20 INSIGHTS 2018
A global brand sauce and condiments manufacturing plant in Russia
needed to replace pumps that were proving difficult to clean and
maintain, being used to pump products that include cheese sauce,
tomato ketchup and mayonnaise.
Hygiene is paramount in food industry applications, where any
failures can have a devastating impact on brand reputation. For this
reason, the Russian plant chose Bredel CIP 50 pumps from Watson-
Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) that are available with
the option of externally operated retracting shoes to release the
hose so that the line is open and unobstructed for cleaning. Pumps
featuring this option are used with a food-approved hose and food-
grade lubricant, both from WMFTG, while stainless steel sanitary
connectors include DIN, ASA and JIS types.
WMFTG is a leader in niche peristaltic and sinusoidal pumps and
associated fluid path technologies with over 60 years’ experience
and over one million pumps installed worldwide. It is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Spirax-Sarco Engineering, a global organisation
employing approximately 4800 people worldwide, and has 29 offices
around the world.
Hygiene and sterility are crucial at the plant where, depending on
the production plan, CIP is often scheduled daily. The process takes
place at full velocity using food industry standard cleaning agents
such as Tarmo (1%) and ET (0.3–0.5%).
Bredel CIP 50 pumps have been installed on two filling lines to
transfer cheese sauce, which is heated to 75°C. Here, the sauce
needs to be pumped quickly from the hoppers to the filling line at
flow rates of up to 7000 L/h. If the sauce cools in the pump hose or
in the transfer lines it will solidify, which would cause huge cleaning
issues because hot water and stronger cleaning agents would be
needed to break down the starch and fats.
Elsewhere on the site, Bredel CIP pumps transfer ketchup through
20 m long pipework with 7 m delivery. The pumps dose ketchup with
a viscosity of 50,000 cP (at 30–40°C) from the hoppers to a line
that fills plastic single-serving sachets for fast food outlets. On the
same line, plastic sachets are also filled with mayonnaise (5000 cP),
again for fast food outlets.
Aside from ease of cleaning, there were several important
factors to consider before selecting pumps, not least of which is the
shear thinning of these thixotropic sauces.
Further factors included the avoidance of air
entrainment, which could lead the sachets to
burst upon filling, and the need for sterility.
Sachets are in high demand in the Russian
market, where glass bottles are deemed
unacceptable. The same is true in Africa,
which is a major export market for the plant.
Ultimately, the gentle, low-shear
capability of Bredel pumps was put forward
by the contractor that supplied the Rossi and
Catelli filling system. The recommendation
was supported by referencing the use of
Bredel pumps at other group plants outside
of Russia.
“WMFTG has a very strong competitive
advantage in the quality and performance
parameters of its pumps,” said the plant’s
purchasing manager. “As a result, we are
now standardising on Bredel pumps as
the most reliable, efficient and minimal
maintenance solution. This will have further
site-wide benefits in terms of spares
management and operator knowledge.”
The customer is now planning to upgrade
another site in Russia, where Bredel pump
technology will again be deployed.Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group
http://www.wmftg.com.aucase study
Pumps provide hygienic solutions at
Russian food plant