As an exporter of pumps, pressure systems and swimming pool and spa bath pumps, Davey Water Products is accustomed to seeing its products used in some unusual applications and locations around the globe.
Chilling Ireland’s draught beers and the increasing volume of Irish beer being consumed in Europe is one of the more unusual applications.
Since its foundation about 1972 Kilkenny Cooling Systems based in Kilkenny, Ireland has been a long term purchaser of Davey pumps.
Kilkenny Cooling which was founded by Paddy Smee and now has a substantial manufacturing plant in a local enterprise park commenced as a stainless steel fabricator producing refrigerated bulk milk storage vats for local dairy farmers.
And a Davey Dynaflo electric pressure pump was its preferred choice for the refrigeration system and as Paddy Smee points out the vat usually wore out before the Davey pump did.
In recent years Kilkenny Cooling has expanded its product range drawing upon its expertise in both stainless steel fabrication and pumping.
Key products today include horse spas for the recreation and competition horse sector as well as the beer chiller units.
The latter for instance is a self contained cooling unit available in three different capacities which ensures that Ireland’s top draught beers are served at just the right temperature, which is fractionally on the warmer side of Australia’s draught beer serving temperature.
Kilkenny’s patented beer chiller units are self contained units employing two Davey column pumps which cool beer before it goes to the dispensing taps.
Kilkenny’s design includes flip-flop control that enables each pump to alternate cooling duty. This prevents the stand by pump seizing due to inactivity.
The beer chiller systems, developed to meet the needs of Ireland’s breweries range from a junior model designed for small to medium sized bars and restaurants up to the Miniflex model which suits low volume outlets with time demand and can accommodate up to 16 beer dispensers.
Top of the Kilkenny range is the Multiflex beer chiller designed for large volume outlets with the ability to handle from twelve to 48 dispensing taps.
The Davey column pump supplied is a unique 240 volt single phase electric pump which is designed without mechanical seals to alleviate problems with fluid pumping.
The column pump and its extension shroud are made with a tough corrosion proof polypropylene cover while the reliable internal components include the pump shaft which is made from 316 grade stainless steel.
Ever mindful for a new product opportunity Paddy Smee and Kilkenny Cooling have recently introduced a horse spa which helps alleviates problems of muscle soreness and structural problems with competition horses.
The chosen pump here is a Davey powermaster pool pump which fills, circulates and empties the chilled salt water within a stainless steel stall which accommodates the horse while it undergoes its treatment. A Davey spaquip blower helps aerate the water to speed the treatment.
Ashley White Davey’s market manager says that the company’s pumps are at work at almost all corners of the globe.
“We have had a long term pump supply arrangement with Paddy and his Kilkenny Cooling Company is one of the new breed of innovative manufacturing businesses in the Irish economy today”.