UPGRADING its starch drying process with the introduction of a refurbished Larox pressure filter has paid off for a local food producer. By achieving a more efficient filtration, production has been increased while operating and maintenance costs have been reduced.
In late 2000, food producer Weston Bioproducts - in conjunction with filtration company Larox, undertook an upgrade of a Larox PF35 pressure filter.
The filter, built in 1994, was previously used in the mining industry and required total refurbishment before being installed to filter modified starches for Weston Bioproducts.
After a five month refurbishment, the filter was installed at Westons' Melbourne plant where it presses liquid from modified starches, taking them from slurry to cake form and washing out impurities to enable use in food production.
According to Wayne Turner, general manager of operations, the filter has dramatically improved the productivity of the starch drying process.
"Before the installation of the Larox filter, initial dewatering of the liquid with our old rotary vacuum filters was giving us a cake of 58% solids. After dewatering with the refurbished filter we are now achieving around 68%," Turner said.
"When the cake leaves the filter it goes through a flash dryer to remove any remaining moisture. Having a cake with a higher proportion of solids means that it requires less time in the dryer, resulting in lower energy costs and faster throughputs of starch. Our total drying capacity has increased by 50%."
"Our first Larox filter was installed in our NSW plant. We knew what a difference the filter made to our operations, so when that plant closed down in 1977, we decided to move it to our Queensland plant and refurbish two more Larox filters for our other plants in Melbourne and Perth," he said.
Twelve months after the Melbourne installation, with operating and maintenance costs reduced and productivity increased, Turner is happy with his company's decision to refurbish and install another Larox filter.
"To manufacturers, productivity and efficiency are paramount. We need machines and after-sales support that we can rely on. We already knew the value of Larox filters prior to purchasing another machine for refurbishment, but the expertise and service offered by Larox on this job has confirmed that we made the right decision." Larox 02 9910 6402.