Pumps pastes and other high viscosity products

Transferring products such as peanut butter, shaving cream, petroleum jelly, yeast extracts and mascara, present special challenges across many process applications in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In some cases operators revert to manual handling solutions due to the limitations of some pumping systems and this can result not only in waste issues but those of a health and safety nature.

Liquids handling specialist, Pump Engineering, offers a CSF piston pump mounted in the centre of a follower plate which fits into a drum and seals against the inside of the drum. Two pneumatic cylinders force the plate onto the top of the product and as the pump empties the drum, the plate is drawn downwards keeping the inlet of the pump full of the product. A rubber seal on the follower plate effectively wipes the side of the drum as it travels downwards, sealing it and ensuring that very little product is wasted.

The pumps are available as quick-strip versions for easy cleaning without the need for tools. For lower viscosity liquids, a long version of the pump is available for emptying tanks, drums and IBCs which features a special bag-in-drum inlet which prevents the plastic drum lining used in some industries being drawn into the pump.

CSF piston pumps are air-operated and, depending on the model, will deliver flowrates to 100L/min with pressure ratios to 20 to 1. Materials of construction are AISI 304 or 316 stainless steel with Viton, nitrile or PTFE seals.