Adhesive specialist switches from progressive cavity pumps to peristaltic pumps
Incessant wear, clogging and seal changes that resulted in high periods of downtime have seen Poland-based adhesive manufacturer Zaklad Chemiczny Pawel Paprocki switch from the use of progressive cavity pumps in its production processes, to peristaltic hose pumps from Bredel.
Screw pump frustration
Zaklad Chemiczny Pawel Paprocki is one of the largest manufacturers of adhesives and raw materials for the production of glue and paint in Poland. The company produces more than 30,000 tons of raw material every year. The company uses pumps for metering products, such as Caviol® or Winakar® PW-50, with viscosities varying from a few to tens of thousands millipascal-seconds (mPas). However, chemical compatibility between the constituent parts of the adhesive were causing the company’s pumps to wear, resulting in clogging and production downtime. Additionally the frequency of seal changes became problematic.
As a result, the decision was taken to change the progressive cavity pumps to Bredel 80 peristaltic hose pumps due to their significantly lower maintenance and spares costs. These seal-less, valve-less hose pumps offer highly accurate, reliable, low maintenance metering, dosing and transfer capability - right across the full range of viscosities.
The inherent design of Bredel hose pumps means there are no intrusions in the flow path, eliminating any risk of blockages. The pumped substance only contacts the reinforced, chemical-resistant hose, making them particularly suitable for handling problematic fluids such as those with a high viscosity and fluids containing abrasives or with high solids content, for example.
Rigorous trials
Before purchasing the pumps, immersion tests were performed with the Bredel hose. The tests lasted 168 hours, and confirmed that the hose materials were resistant to the chemicals found in the fluids which Zaklady Chemiczne Pawel Paprocki intended to meter. Next, Watson-Marlow provided a Bredel 80 pump for on-site trials, to check flow rates, pipe runs and pressures in the process. The trial led to the purchase of three Bredel 80 models.
"If we are confident that a pump will perform in a specific application we often agree to on-site trials by the client since it is the best proof of quality and performance," concludes Rafal Lydzinski, Sales Manager at Watson-Marlow in Poland.
