Things To Consider When Buying A Sanitary And Industrial Positive Displacement Pump

Watson Marlow 18/03/2011

96 6 minutes read

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GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR AN ESTABLISHED BRAND

Ulrich Fromm, General Manager of MasoSine Pumps, explains why it’s not worth the risk of contemplating lesser known, unproven suppliers

Q. All rotary pumps are the same, right?

A. Well, no actually. When it comes to MasoSine sanitary and industrial positive displacement pumps, the first things to consider are the unique selling points (USPs) of the range. For instance, MasoSine’s exclusive sinusoidal rotor overcomes the limitations of conventional rotary lobe pumps to produce powerful suction with low shear, low pulsation and gentle handling.

The single shaft and single sinusoidal rotor are the centerpieces of an innovative, simple design. It means there is no need for the complex timing gears and multiple seals associated with conventional rotary lobe pumps. One rotor, one shaft and one seal equate to simple and economic maintenance.

Q. But can’t this design be ‘emulated’ by competitors?
A. We have already seen copies of our pumps emerge from China and Turkey, but there are many crucial differences that classify these models as inferior. For instance, MasoSine has been refining its designs and technology since it was formed in 1961 – that’s half a century of expertise. Sure enough, there are few barriers to entry to this market, but technical know-how, brand reputation and an impressive global support network take decades to establish.

Q. In 2009 the company became Watson-Marlow MasoSine, a part of the worldwide Watson-Marlow Pumps Group – what advantages does this bring?
A. What many of the smaller competitors cannot offer is global capability, globally accepted certifications or the support infrastructure of the world’s leading positive displacement pump company – Watson-Marlow Pumps Group (WMPG).

WMPG (established in 1956) has sales companies in Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Argentina, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia and the USA, and distributes worldwide to more than 60 countries. The group’s success is created by a team of nearly 400 people around the world. Furthermore, WMPG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Spirax Sarco Engineering Group, which employs around 3,900 people globally and has been quoted on the London Stock Exchange for more than 40 years.

The fact that WMPG can offer worldwide service, spares and support for its class-leading pumps and pump components, should be great comfort for those working on a global basis for blue chip clients where end-product consistency is paramount. Many, such as those in the food industry, will have a globally agreed standard on the process equipment they use. We can offer fully certified, high quality pumps to meet the most demanding requirements.

Q. Tell me a little more about the certification process.
A. There is certainly risk associated with using a pump that hasn’t passed rigorous certification/testing. MasoSine products have attained a number of different kinds of certification. ATEX explosion-proof certification is the simplest one. Together with a third party we have made risk analyses, then modifications and lastly, test runs to confirm the results. Everything has to be documented and stored by a third party.

We also have 3-A certification, which is far more difficult to achieve. Pumps have to be designed according to specifications that change from time to time. A 3-A inspector arrives and checks everything, and the certification has to be renewed every year.

In terms of EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group) food industry certification, this has to be done with an authorised institute. In our case we do it with the University of Munich. To meet the criteria we have to make the pump according to required specifications – the university runs a standardised cleaning process, and at the end it makes a ranking of the results.

Q. Explain the technology benefits behind MasoSine products, such as low shear and superior suction.
A. The gentle, undulating contour of the unique MasoSine pump rotor transports product through the pump without compression, maintaining the product’s viscosity profile, texture, coloration and value. In terms of superior suction, we have pumps capable of pulling vacuum lifts to more than 9m (30ft) of water. SPS series pumps, for example, offer capacity up to 91.2 m³/hr and pressures up to 15 bar thanks to their heavy duty construction.

Q. And what of gentle handling and low pulsation?
A. Watson-Marlow MasoSine has set the standard for handling large and fragile particulates without damage, which is particularly important for processors in industries such as food and pharmaceuticals. Benefiting from large pumping chambers and the gentle wave action of the sinusoidal rotor, the MasoSine pump is unrivalled in its ability to preserve and maintain product integrity, and all while virtually eliminating noise from cavitation. The single rotor design maintains a constant volumetric displacement throughout the pumping cycle, providing a smooth and consistent flow profile without the pulsation spikes typically associated with conventional rotary pumps.

Additionally, Watson-Marlow MasoSine pumps have been designed to be fully maintainable in the field. With their unique design, pump overhauls can be performed in-line in minutes, bringing the pump back to ‘as new’ condition. Gone are the costly repairs associated with sending pumps back to the factory for rebuild.

Q. What other pitfalls are associated with using a pump supplier offering little field experience or legacy?
A. Choosing the correct pump supplier is such an important decision, it can literally make or break a processing operation. Make the wrong choice and you can easily be faced with problems such as high maintenance costs, plant downtime and lack of spares availability.

The collective group knowledge and applications experience is immense at WMPG. Smaller competitors are simply unable to offer the same package of products, services and support.

Potential buyers should ask a few questions before selecting a sine pump, such as: is the supplier able to offer consistent product quality with parts manufactured to ISO9001? How big is the range of pumps on offer (we offer over 71,000 standard variants)? How much do they invest in sine pump R&D (WMPG invest 3% of turnover in the MasoSine product area)?

Q. Is any other sinusoidal pump company able to offer such a wide range, and are there any plans to expand?
A. At the moment there is nobody who can match the breadth of our product portfolio. And yes, we have a lot of new projects set to extend our product range in the near future. For example, before the end of 2011 we will have a magnet driven pump, and we will also start to develop a pharmaceutical version of the MasoSine pump.

Q. Can you explain a little more about your capability for bespoke parts?
A. We can modify nearly all components. For instance, we can weld inlet and outlet nozzles in the exact positions to replace other pump systems without any other change. We can also make the pumps from different materials, or we can use customer”s own seal systems. We can have heating systems, over-pressure valves, train valves, etc. These are just a few examples. The list is almost endless.

Q. Can you offer any examples of recent successful installations?
A. We have thousands of MasoSine pumps working successfully every day, handling viscous and shear sensitive products in applications around the world.

In terms of recent examples, leading UK pie manufacturer, Pukka Pies Ltd, has lowered decibel levels (94dB to 74dB peak), reduced cycle times (20%) and cut energy consumption (660 litres less compressed air per minute) by replacing pneumatically operated air pumps with MasoSine SPS-2.5 pumps to transfer meat fillings at its headquarters in Leicestershire, where it produces over 60 million pies every year. The company needed a pump that could suck the mixture from a mixing bowl up to a depositor feed hopper, while maintaining product integrity.

Elsewhere, at the Norfolk, UK plant of confectionery manufacturer, Kinnerton, a MasoSine MR series pump was introduced to replace a gear pump that was damaging product on an Easter egg production line. An SPS series model has since been installed to support a newly installed caramel production line, and the company, which processes around 7,500 tonnes of chocolate a year, has now decided to standardise on MasoSine pumps moving forward.

And, where cavitation and noise issues initially prompted industry-leading beverage giant Halewood International to seek an alternative to its existing centrifugal pumps for decanting sugars and fruit juice concentrates from tankers arriving at its UK headquarters in Merseyside, the installation of three MasoSine SPS-4 pumps has been successful in a number of ways, not least because unloading times for sugars have been halved, and for syrups more than quartered!

Q. What advice would you give to anyone considering alternatives to MasoSine?
A. Ultimately, the importance of being part of a global, specialist pumps group should not be underestimated. There is simply no comparison to a company with just a handful of employees, a hastily prepared design, no legacy, precious little support, no or very little certification, and no capacity for customisation. Remember, all sine pumps are not the same!

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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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