Industrial Pumps and Pump Solutions for the Food and Beverage Industry
From food processing pumps for ready-to-use products to pumps necessary for irrigation and food crops, to wastewater pumps, or the pumps used for cooling in the storage and transportation of food and beverages — pumps play an integral role in the food and beverage industry.
Pumps for the Food and Beverage Industry
Not all pumps are created equal when it comes to food processing and the food and beverage industry.
Depending on the use case, you may need to utilize specific pump technologies and systems. Production requirements will need to be addressed in the selected pump. For example, there is a difference between the pumps used in process engineering for the food and beverage industry and those that come in direct contact with food products. Pumps that handle or contact these products must meet minimum safe requirements and have a hygiene-compliant design. These pumps are called hygienic pumps.
Standard industrial pumps can often be used for process engineering, as support for food and beverage manufacturing. However, due to the pace of work and the challenges in the industry, special care should be taken in selecting any pump for the manufacture of food or beverages. Due to the exacting nature of the processes and products involved, pumps should be selected for the product needs (for example, to prevent damage to the products) or designed for the application and conditions.
Factors to consider when looking at food pumps and pumps for beverage manufacturing include:
I’d Like to Learn More About Food and Beverage Pumps
- Reliability and uptime for the system. Food and beverage manufacturing is a critical industry, and significant downtime can put food sources at risk.
- Precision of the pumps. Measurements and dosing/filling for food products and beverages often require zero tolerance for error.
- Requirements of the product. Depending on the product, the pump may need a sterilize in place (SIP) or clean in place (CIP) between batches, and the pump should support these requirements.
- Managing texture and viscosity. Handling these qualities is not only necessary for the manufacturing processes, but also the quality of the products.
- Interaction within the production process. The ingredients and materials used in food processing also have specific requirements, and the pumps should prevent contamination or product damage.
- The nature of the materials being handled. Powders, solids, liquids, oils, pastes, and more are all used in food processing. The right pump is needed to maintain the integrity of the materials and prevent damage to the pump.
- Protecting the product being pumped. With some materials, such as creams, honey, and other delicate products, special care should be taken with processing.
- The chemical composition of the materials. Some food and beverage products may have a higher acidity, for example, which could cause potential damage to the pump.
Before selecting a pump for the food and beverage industry, it’s critical to consult with an expert to ensure the pump you use delivers reliable and consistent performance with minimal downtime.
A Complete Solution for Food Processing and Liquid Food Pumps
OTC Industrial Technologies and its brands provide a complete, turnkey, and end-to-end solution for food and beverage pumps and pump systems. By staying ahead of the latest trends and technologies in the food and beverage manufacturing industry, OTC and its brands are the solution providers of choice for their customers. Contact OTC for the following:
- Full-service food and beverage pump distributor: OTC and its brand companies work with leading pump manufacturers, providing you access to the best food and beverage pumps and pump solutions. Pick and choose from the best for your facility.
- Predictive maintenance: A staff of skilled and experienced professionals across the country is available to analyze and prevent catastrophic failure to ensure your pumps work optimally throughout the life of the machine. Prevent problems before they happen.
- Field services and repair: Whether scheduled or in an emergency, OTC provides repair services to get you up and running. That includes failure analysis and repair estimates for the most demanding work.
- Fabrication and custom work: OTC’s welding and fabrication team offers the highest quality work. For reverse engineering and experience in design build solutions for the food and beverage industry, look to OTC for innovative custom solutions to your unique challenges.
- Installation and training: As a turnkey solution for food and food processing pumps, OTC can do performance quality and load testing before installation, then set up your new pump on site and provide additional training as needed.
Learn more by contacting OTC today for a no-obligation meeting to discuss your needs, goals, and challenges.
Experience Matters for Food Pumps and the Food and Beverage Industry
By providing current solutions for leading food and beverage manufacturers, leveraging best practices, technology, and innovation, OTC has the expertise, experience, and resources to deliver solutions for you. That experience makes a difference for manufacturers.
Want to learn more? Download our portfolio of recent case studies and work in the food and beverage manufacturing industry.
