Quality of ZUST injector needles: material, finish and testing
ZUST Needles, established in 1998, manufactures replacement injector needles for meat, poultry and fish processing. Our needles are made of the highest quality type of stainless steel (AISI 304-316), electropolished inside and out, and built with forged round tips. Each meat injection needle we manufacture undergoes rigorous quality tests.
What we build into our injector needles
| Area | What we do | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Material | The highest quality type of stainless steel (AISI 304-316), often with added titanium or other elements that improve durability | A strong and flexible needle that stays sharp for longer |
| Surface | Electropolishing of the internal and the external surfaces, on an electropolishing machine we invested in | A smooth surface that reduces bacterial adhesion and the risk of clogging, and enters the tissue without unnecessary tearing |
| Tip | Forged round tips, made in one piece with the tube | A needle built for the highest possible resistance to mechanical damage |
| Joint under the head | Silver soldering where welding is not possible, for example underneath the head | A stronger joint that keeps brine out of an area that cannot be cleaned |
| Sealing | O-rings fitted as standard wherever the needle design requires one | Where the design requires it, the needle arrives with its o-ring already fitted |
| Holes | Holes placed close to the tip | The meat is filled completely with brine, without leaking |
| Checks | Quality tests run through the whole production | The holes, the length and the tips are verified along the way, and the packing stage adds one more check |
Why the surface of the needle matters on a food line
The brine passes through the inside of the needle, and the same channel has to be cleaned. We electropolish both the internal and the external surfaces of our needles, because a smooth channel carries the brine without obstacles for longer and is easier to clean. When a hole in an injector needle clogs, the brine no longer spreads evenly through the meat. The smooth internal channels of our needles also support cleaning in CIP (Cleaning in Place) systems. How cleaning works in practice is described in our article on clean-in-place for injector needles.
How the tip and the head joint are made
All our round tips are forged. The tube is rolled until it takes the shape of the tip, so the tip and the tube are one piece. We compare forged and welded tips in a separate article, forged vs welded injector needle tips. Underneath the head, where the needle tube connects to it and welding is not possible, we use silver soldering. The joint is stronger, and it is sealed against brine getting into an area that cannot be cleaned.
How we check our needles
Each stage also looks over the work of the stage before it:
- Drilling the holes. We check that the holes are clear and that the needle has the right length.
- Forging the tips. The holes made in drilling are checked once the tips are forged.
- Electropolishing. The tips are checked while the needle is being electropolished.
- Fitting the o-rings and packing. We aim for each needle to be checked once more during packing, and the person packing selects the best needles.
If you want to know which checks matter for your injector and your product, write to us.
You can also check the needle yourself when it arrives and when it comes back from cleaning. Our injector needle inspection checklist lists five visual checks to run on a clean, dry needle before it goes back into the head.
Made to your specification
For any quantity we can adjust the internal tube diameter, the wall thickness, the number of holes, the diameter of holes and their placement. Outer diameters start at 1.6 mm and go up to 6 mm, and each outer diameter is available with various internal diameters. We deliver individual designs with no extra design fees, and there is no minimum order quantity. The terms used in a needle specification are explained in our injector needle glossary.
Replacement needles from an independent manufacturer
ZUST Needles is an independent manufacturer of replacement injector needles. Our needles are suitable for the injector brands listed on our products page, and we are not an agent of any of these companies. The product codes shown on this website (FOM, SCH, INJS and the other code ranges) are ZUST Needles’ own product references and are not OEM part numbers. Details are in our Trademark Notice.
Frequently asked questions
What steel are ZUST injector needles made of?
All our needles are made of the highest quality type of stainless steel (AISI 304-316). The steel is often alloyed with titanium or other elements that improve durability. We work within this range and do not tie every needle to a single grade. We explain what the grade tells you, and what matters more, in a separate article.
Are ZUST injector needles electropolished?
Yes. Both the internal and the external surfaces of our needles are electropolished. We invested in an electropolishing machine for this, and it gives the needle a smooth surface outside and inside. A smooth channel reduces the risk of clogging and bacterial adhesion.
Are the round tips of ZUST needles forged?
Yes. All our round tips are forged: the tip is shaped from the end of the needle tube itself. Where welding is not possible, for example underneath the head, we use silver soldering to make the joint stronger and to seal it against brine.
Does ZUST test its injector needles?
Yes. Our needles are checked at every stage of production. We check the holes and the length when drilling, the holes when forging the tips and the tips when electropolishing. When fitting the o-rings and packing, we aim for each needle to be checked once more. For a specific injector or product, write to sales@zust-needles.com.
Can ZUST make an injector needle to my specification?
Yes. For any quantity we adjust the internal tube diameter, wall thickness, number and diameter of holes and their placement. We deliver individual designs with no extra design fees, and there is no minimum order quantity. Send us your injector type, the product you inject and the needle you use today.
Are ZUST needles original parts of the injector manufacturer?
No. ZUST Needles is an independent manufacturer of replacement injector needles. We manufacture our needles ourselves and we are not an agent of any machine manufacturer. Our product codes are our own references and not OEM part numbers.
Contact
ZUST Needles s.c., ul. Heweliusza 11/1110, 80-890 Gdańsk, Poland. E-mail: sales@zust-needles.com. Phone: +48 535 000 668. You can also use the contact page or read the answers to the most common questions.