An energy-efficient solution to pump cream

A E Rodda and Son has been making Cornish clotted cream since 1890 and today it still maintains many traditional methods of manufacturing. The company led the way in campaigning to get protected status for Cornish clotted cream and in 1998 it was awarded Protected Designation of Origin status, along with the likes of Champagne and Parma ham.

 

In 2012, Rodda’s installed a MasoSine SPS 200 sine pump as part of a new clotted cream line, and its reliable performance impressed the maintenance team so more recently, when it was installing a new depositing machine at its factory, its previous success with a MasoSine pump from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) made it return to the company for a solution to transfer a range of double and single cream products from mobile storage tanks to the hopper of the new depositing machine. An energy-efficient Certa 100 was recommended for this application.

 

“We were in the process of investing in a new depositing machine, which essentially deposits cream into a pot and seals it with a lid, so we needed to look for a suitable pump to transfer the product from mobile storage tanks,” explained Paul Johnson, maintenance supervisor at A E Rodda and Son. “Since installation of the MasoSine pump six years ago we have had virtually no maintenance issues with the SPS 200; it has basically looked after itself. Importantly, the pump does not damage or compromise product integrity, which is crucial to our production process.”

 

This same approach was needed for the new pouring cream production facility – low shear, low pulsation and gentle handling. “Using a centrifugal pump, for example, would effectively churn the cream into something like butter,” said Johnson. “A sine pump was clearly the way forward and we were keen on the new Certa from WMFTG, especially because of its energy-efficiency attributes.”

 

Unlike traditional pumps with rotors that cut through the fluid, Certa’s sinusoidal rotor gently carries product through the pump to reduce shear, while cutting power consumption by up to 50% when moving high-viscosity fluids. Further advantages delivered by sinusoidal technology include virtually no pulsation, simplicity, reliability, interchangeable parts and low cost of ownership.

 

Watson-Marlow’s technical team advised A E Rodda and Son that the smallest pump in the Certa range, the Certa 100, would meet their requirements as it delivers the required  flow rate of up 4,200 l/hr.

 

The process sees a mobile storage tank wheeled up to the depositing machine, where upon the Certa 100 transfers cream from one to the other. The pump is mounted low, facilitating a head of 2m into the machine’s hopper. No priming is required.

 

Offering EHEDG (Type EL Class I and EL Aseptic Class I) and 3A certification as standard, the Certa is also designed to be easy to clean with minimal downtimes. 

 

“We’ve had the MasoSine Certa 100 for around 12 months now and there have been no issues whatsoever,” reported Johnson. “Moreover, the pump is quiet and has proven to be extremely energy efficient. From experience we have learnt that it is three times more expensive to run a pneumatic pump than an electric pump.”