Food and Beverage Processing Equipment: Stainless Steel Tanks, Blenders, Hoppers and Pipework Built in Australia
Request a quoteAt Stainless Tank & Mix, we custom design and manufacture food and beverage-grade stainless steel products in our Sydney workshop, specialising in food and beverage handling and processing equipment that requires specialist knowledge and skills beyond those used in non-sanitary applications. A myriad of requirements must be met at every stage to ensure the finished system or product is safe for processing food products and can be easily and reliably cleaned and sanitised.
Our food-grade process equipment is custom designed with your needs front and centre, then manufactured and installed to exacting standards. This approach has built our reputation for reliable operation, durable components and practical solutions. STM has built stainless steel solutions for a variety of food and beverage industries, including sauces, confectionery, cereal, seafood, bakery, beverages and brewing. See our previous case studies to explore some of our work.
Food and Beverage Equipment We Build
Process tanks and vessels
Process tanks and vessels are used throughout food and beverage manufacturing to store, process and mix ingredients and liquids. STM designs and fabricates tanks in a range of sizes, including a 100,000-litre process water storage tank and a 30,000-litre tank. Each vessel is tailored to your process, with hygienic design, cleanability, capacity, materials and cost-effective fabrication considered from the outset.
Silos and storage tanks
Storage tanks and silos play a critical role across the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, dairy, wine and chemical industries, providing reliable storage for liquids and dry bulk materials. Silos are designed for powders and other dry products, while storage tanks safely contain liquids. STM designs and fabricates custom storage tanks and silos to suit your process, with material selection, dimensions, access, installation and operating conditions considered from the outset. Our team works with you to develop a practical solution for your facility and process.
Pressure vessels
A pressure vessel is a closed container designed to safely hold gases or liquids at pressures significantly different from ambient pressure. In the food and beverage industry, pressure vessels support processes such as storage, heating, carbonation, and other applications where controlled pressure is required. Hygienic vessel interiors are essential, particularly for food and beverage applications where sanitary design and cleanability are critical. STM considers material selection, internal finishes, pressure requirements and fabrication standards to deliver vessels suited to your process and operating conditions.
Powder blending equipment (ribbon, paddle, plough, auger)
In the food and beverage industry, powder blending equipment combines dry powders and bulk ingredients efficiently and consistently. STM custom fabricates ribbon blenders and Stingray Mixers, along with associated equipment to support complete powder-handling processes. This can include sieves and screens, product transfer systems such as augers and flowveyors, vacuum transfer systems, blowing lines, metal detectors and IBCs.
Hoppers and chutes
Hoppers and chutes are key components for storing, handling and transferring bulk materials, particularly in food production environments. STM designs and fabricates custom hoppers and chutes to suit your process, equipment layout and material flow requirements. Where standard designs fall short, our team can accommodate challenging angles, dimensions, and shapes to create practical solutions for your facility. Each design is developed around the product, available space and required flow characteristics, helping support efficient and reliable material handling.
Depositors and extruders
Depositors and extruders are used in food and baking production to portion, shape and accurately dispense ice cream, dough, mixtures and other products onto conveyor belts or directly into containers. STM designs and fabricates custom equipment to suit your product, process and production needs. Our experience includes producing complex shapes and configurations for specialised depositing and extrusion applications, while considering hygienic design and GMP principles throughout fabrication. Equipment can be developed around your existing production line, helping support consistent product handling and efficient processing.
Pipework
STM designs, fabricates and installs stainless steel pipework for food and beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical and other processing industries. In food and beverage manufacturing, pipework transfers ingredients, water, cleaning solutions and finished products between tanks, processing equipment and filling lines. Our systems support process transfer, CIP, mechanical services, plumbing and heating. We have detailed knowledge of hygienic and industrial components, including fittings, valves, flow meters, pipe spools, valve matrices and key stations, tailored to your process and site.
Ductwork
Ductwork plays an important role in food and beverage, pharmaceutical and chemical facilities, distributing heated, cooled or process air through connected systems. STM designs and fabricates ductwork in a range of shapes and configurations, including square-to-round transitions, cones, lobster-back bends, tapered bends, cyclones, spirals, breech pieces and hoods. We specialise in large-diameter ductwork and can incorporate features such as explosion relief panels into the design where required, helping create a system suited to your process and facility.
Mixers and Blenders
Stingray Mixers are food-grade tumble blenders designed for commercial food production, with gentle mixing action suited to blending and coating ingredients without damaging delicate products. They can be used across a wide range of food and beverage applications, including nuts, spices, coffee and tea, cereals, protein powders, seafood, sauces and spreads. With five models available from 90 to 200 litres, the range provides practical options for different production volumes and processing needs.
Food‑Grade Design and HACCP
STM designs and fabricates custom stainless steel equipment for the food and beverage industry, with hygienic design, food safety and cleanability considered throughout the manufacturing process. Our approach is supported by HACCP principles, helping ensure equipment is designed with food safety and contamination control in mind.
Food-grade materials and finishes are selected to suit the application, while drainability is considered to minimise areas where liquids or product can collect. Hygienic welding and smooth internal surfaces help reduce crevices and product build-up, supporting easier cleaning and reducing the risk of bacterial growth and contamination.
Where required, equipment can be designed for clean-in-place (CIP) systems, allowing internal surfaces to be cleaned without dismantling the vessel or process equipment. Spray coverage, drainage and access are considered as part of the overall design to support effective cleaning.
STM also considers the practical requirements of installation, operation and maintenance, ensuring the equipment is suited to the wider production environment. Supporting documentation and certification can be provided where required, giving customers a clear record of the materials, fabrication and relevant compliance requirements.
From tanks and vessels to pipework, silos and powder-handling equipment, STM develops solutions around your process, product and facility.
What Makes Stainless Steel Equipment Food‑Grade?
Food-grade stainless steel equipment is designed so that every surface a product touches can be cleaned, drained and inspected, and nothing in the build can contaminate the product. At Stainless Tank & Mix, food and beverage equipment is built to these principles:
- Grade 304, 316L or duplex stainless steel for all product-contact surfaces, with 316L or duplex stainless steel where acids, brines or aggressive cleaning chemicals are used
- Internal surface finish to ≤0.5 Ra µm where specified, so product does not lodge in the surface and bacteria cannot take hold
- Fully welded, ground and polished joints with no crevices, laps or exposed threads on the product side
- Drainable design: dished or sloped bottoms, outlets at the low point, no dead legs in pipework
- CIP- and COP-compatible layouts so vessels and lines can be cleaned in place without dismantling
- Food-safe seals, gaskets and fittings (Tri-Clamp, DIN, SMS) rated for the product and the cleaning temperature
- Full traceability: material certificates, weld records and passivation documentation for every wetted component
Each of these is a point in a HACCP plan. When the equipment is designed this way from the start, cleaning validation, audits and changeovers are faster, and the equipment lasts longer.
Food and Beverage Projects
STM has completed a wide range of projects for food and beverage manufacturers, delivering custom stainless steel equipment and integrated process solutions for different production environments. Our previous work includes a cereal coating spray bar and control system, a continuous seafood product cleaner, a frozen-product conveyor operating from a liquid nitrogen bath, and stainless steel process pipework for a food manufacturer.
Our tank fabrication capabilities range from smaller vessels to large-scale processing equipment. For example, STM has fabricated a 50-litre heated mix tank with load cells for accurate batching, as well as 12,000-litre jacketed mixing tanks for beverage production. Each vessel was designed around the specific product, process and operating conditions rather than relying on a standardised design.
We can also accommodate different production volumes, site constraints, materials and equipment configurations. From ingredient storage and mixing to product transfer and specialised processing equipment, our team works with manufacturers to develop practical solutions that integrate with their existing or planned production lines.
Whether you require a single custom-fabricated vessel, specialised processing equipment or multiple components for an integrated system, STM can work with you from design through to fabrication and installation. Our experience across food and beverage and other industry applications allows us to consider the practical requirements of your process, including hygiene, cleanability, capacity, product handling and equipment integration, from the outset.
Turnkey Lines and Plant Upgrades
STM can support food and beverage manufacturers through the full project lifecycle, from process engineering and equipment design through to fabrication, installation, commissioning and automation. Our turnkey solutions can include custom equipment, process skids, stainless steel pipework and control systems, helping integrate individual components into a complete production solution.
Where a project requires specialist capabilities beyond our in-house services, STM works with experienced and trusted technicians and partners to deliver the additional components or services required. This allows us to coordinate the project as a complete solution while maintaining a clear focus on your process and production goals.
With a single point of contact, you can reduce the complexity of coordinating multiple suppliers and trades. From plant upgrades and equipment integration to new processing lines, STM can help manage the project from initial design through to commissioning, with the aim of delivering a practical, coordinated system ready for production.
Our Process
Concept
Understanding the brief and building a thorough scope
Design
Engineering, 3D modelling, and design approval
Fabrication
Precision manufacturing with full traceability
QA
Inspection, testing, and quality assurance
Installation
On-site assembly and integration of equipment
Commissioning & Handover
Ensuring performance and customer sign-off
Frequently Asked Questions
What grade of stainless steel is food-grade?
304 and 316 stainless steel are commonly used in food processing. The appropriate grade depends on the product, cleaning chemicals, temperature and operating environment. STM can help select the material and finish suited to your application.
Can you design equipment to fit an existing production line?
Yes. STM can design and fabricate equipment around existing layouts, connections, access points and production requirements. This can include tanks, pipework, conveyors, skids and other process equipment.
Do you build to HACCP requirements?
STM considers HACCP principles when designing food and beverage equipment, including hygienic construction, cleanability, drainability and contamination control. Supporting documentation can also be provided where required.
What sizes of process tanks do you make for food production?
STM custom fabricates process tanks in a wide range of capacities, from smaller vessels for specialised applications to large tanks for industrial-scale production. Size, geometry and equipment are designed around your batch volume, process, available space and operating requirements.
Talk to Us About Your Line
Every production line has different requirements, from equipment layout and product flow to cleaning, capacity and integration. If you’re planning a new food and beverage process line or looking to upgrade existing equipment, talk to STM about your project. Our team can help assess your process and develop a practical stainless steel solution around your needs. Contact us today to discuss your project, requirements and next steps.