Watson-Marlow's IP66 Pump Takes The Acid Test
Part of the UCB Group, Surface Specialties’ Bridgewater facility is one of the leading proponents of cellophane production processes and is a recent testing ground for Watson-Marlow’s new 520 peristaltic pump series.
“Because of where the pumps are, they get a lot of incidental contamination from glycols, acids and alkalines,” Henry Routley, process development manager, says. Surface Specialties began trialling the 520 IP66-rated pump in February, and Henry predicts it will have an important impact on production at the Somerset plant. “The IP66 rating will improve the reliability of the pump as aggressive materials won’t be able to penetrate the inner workings,” he says. “This will mean fewer breakdowns, which is important because we need the kit to be available all the time. We’re expecting great things.”
The new 520 pump is used in the casting area of the production process to administer mixtures of chemicals or dyes that give cellophane its important surface-slip properties and colour, which are sought-after characteristics in a number of sectors, including high-speed bag making. The pump is expected to deliver a minimum flow rate of 3 litre/hr at 1% accuracy, which is especially critical for colours. Henry notes that if the circulator fails, the end product will fail to meet customers’ specifications and production time could be lost. Reliability and accuracy are therefore extremely important to Surface Specialties.
Like other Watson-Marlow pumps used in the factory, Henry believes the new 520 unit will deliver the required level of performance in what is ultimately an extremely corrosive environment. “As far as pumps go,” he says, “we opt for the best IP rating available – the less air and liquid that enters the casing, the better. Watson-Marlow gives us the performance we require, as well as flexibility, and the new 520 pump is the best unit I’ve seen to date.”
