PLU
Price Look-Up code or Product Lookup Number is a number assigned to specific food products for pricing and identification purposes.

PVC (poly vinyl chloride)
Plastic most commonly found in home drain pipes, used to coat wire shelves due to its resistance to water.

Pawl
Part of a tensioning system, used on conveyor washers to keep conveyor travel in the correct direction.

Peristaltic pump
Fluid is stored in a flexible tube and a rotating arm pushes down on the tubing, forcing the liquid to move forward and in the end, dispense out of the unit. Good for use with nacho cheese. (Graphic from Wikipedia)

Piezo spark
A mechanically timed spark ignition on gas ranges.

Planetary gear transmission
A mechanical system where smaller gears rotate around one central gear. Used in variable speed systems like mixers, food processors and automatic transmissions.

Plasticized fin coil
Fins placed on evaporator and condenser lines to assist heat exchange often coated with plastic resin to increase their corrosion resistance.

Plenum system
Air circulating system that moves air through a chamber so it exits at a higher pressure.

Polycarbonate
A versatile plastic that is lighter than glass and nearly unbreakable.

Polyethylene
Most popular plastic in the world, seen in grocery bags, shampoo bottles and toys. Used in the foodservice industry because it is impervious to bacteria, is highly durable and provides thermal insulation.

Polypropylene
A plastic with a wide variety of uses. It is used in the food service industry because it can withstand high temperatures and it is dishwasher safe.

Polyurethane
Versatile polymer found in wide range of products including foams, paints and spandex. Used in the foodservice industry as a foam insulation because it adds structural strength, is moisture resistant and performs well at hot and cold temperatures.

Positive seal
Similar to the type of seal a suction cup makes. Inside and outside pressure differences force an air-tight seal between gasket and door frame.

Pouch-style door
Front mounted door on larger ice machine bins that protrudes slightly and gives easy access to contents.

Portable filter
A machine that cleans used oils, stripping it of food particles and sediments so that it can be reused.

Powder Coating
Paint application technique that applies dry paint to a product using electrostatic attraction between the charged paint particles and grounded object. Benefits include high quality appearance, long life and scratch resistant finish.

Pressure reducing valve
Designed to fill a system with water and to keep that water at pressure determined by machine. Generally used on pressure steamers.

Pressure steamer
teamer which uses a pressurized cavity for cooking which allows temperatures to rise above the normal 212°F temperature of steam.

Pressureless steamer
Maintains the pressure of the oven cavity at atmospheric levels, allowing the door to be opened during cooking. Cooking temperature does not rise over 212°F.