PUMPS, VALVES & ACTUATORS
CLEAN-IN-PLACE WITHOUT COMPROMISE
In this Q+A, Steffen Knoedler, Global Business Development Manager - Food & Beverage at WMFTS, says the Bredel CIP pump is setting a new standard for sanitary pumping applications
n industries such as food and beverage, cosmetics and pharmaceutical where hygiene is non-negotiable, clean-in-place (CIP) systems are essential. But for breweries, finding a pump that meets all CIP demands – cleanliness, high fluid velocity, chemical resistance, and long hose life – has been a challenge.
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That is changing with the introduction of the Bredel CIP pump from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions (WMFTS) – a breakthrough in peristaltic pump technology engineered specifically to meet stringent CIP demands with correct fluid velocity and extended hose life.
Q. Why has WMFTS launched the Bredel CIP pump, and what are its capabilities? A. When we talked to engineering companies who design systems and solutions for breweries, they said the velocity requirement for CIP is 2.5m per second and it is becoming something their customers will not compromise on.
No hose pump in the world without a CIP feature can provide the 2.5m per second, so the engineering companies have always had to make a compromise.
But this is not the case with the Bredel CIP pump which has a new rotor to enable users to achieve the CIP cleaning velocity requirements. Automatic retractable shoes for cleaning allow the pump to be cleaned at the required fluid velocity. By retracting the shoes during cleaning, hose compressions within the CIP cycle at high temperatures are eliminated, which extends hose life and reduces costs of replacing hoses.
Also, the chemical composition in CIP, especially acid, has gone up in the last few years which is more aggressive to the hose. On some customer sites, we have seen hose life reduced by half due to the chemical combination with the temperature and the force on the hose when running CIP. But Bredel hose pumps support efficient
processes by enabling easy maintenance and maximising uptime – ideal for applications requiring CIP.
The Bredel CIP pump - available in sizes 20 (up to 600 L/h), 25 (up to 1800 L/h) and 32 (3200 L/h) - is capable of automated CIP, which makes it unique.
Q. Is there such a thing as the perfect pump for CIP applications, whether in the brewery, or other food and beverage facilities and sanitary applications?
With CIP, there are two challenges for pumps. The first challenge is whether the pumps are really clean after CIP. Diaphragm pumps are never clean after CIP due to their internal design. Progressive cavity pumps are the same because they have the U joint and dead-end spots which are not always clean after CIP.
As there are no dead spots or hidden areas with hose pumps like Bredel CIP pumps, they are clean after CIP.
The second challenge is velocity. Every process or market requires a certain water velocity through the pump. In the food and beverage industry it is between 1.2m and 1.5m per second water velocity.
With a regular standard hose pump, the hose is clean after CIP, but we were never able to tick the box of velocity because the hose pump cannot run that fast due to its design. But with the Bredel CIP pump, there is an open hose and the water coming from the CIP supply can run through the pipe system and through the pump with the required velocity. With the Bredel CIP pump, not only is it clean but it can also achieve the high flow
12 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 | PROCESS & CONTROL
because it doesn’t squeeze the hose anymore. This is a huge advantage of the Bredel CIP.
If it’s not a CIP pump design, another disadvantage is hose life. The hose life is reduced because of the temperature combined with the chemicals. The CIP temperature is always above 80°C. Just the water at that temperature causes damage to the hose. The hose life reduces tremendously due to the high temperature in combination with the compressions and the chemicals. But with the Bredel CIP there aren’t any compressions, there isn’t force on the hose because the pump stands still, and the water just runs through the pump. This increases the hose life compared to standard hose pumps and is a big advantage in CIP applications.
Q. What are the key factors in selecting a CIP pump for a brewery, and what should you consider for an upgrade?
What matters is whether you can get your required velocity and increased hose life. For example, if the CIP system provides 5000l to the standard hose pump, and the pump is running at its speed but can only handle 2000l, there will be 3000l of water left over. A bypass valve ensures the water that cannot go through the pump will go through the remaining system but it requires additional controls, valves and a small pipe system. But with the Bredel CIP pump, the user can stop the pump, reverse it, and with the open hose 5000l can flow through the pump, and a piping system is not needed. This saves an engineering company money and time, and
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