 holds up to 25 pounds of dry pellets (11.3 kilos)

For Clarifying

  • Clarifying is one of the final steps in the brewing process. Cooling beer encourages yeast and other suspended sediment to flocculate and sink. Then, the beer can be transferred from the fermentor for bottling, which eliminating chill haze in finished beer.

For primary transfer prior to cold crashing, we recommend:

  • The EVP (Enhanced Vertical Pleat)
  • The Madd-MAXX Series' MAXX-Flow MF, a polypropylene, large diameter filter
  • For chill haze removal after cold crash, we offer the Clarity Cartridge line's Fiber Maxx pleated filter cartridges, which effectively remove proteins and tannins that cause haze. The Fiber-Maxx uses a high surface area and high void volume media, incorporating microglass fibers in a uniform matrix that optimizes element flow rate and service life.

For microglass fibers in a large diameter cartridge, Strainrite recommends:

  • The Madd-MAXX series' MAXX-Flow GF
  • Madd-MAXX-GF

For Packaging

  • Strainrite's Fiber Maxx, MAXX-Flow GF and Madd-MAXX-GF also serve as an excellent final filters prior to kegging, bottling or canning, or as a pre-filter to final sterilizing filters. Brewers may opt for a final sterilizing filter just before final packaging, for which we recommend the Clarity line's Bev-Maxx and Bev-Rite cartridges. These polyethersulfone, pleated filter cartridges are specifically engineered to provide an absolute barrier against beverage spoiling micro-organisms.

White Paper

liquid-filtration-food-beverage-manufacturing-hero.jpg
White Paper June 10, 2026

Liquid Filtration for Food & Beverage Manufacturing

This white paper examines the essential role that filtration plays in ensuring product safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across the food and beverage industry. It highlights how Strainrite's filtration technologies address three core functions—microbial control, product clarity, and regulatory compliance—to help manufacturers meet global standards such as FSMA, FDA Title 21 CFR, GMP, and ISO.

Contact Us for a Food-Safe Filtration Consultation