Fluids Handling

Steel wheel manufacturer selects Watson Marlow Qdos Metering Pumps

Watson Marlow 28/01/2014

175 2 minutes read

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Qdos 30 pumps used to help automate water treatment unit at wheel factory
Qdos chosen over diaphragm metering pumps based on rigorous trials
High accuracy characteristics deliver impressive results

After a comprehensive evaluation and trial period, the Russian plant of steel wheel manufacturer, Mefro Wheels, has opted to use the latest Qdos 30 metering pumps from Watson-Marlow Pumps Group at its facility in Togliatti.

Selected ahead of diaphragm metering pumps, the Qdos 30 pumps have been fully integrated into a complex process control system at the plant’s water treatment unit.

With over 4000 employees and a turnover of circa €500 million, Mefro Wheels GmbH operates nine plants worldwide, including two in Russia. As a group, it produces more than 20 million car wheels, 3.5 million truck wheels and 1.5 million wheels for tractors, agricultural and construction machinery every year.

Automated operation

The Togliatti facility, which is located some 800 km east of Moscow, was acquired by Mefro from established Russian car manufacturer Autovaz in 2011. Seeking to impart greater levels of automation at the factory, Mefro began to consider peristaltic pump technology for its water treatment unit.

In 2012, a presentation of Qdos 30 metering pumps was delivered by Sergey Davidyan, Sales Engineer at Watson-Marlow, after which commenced an intensive period of demonstration and testing on site at Togliatti.

“After careful product consideration, together with colleagues from Camozzi Pneumatics [an Italian manufacturer of pneumatic components with responsibility for automating the wheel fabrication shop], a decision was made to use Qdos 30 pumps with ReNu pumpheads in our water treatment unit,” says a spokesman at Mefro. “The Qdos 30 pumps proved to be excellent both in the demonstration tests and in day-to-day operation.”

High quality

Being a German wheel manufacturer, Mefro has high expectations in terms of pump reliability, metering accuracy and performance characteristics, along with ease of integration, operation and maintenance. Fortunately, the Qdos specification matches up to the most rigorous of demands.

For instance, the pumps deliver a flow range from 0.1 to 500 ml/min, and 7 bar, while integrating easily through IP66 manual, analogue and PROFIBUS control options.

Featuring patented ReNu pumphead technology which is fully contained for safe, tool-free maintenance. Furthermore, the pump’s metering accuracy clearly caught the eye of Mefro engineers.

“When compared with some manufacturers of metering pumps, including diaphragm types, we were surprised by the high accuracy characteristics declared in the brochure,” says the Mefro spokesman. “However, following operational measurements, these characteristics were substantiated completely.”

Impressive performance

The Qdos 30 pumps have now been running at Togliatti for over six months. The pumps operate at low flows, with the performance based on process requirements, these vary within a range from 3 to 5 litres per hour.

The discharge pressure is determined by the piping length and height to which the liquid is pumped, and is approximately 4 bar. To control performance, a current analogue signal of 4-20mA is transmitted from the central control unit to the input of the Qdos 30 pump.

“It is particularly gratifying that no ReNu pumpheads have been replaced for the entire period of being in service, despite almost constant operation since the time of commissioning,” concludes the spokesman.

For more information contact Watson-Marlow Pumps Group, Falmouth, Cornwall.

Tel: 01326 370370 E-mail: Heather.Beale@wmpg.com Web: www.wmpg.co.uk

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Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

01326370370
info@wmftg.co.uk
https://www.wmfts.com/
Bicklandwater Road, Falmouth Business Park, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4RU GB

About us

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) peristaltic tube and hose pumps meet requirements including: value for money; low cost of ownership; reliability and ease of maintenance to the food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, mining and many other industries.

We demonstrate how pumps deliver significant process efficiencies over the lifetime of the equipment. Whether performing flavouring addition in food processing, chemical metering in water treatment or mineral recovery, we have a solution which can cut pump downtime and reduce costs through higher accuracy metering and transfer. WMFTG has dedicated application engineers available to help customers make the right pump and tubing choice from a range providing microlitres per minute to 80 cubic metres per hour flow rates.

The only part of the pump to come into contact with the product is the tube or hose. This means there are no seals or valves that can wear or fail. Replacing the tube or hose can be performed quickly and safely. Peristaltic pump benefits include:

Total fluid containment with no seals No ancillaries Handle viscous and abrasive slurries and sludge Self-priming capability Dry running without damage to the pump In addition to their range of positive displacement pumps, Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group has added PTFE-lined chemical and industrial hoses to their range. Aflex hoses are reinforced to withstand the most severe conditions and use.

Where we supply to

Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America

Industries we supply to

Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater

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