Rigorous safety standards and 24/7 production schedules in the food & beverage industry means processing facilities need food-grade pumps and metering solutions that accurately and consistently transfer a variety of fluids at high temperatures.
But there’s more to choosing the right pump for food processing than accuracy and consistency. Food plants also need pumps and metering equipment that reduce energy usage and optimize operational efficiency to save time and money.
Finding the right food-grade pump solution that checks all of these boxes can be a tall order. We asked IPEC’s Asset Management Engineer Aryan Tamrakar to provide insight into the kind of pumps and water meters today’s food & beverage plant engineers need to ensure reliable, profitable production.
There are several challenges, but I think the big three include equipment failure, contamination, and reliability.
Pump seal failures can produce costly fluid leaks that hamper efficiency and productivity — these kinds of leaks can also contribute to contamination, which I’ll discuss in a moment. This means regular maintenance checks are required to ensure that the pumps are working well with acceptable vibration levels, which contributes to seal failures.
Contamination is another big one. This can come from fluid leaks that result in fluid accumulation on equipment, or from other airborne agents that build up on pumps or meters. Lastly, reliability — especially in terms of powering pumps — is important for consistent production. Aging pumps and meters are often a major cause of unreliable operation.
Operational reliability is a big one. Pumps must be able to run continuously and in environments where intense cleaning chemicals are used to ensure high sanitary standards. Reducing maintenance intervals — and simplifying maintenance processes — is a big part of ensuring operational reliability, as is durable engineering.
Sanitary standards are, of course, a top priority. For example, pumps and compressors that are compliant with clean-in-place (CIP) and steam-in-place (SIP) standards are important for superior facility cleanliness and sanitation. 3-A compliance is another key safety and sanitation standard that food & beverage plant engineers need to account for when managing their pump solutions.
In terms of efficiency and reliability, one of the more important considerations is choosing a food grade pump that uses as few seals as possible — this helps reduce the risk of leaks or breaks, and fewer leaks means less time and cost spent on repairs or replacement. Reducing this risk also increases efficiency by eliminating waste. We’re a proud provider of Yamada pumps, and their air-operated pumps can help food plants be much more efficient.
With flow meters, the issue can be inconsistent or imprecise transfer of liquids designed to maintain key temperatures or even help with cleaning and sanitation processes. Both of these applications demand high-pressure, high-flow fluid transfer. Meters that can’t help achieve these pressures can compromise a pump through cavitation.
First, I think being an authorized distributor and service center for brands like Yamada and Badger Meter gives us a wealth of knowledge of how to deliver the right solution to customers, whether that’s an off-the-shelf solution through our online store or a custom solution that we build. We know the challenges food & beverage producers face, and we also know how to guide them to the right pump or meter to overcome these challenges.
I also think our asset management program (AMP) helps our customers better track the performance, age, and location of their pumps. This increases visibility and transparency about the condition of their pumps or the need for maintenance or health checks. We can also test and troubleshoot pumps on-site to reduce downtime and boost productivity.
Curious about our pump and meter solutions for food & beverage processing? Contact us to learn more.