ROBUST PUMP AND TUBE COMBINATION SOLVES STICKY STIUATION AT ADHESIVE FIRM

Watson Marlow 08/06/2010

151 3 minutes read

Listen to this article

When Prelok encountered problems using both impeller and diaphragm pumps to circulate adhesive coating fluids at its Willenhall plant in the West Midlands, this specialist in the application of pre-applied locking and sealing processes for threaded components, turned to 521 Series pumps from Watson-Marlow. Used in combination with Gore Style 400 high resilience tubing, the solution overcame problems caused by previous pumps of damaging the fluid, or of the fluid damaging the pump.

Prelok provides a range of high specification pre-applied thread locking and sealing products that are used throughout the automotive, IT, construction and telecommunications sectors. Established in 1969 in the West Midlands, Prelok now has additional facilities in France, Spain and Germany that help generate annual turnover in the region of £7.5 million. The company can process threaded components that range from miniature items for mobile communications through to M30 bolts used in bridge construction.

“Our strengths lie in our ability to help customers source or manufacture quality components, quickly processing them and providing logistic solutions,” says Andy Jones, Site Services Manager and Maintenance Co-ordinator at the 75-employee company. “When we have a problem in production we apply all of our energies into finding a rapid and suitable solution.”

One such problem involved a process that re-circulates adhesive coating fluids prior to application. These fluids can be water- or solvent-based with the exact make-up dependent upon customer requirements.

“The problem focused on micro capsules that are suspended in the adhesive coating fluid,” explains Mr Jones. “We found that the impellor type pumps damaged the capsules, while a subsequently installed diaphragm pump could not work with the sometimes small amount of fluid that is present.
Furthermore it was hard to get the specific diaphragm material which is resistant to some of the aggressive chemicals we use.”

Fortunately Mr Jones recalled using Watson-Marlow peristaltic technology successfully in another process. In peristaltic pumping operations, nothing but the hose or tube touches the fluid, eliminating the risk of the pump contaminating the fluid, or the fluid contaminating the pump. Fluid is drawn into the pump, trapped between two rollers and expelled. The complete closure of the tube gives the pump its positive displacement action, preventing backflow and eliminating the need for check valves when the pump is not running.

A Watson-Marlow 521 Series pump was duly installed at Prelok’s Willenhall factory where it successfully overcame the previous problems encountered. So impressive was its performance that the company now has a total of four 521 Series pumps at Willenhall, with a further four dotted across its European operations. All of the units utilise an inverter to control speed, and all run continuously throughout the entire production period. Despite this demanding workload Mr Jones says that maintenance tasks extend to no more than “spraying some lubricant on the rollers and springs every now and again”.

Easier Cleaning
One final problem remained, however. The aggressive nature of some of the chemicals used within Prelok’s adhesive coating fluids meant that the Marprene and Tygon tubing deployed initially exhibited short working life leading to short life and sometime ruptured tubes.

“Since switching to the Watson-Marlow peristaltic pumps this at least meant it was easier to clean and get the process up and running again, however, it was still an issue we needed to resolve,” says Mr Jones. “I contacted Watson Marlow about alternative tube materials and our local sales engineer sent me a sample pack of different tubing material for me to immerse in our fluid to test. He followed up with a site visit and suggested we use a new type of pumphead (with quick release couplings) and Gore Style 400 tubing to trial.
So far we haven’t had a tubing rupture in the months it has been running.”

While chemicals will attack most other types of tubing, the secret behind the resilience of GORE Style 400 is Viton® GF-600S, a peroxide-cured fluoroelastomer based on DuPont advanced polymer architecture. Performance testing shows that Style 400 tubing offers greater than 50 times longer life than conventional non-reinforced extruded tube. Thanks to its expanded PTFE reinforcement, the new tubing also offers superior burst resistance to protect against the swelling effect produced when pumping aggressive chemicals using standard extruded tube.

Contact Details About Us Latest News Latest Videos

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

Watson-Marlow to showcase Bredel CIP pump and next-generation fluid handling at PPMA 2025

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions (WMFTS) will unveil the latest Bredel CIP pump and its portfolio of next-generation fluid management technologies...
Watson-Marlow launches new Bredel CIP pump for beverage producers at drinktec

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions (WMFTS) is launching its latest innovation for the brew and beverage market; the Bredel CIP pump,...
Bredel Hose Pump Solves Ash Slurry Problem at Biomass Plant

A Bredel 100 hose pump with an NR Transfer hose has been installed at a biomass power station in Pécs,...
Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions introduces WMArchitect Interchangeable Parts for robust single-use assemblies

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions (WMFTS) has introduced WMArchitect Interchangeable Parts to improve the longevity of single-use assemblies. The introduction brings...
Watson-Marlow to Exhibit Peristaltic Pump and Fluid Path Technologies in London Biotechnology Show Debut

Watson-Marlow to Exhibit Peristaltic Pump and Fluid Path Technologies in London Biotechnology Show Debut Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions (WMFTS) will...
German Waste-to-Energy Plant Prolongs Hose Life Using Bredel NR Transfer Hoses

Abfallverbrennungs- und Biokompost GmbH (AVBKG), the German waste processing plant, has achieved significant hose maintenance and hose life savings. Based...