In sterile environments, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, food & beverage production and biotechnology, pressure gauges must undergo rigorous cleaning and sterilization to ensure hygienic compliance while maintaining process integrity and operational safety. Ashcroft is a globally recognized leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation. As experts in this field, it is our job to fully understand the requirements our products must meet for use in these highly regulated industries and answer customer questions to help them make informed decisions. The question that prompted this article was from a customer who wanted to know the different ways to keep their pressure instruments compliant with hygienic requirements. Read this article to learn what hygienic compliance means for sterile processes, who sets and enforces these standards and how three widely used cleaning methods—Clean-in-Place (CIP), Sterilize-in-Place (SIP) and autoclaving can help your systems prevent contamination. When you are done, you will have a better understanding of these processes, applications, benefits, and limitations as they relate to sanitary operations. You will also be directed to additional resources that can help you determine which instruments are best suited to keep your system running safely and efficiently in sterile environments.

This article was originally published on September 26, 2022, and updated on May 8, 2025. In industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing and manufacturing, maintaining precise pressure control is an important factor in ensuring operational safety and efficiency. A pressure switch is an effective solution to help regulate your system, but its effectiveness depends on the mechanics behind these instruments. In this article, we will focus on the term deadband and its role in maintaining pressure accuracy in your applications. With Ashcroft's extensive expertise in pressure instrumentation, you will gain insights into optimizing the usage of pressure switches to ensure your systems run smoothly and safely. When you are finished reading, you will also have access to additional resources to help deepen your knowledge about choosing the right pressure switch for your specific needs.

This article was originally published on May 15, 2023, and updated on May 5, 2025. For certain applications in water/wastewater and other industries, pressure instruments such as gauges, switches, and transmitters are susceptible to clogging and corrosion. At Ashcroft, we understand that exposure to these conditions can damage the instrument, which can lead to inaccurate measurements and jeopardize the safety of your operation. Isolators, such as isolation rings, are designed to protect instruments from damage caused by clogging due to large slurries. Diaphragm seals, on the other hand, are used to protect instruments from chemicals like sodium hypochlorite, sodium fluoride or chlorine. However, removing the instrument from the isolator in the field can be hazardous. Read this article to learn the dangers and discover one way you can perform this task safely.

This article was originally published on June 17, 2024, and updated on April 30, 2025. If you work in any industry that involves food, beverages, pharmaceuticals or biotechnology, your primary challenge is to implement and maintain strict sanitary control over your entire operation. This is your primary defense against product contamination and safeguarding public health. That means every aspect of your manufacturing process, including the equipment and instruments you use to keep your systems running smoothly, must also meet certain sanitary and hygienic standards. Ashcroft is a globally recognized leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, so we understand the unique requirements our products must meet for use in these highly regulated industries. In fact, as a Product Leader for the company's sanitary product line, I am often asked for guidance during our customers' gauge selection process. In this article, you will learn more about the unique safety challenges of these highly regulated industries, the safety standards that are designed for public protection and some factors to consider when selecting the best sanitary gauge for your needs. When you are done reading, you will also be directed to additional resources to help deepen your knowledge of pressure gauges in general.

This article was originally published on July 18, 2022, and updated on April 28, 2025. There are many factors to consider when selecting your pressure gauge size, including how and where it will be used, gauge readability, distance from the operator and more. As a leading authority in pressure gauges, Ashcroft is often asked which pressure gauge size is best for a particular application. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. However, we can help guide you. Read this article for expert insights and additional resources that can help deepen your knowledge about pressure gauges.

This article was originally published on July 11, 2022, and updated on April 23, 2025. In operations that involve a risk of fire or explosion, using the wrong pressure instruments can result in severe consequences, including operator injury, equipment damage or worse. To reduce the risk of anything catastrophic happening, pressure switches and other instruments used in these environments must adhere to strict class and division codes. During my extensive career in pressure and temperature measurement, my expertise in this area is a requirement. I write about it often to help others know what to look for when purchasing instruments for their hazardous location applications. Read this article to learn about the different class and division codes and which ones will apply to your specific needs. You will also be directed to additional resources designed to deepen your knowledge even further about pressure instruments and hazardous locations.