The perfect mix of pumps for a ready to drink cocktail manufacturer
EDITOR’ S CHOICE TAILORED PUMPING POWER
CASTLE PUMPS
The perfect mix of pumps for a ready to drink cocktail manufacturer
With a huge variety of products needing to be handled, when it comes to the food processing industry, no two pump requirements are the same. Getting the right pump, rather than just one that“ does the job” is the key to saving yourself from excessive wear, unnecessary maintenance, product waste, process failures and energy costs. This case study is an example of the importance of just that.
Castle Pumps Ltd were approached by a manufacturer of ready to drink cocktails who were looking for pumps for various stages of their cocktail production. They had already installed two pumps supplied by Castle Pumps for the transfer of flavourings, and after six months of excellent service were ready to look at all of their other transfer processes, all with differing challenges meaning differing pumps needed to be specified.
They were looking for seven pumps for the transfer of the finished cocktail products from container to container; an individual pump for each of the premixed cocktail products they offer. They also required a single pump for transferring 55 % proof alcohol that needed to be easily transportable around the plant to dispense at various locations and two pumps for handling cleaning solutions as part of their canning machines’ Clean in Place system.
The Solutions
When it comes to alcohol transfer, flexible impeller pumps are a go to pump design which is what Castle Pumps specified for the seven pumps. Firstly, they are a common cost-effective solution for food transfer applications where the fluid is not being pumped at high pressures, which this application wasn’ t. To satisfy the hygienic requirements of the manufacturer, they were specified with a food grade Neoprene impeller, compatible with the alcohol products and Tri-clover connections that meet ISO 2852 standards for hygienic couplings. Secondly when it comes to the handling of drink products, it is often important that the pump applies low shear during the transfer process, which the flexible impeller design does. This is because a pump such as a centrifugal which applies force that agitates the product can lead to frothing and the impact on taste.
For the pump required to pump the 55 % proof alcohol there were some additional requirements. The first point Castle Pumps recognised was that we needed to supply the flexible impeller pump with an ATEX motor due to the flammable nature of the fluid. In addition, dry run protection was specified to prevent any overheating to further limit the risk of potential sparks in the environment. With portability a key factor, the pump was supplied trolley mounted for ease of transportation and supplied with an inverter to allow it to be run at different speeds when transferring different quantities from different tanks.
For the two pumps that were being used to transfer cleaning chemicals, the main factor was ensuring material compatibility with the solutions in question. The pumps were also supplied with a reverse operating switch to allow retrieval of any excess chemical in the delivery hose back to the tank.
If you’ re looking for the right pump to deliver your process or perhaps have a challenging fluid you need to transfer, contact the pump exerts at Castle Pumps.
For further information, please visit www. castlepumps. com
10 PECM Issue 75