HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS FEATURE
Hygienic and smart: meet the next generation food pumping solutions The 4th Industrial Revolution is changing food and drink production in the UK.
Yet however ‘smart’ a piece of equipment might be, for food and drink manufacturers safety remains their number one concern. Lesley Eaton, marketing executive for progressive cavity (PC) pump specialist SEEPEX, outlines some of the forthcoming
digital developments to improve pump performance and maintenance, and introduces a pump that goes beyond clean, without affecting product quality
P
umps are becoming more intelligent, with increased integral sensors and
connectivity. SEEPEX’s smart dosing pumps, for example, comprise a PC pump with drive and control software, as well as flow rate sensors and optional safety functions. Constant real-time feedback compares data from sensors with parameters determined for the process, and automatically adjusts the pump speed as process conditions change, reducing maintenance and increasing cost-efficiency for food and drink plant operators.
Connected pump monitors can analyse data to increase operational efficiency
MEETING TOUGH HYGIENE STANDARDS While optimising performance, reducing costs and streamlining maintenance are key targets for food and drink producers, nothing is more important than product safety. Contamination by micro-organisms such as bacteria, moulds and yeasts is an ever-present risk, meaning that effective hygiene and cleaning regimes are essential to prevent the build-up of microbes in the
MONITORING Specialised devices are available to turn pumps into intelligent field devices that continuously self-monitor. Pump monitoring systems from SEEPEX observe operational information such as flow rate, temperature and pressure in real time, recording the conditions and pump efficiency. This provides trends for performance analysis and process optimisation. Deviations from set values trigger alarms, reducing standard inspection tours and providing greater safeguards for critical production processes.
CONNECTED SERVICES By connecting pump monitors and automation equipment, data can be transferred to cloud-based online services and retrieved by the user anytime, anywhere. This connectivity is the basis for Industry 4.0 and provides the information needed to improve equipment and process performance. SEEPEX connected services compare the data received from pump monitors with previously defined operational specifications to determine deviations from optimum performance, enabling corrections to be made. The use of API (application programming interface) software can also interlink equipment from different suppliers to produce a general process overview and enable whole process optimisation.
PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE DIGITALISATION Data collected by pump monitors using bluetooth, wifi or SCADA systems can identify when maintenance is needed – predictive rather than scheduled. The SEEPEX ERP (enterprise resource planning) system then ensures the correct parts are available, even arranging shipment to site, providing a fully automated diagnostics and spare parts ordering system for customers. Service apps can provide technicians with virtual reality instructions for
pump maintenance and provide access to service and instruction manuals, spare parts lists, chat service lines and ordering systems. In addition, SEEPEX pumps have QR codes which, when scanned with a smart phone camera, uniquely identify the pump and generate a spare parts list and O&M manual if needed. Using the app, spare parts quotations can also be requested. Apps of this kind offer on-site digital solutions to provide instant operational information and simplify the supply chain.
processing environment, particularly in enclosed systems. At the same time, adherence to safety and hygiene must not adversely
affect product quality. The challenge, therefore, is designing cleaning regimes and equipment that provide the best possible hygienic solutions to ensure product safety without comprising on quality. In response to this challenge, SEEPEX has developed a new hygienic
PC pump range. The BCFH range is the first to be certified by the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) under its new testing regime. EHEDG certification guarantees residue-free cleaning at a lower temperature, with lower chemical concentration and with a shorter cleaning time than is normal for other cleaning-in-place (CIP) solutions used in the food industry. As well as giving end-users peace of mind that their closed equipment
is microbiologically clean, equipment designed to this standard typically requires 76% less cleaning time, saving on water, detergent and energy. Furthermore, thanks to their low shear action, SEEPEX’s PC pumps do not affect a product’s physical quality – even sensitive products such as yogurts, cream cheese, whipped cream or other colloidal mixes. Equally, they can efficiently pump viscous and sticky products, as well as those containing soft solids such as fruit or vegetable pieces. Whatever your pumping requirement, it is possible to ensure food
production sites are ready for the fourth Industrial Revolution by specifying a smart, connected, pump that meets the highest hygiene standards without adversely affecting product quality.
SEEPEX UK
www.seepex.com
SEEPEX’s new BCFH PC pump range meets the most stringent hygiene demands
DESIGN SOLUTIONS | JUNE 2019 43
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