HAP 0921

HYDRAULICS 24 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS September 2021 www.hpmag.co.uk employees for more lucrative, primary production roles. Where high care production areas are chilled, removing waste via a simple pipeline rather than manually through doorways, will also assist in reducing energy costs as well as minimising potential contamination from external sources. Bespoke options for most challenging waste streams Where more challenging by-products need to be transported, customised solutions are available. ‘Bridging’ can be an issue with certain wastes, so the BTM pump range includes augers with a large pitch that enables the product to be conveyed into the cutting elements to ensure continuous pumping. Horizontal and vertical grinders can also be integrated, as can stone and knife traps to prevent pump damage, while dewatering devices can help to reduce waste volume even further. Finally, all BTM pump systems can be fitted with Smart Conveying Technology (SCT); an innovation from Seepex that enables Case studies Potato processor A major vegetable processing company supplying several large retailers approached Seepex for a solution to improve the efficiency of potato waste handling at its UK plant. The waste peelings and reject potatoes were being manually collected and transported by conveyor to a waste holding area. The company needed a safer, more efficient and more hygienic way to transfer the waste, so commissioned Seepex to install a BTM open hopper PC pump, sized to match the maximum daily waste volume. Within the pump hopper is an auger feed screw, which conveys both viscous and non-flowable waste through the built-in cutters and into the pumping elements of the rotor and stator. The cutting elements comprise rotating and stationary knives on the auger and pump casing, which chop the potato waste to enable to be pumped to the final disposal area. An extended hopper enables the waste to be directly fed from a tote bin-tipper. This reduces handling and the amount of waste spillage onto the floor, improving health and safety. As the site project engineer comments: “Now we hardly have to handle the waste at all – and we’ve got a closed pipeline system instead of our open conveyors.” Global food processor An automated waste handling solution from Seepex has enabled a leading manufacturer and processor of fresh convenience food to hygienically, safely and cost-effectively dispose of its waste. Over a number of years, Seepex has supplied the processor with a series of open hopper PC pumps with auger feed screws from its T range, as well as BTM pumps with integrated cutting knives, bridge breakers and extended hoppers, to chop and pump all the waste produced from fruits without stones. To handle mango stones, grape vines and other tough waste, it developed a sophisticated system incorporating an auger feed screw, a vertical cutting device and an open hopper pump. When building a new manufacturing unit, to handle coleslaw and potato salad, the company approached Seepex again, this time to engineer a bespoke automated waste handling system capable of processing both organic and non-organic waste streams. “The solution has delivered on its promises to reduce costs, reduce labour, keep our manufacturing area clean, tidy and compliant, and keep our operatives safe,” said their Engineering Manager. Poultry processor In a bid to reduce its reliance on manual handling using tote bins, one of the UK’s largest chicken processors sought an alternative solution for the handling and disposal of whole DOA birds, intestines, claws and feathers. It commissioned Seepex to install pumps from its BTM range, comprising a feed screw and compression zone fitted with rotating and stationary knives to macerate the birds, offal and other waste prior to pumping. The result has been significant cost savings in the form of energy efficiency and reduced volume for disposal, as well as an improvement in operators’ working conditions due to the removal of manual handling. Bespoke waste pumping solutions enable waste removal from high care to low risk areas. rapid dismantling and cleaning, increasing pump stator life by up to 200% and reducing maintenance time by up to 85%. Pumps fitted with SCT are also suitable for Clean-Out-of-Place (COP) or CIP. www.seepex.com