Tri-Clover vs. Tri-Clamp: What's the Difference?

If you have ever shopped for sanitary fittings, you have likely come across both the name Tri-Clover and Tri-Clamp. Why are there two names? Are they the same thing?

The answer is, essentially, yes. Tri-Clover and Tri-Clamp fittings are the same thing. Tri-Clover was the name (well, Tri-Clover Machine Co. to be exact) of the original company that created the Tri-Clamp connection. Tri-Clover is simply a brand term.

Origin

Tri-Clover was founded in the early 1900s, when sanitary design was beginning to take off for the food and beverage industry. There was a growing need during this time for stricter hygiene requirements and Tri-Clover was one of the first to address this. Their most famous innovation was a quick, clamp-style connection that made process lines easy to assemble: the tri-clamp.

Alfa Laval and the Tri-Clover Legacy

In 1991, Alfa Laval, a Swedish company that manufactures hygienic processing equipment (among other equipment), acquired Tri-Clover. They kept the company running until shutting it down in 2000 due to market cannibalization with their other products. Since then, Tri-Clover has remained as a name for fittings offered by Alfa Laval. They also own the rights to the Tri-Clamp trademark, even though that term is often used more generically in everyday conversations. 

What This Means for You

If you’re shopping for sanitary fittings and see “Tri-Clamp,” “Tri-Clover,” or “clamp-style fitting,” they likely all refer to the same type of hygienic connection. This connection is quick to use, easy to clean, and widely trusted.

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Looking for Tri-Clamp Fittings?

SaniFitDirect offers a wide range of high-quality Tri-Clamp fittings. They are 3-A Certified and made to the same specifications that have made this connection the industry standard.

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If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at sales@sanifitdirect.com or call us at 804-214-6098.