Tri-Clamp vs I-Line vs Bevel Seat vs John Perry

2 min read
Tri-Clamp vs I-Line vs Bevel Seat vs John Perry

Tri-Clamp vs I-Line vs Bevel Seat vs John Perry: Which Connection Style Do You Need?

Selecting the right sanitary connection style is essential for system performance, cleanability, and long-term reliability. While Tri-Clamp fittings dominate most food, beverage, dairy, and pharmaceutical systems, other connection families—such as I-Line, Bevel Seat, and John Perry—remain critical in specific applications.

This guide breaks down the key differences between these four major sanitary connection types so you can confidently choose the right one for your process.

Tri-Clamp (Tri-Clover) Fittings

Best for: General food, beverage, brewery, dairy, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical use

Tri-Clamp fittings are the most widely used hygienic connection. Their simple three-part design—two ferrules, a gasket, and a clamp—makes them easy to install, clean, and reconfigure.

  • Excellent cleanability
  • Fast assembly and disassembly
  • Compatible with a wide range of gasket materials
  • Widely available in 304 and 316L stainless steel

Why choose Tri-Clamp?
They offer unmatched flexibility and are compatible with nearly every hygienic system on the market.

I-Line Fittings

Best for: High-pressure, high-vibration, or heavy-duty sanitary applications

I-Line fittings use a male/female ferrule interface that centers and locks the connection more securely than a standard Tri-Clamp joint. This makes them ideal for applications involving pressure spikes, larger tubing diameters, or mechanical vibration.

  • High-pressure capability
  • Superior resistance to vibration
  • Self-aligning ferrule design
  • Often used in dairy and large-scale beverage processing

Why choose I-Line?
When you need a secure, repeatable, vibration-resistant connection.

Bevel Seat Fittings

Best for: Traditional dairy processing and certain beverage applications

Bevel Seat unions use a metal-to-metal seal that becomes tighter as the nut is drawn down. In many systems, the gasket is optional, although gaskets are often added today to facilitate cleaning and improve sealing.

  • Mechanical metal-to-metal seal
  • High durability
  • Common in legacy dairy systems
  • Available in 304 and 316 stainless

Why choose Bevel Seat?
For legacy system compatibility and rugged mechanical performance.

John Perry Fittings

Best for: Older dairy, beverage, and food-processing installations

John Perry unions share similarities with Bevel Seat fittings but use a different ferrule geometry and gasket style. They remain common in existing dairy plants and food-processing facilities that rely on legacy equipment.

  • Reliable, proven design
  • Gasketed seal for improved cleanability
  • Strong compatibility with older systems

Why choose John Perry?
When updating or maintaining older equipment without fully converting to Tri-Clamp or I-Line.

Which Fitting Style Should You Choose?

  • Choose Tri-Clamp if you want the most versatile, cleanable, and widely supported connection style.
  • Choose I-Line for high-pressure or high-vibration lines where reliability is critical.
  • Choose Bevel Seat for rugged mechanical sealing in traditional dairy environments.
  • Choose John Perry for repairing or maintaining older systems with legacy connectors.

Need Help Selecting the Right Connection?

PNW Sanitary stocks a complete range of Tri-Clamp, I-Line, Bevel Seat, and John Perry fittings with live inventory and same-day shipping from our Olympia warehouse.

If you’re unsure which connection style fits your process, our team is here to help.