THERE are dramatic changes in the use of modern thermo plastics to produce pump products for the food and beverage industry which are better, lighter and cheaper.
As the applications for engineered plastics broaden, so does the materials’ capability allow increased corrosion resistance, higher strength, improved abrasion resistance.
These factors will continue to open up even more opportunities for the use of plastics as a major material in pumps for food and beverage handling.
Originating in development projects from companies like DuPont, and originally financed by the US Aerospace Program, new materials such as UHMW polyethylene, Halar and Ryton enable the handling of materials that were previously pumped with exceptionally expensive stainless steel pumps.
Thus the use of plastics has been able to bring the cost of the handling of those exotic, and either abrasive or corrosive chemicals, down substantially.
The introduction of siliconised graphite and ceramic as a sealant material, combined with the use of 316 stainless steel with titanium and hastaloy C, has produced a combination that provides the ability of pumps like the Aussie poly pump range to pump almost anything.
One of the big advantages of course is in cost savings through the injection mouldings coming out perfect, first time every time, without needing to be extensively hand finished by filing or polishing to get efficiencies up.
In other words, the key efficiency component i.e. impeller and guide vane, come out perfect every time.
Material costs are also reduced, delivery time cut and rejects almost entirely eliminated.
High performance centrifugal pumps moulded from tough thermo plastics are ideal for handling demineralised water, soft drink waste, vinegars, brine, wine and similar products.
The only limitation on the use of plastic pumps is high temperature applications and extra high-pressure applications where case burst pressure are an issue and exceptionally abrasive applications.
With the resources of the international petrochemical industry, hard at work producing new plastics, there is no doubt the next five years will see dramatic changes in the evolution of pumps suitable for food and beverage applications.
Australian Pump Industries
(02) 9894 4144
wlorenz@aussiepumps.com.au
www.aussiepumps.com.au