Pumps for the food industry are pumps used to transfer products from one place to another — from tanks full of corn syrup to cola beverages — and are indispensable equipment in the process of pumping raw materials for processing in the F&B industry.
What are food-grade pumps?
One of the key concerns in pumping is the risk of product damage. This is especially critical when handling high-value viscous products such as honey, milk, eggs, and cream, where any product loss can result in financial damage.
The viscosity of various fluids can be affected, leading to issues such as sauces running or separating, or unwanted agitation of dairy products. For materials containing solids — such as fruit mixtures — an unsuitable pump can easily damage the solid components, reducing quality or, at worst, destroying the very aspect of the product you are trying to preserve.
Although the physical properties and behavior of many food products are well documented, in more complex cases a thorough understanding of the food being processed is required in order to specify the right pump for both the product and the process.
Food-grade pumps are therefore pumps that, beyond meeting food safety and hygiene requirements, must also preserve the characteristics and physical form of the fluid being pumped.
Types of pumps used in the food industry
In addition to being designed to handle your specific product, food-grade pumps must meet the general requirements of food processing equipment, such as Clean-in-Place (CIP) and Sterilize-in-Place (SIP).
Depending on the range of products handled and their complexity, this may be required multiple times per day between production batches.
There are many types of pumps suitable for use in the food industry, including:
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- Food-grade centrifugal pump
- Food-grade gear pump
- Food-grade screw pump
- Food-grade diaphragm pump
- Piston pump
- Lobe pump
- Food-grade peristaltic pump
- Food-grade metering pump
- Vacuum pump
- Air blower…
In this article, Thái Khương Pumps focuses on three main pump types that are less widely covered. These are:
Food-grade screw pump
A food-grade screw pump is a positive displacement pump consisting of a helical rotor rotating inside a helical stator. These pumps are pulse-free and capable of handling high pressure (up to 24 bar), making them ideal for food industry applications that require a steady fluid flow regardless of viscosity.
Designed to the most stringent hygiene standards, food-grade screw pumps are valued for their ability to convey fluid without alteration or damage and for their steady, consistent flow. As such, they are well suited for dairy products (milk, eggs, and yogurt).
Food-grade screw pumps are also used in fruit processing, in support of agricultural food production, and in the cosmetics industry to manufacture and maintain high-quality products while complying with the latest hygiene standards.
What are the advantages of food-grade screw pumps?
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- Easy maintenance
- Can be cleaned in place (CIP)
- Capable of conveying both delicate and viscous fluids, including corrosive substances and fluids containing solids, without damaging the product
- Flow rate is proportional to running speed
Food-grade metering pump
A metering pump is a small positive displacement pump designed to deliver an accurate flow rate by drawing a specific volume of fluid into a chamber and injecting it into a container or another substance. They are driven by electric motors or pneumatic actuators and controlled by an external control system or an internal pump controller, enabling loss minimization.
Where are metering pumps used?
Metering pumps are widespread in the food sector. These food-grade pumps are valued by convenience food and bakery manufacturers for their ability to dose fluids containing particles with high accuracy at high flow rates.
In addition, food-grade metering pumps can also be used in the processing of dairy products, sugar and starch, as well as meat, fish, and animal food products.
For food applications, metering pumps are integrated into dosing or filling systems. They are designed to minimize raw material waste. Metering pumps can handle a wide range of delicate fluids with solids (up to 48 mm), making them suitable for use across several industries.
What are the advantages of food-grade metering pumps?
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- Capable of accurate dosing and waste minimization
- Can be cleaned in place (CIP)
- Does not emulsify, aerate, or shear the pumped fluid
Food-grade peristaltic pump
A peristaltic pump, also known as a hose pump, is a positive displacement pump and a type of rotary pump. It is named after the principle of peristalsis, whereby the squeezing and compression of a flexible elastic tube allows fluid to be transferred through the system.
Peristaltic pumps allow for both high- and low-pressure options, a choice between various flow rates, and the ability to run continuously or dispense smaller quantities.
Why use peristaltic pumps for the food industry?
Recognized for their gentle handling of sensitive fluids, peristaltic pumps are used in the food industry to produce puréed vegetables, blended fruits, fermented products, and many other everyday food applications.
The widespread use of hose pumps in the food sector — from fruit and vegetable processing plants to slaughterhouses — makes peristaltic pumps a widely adopted choice across all stages of food processing.
Peristaltic pumps can accommodate a wide variety of applications and can be used for virtually any type of fluid (corrosive, abrasive, delicate, or fluid with solids), making them well suited for food applications. They can be adapted to the specific needs of your operation, and because the fluid is never sheared or subjected to slippage internally, these pumps are highly appropriate for handling delicate products.
Soybean oil, fermented products, tomato purée, and much more can all be processed with this versatile pump.
What are the advantages of food-grade peristaltic pumps?
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- No mechanical seals are required to contain the fluid inside the tube, so there is no leakage
- Self-priming pump with no additional equipment required
- Capable of running at variable speeds, and can run dry without any risk of damage
- Peristaltic pumps have low lifecycle costs and are easy to maintain
Standards for food-grade pumps
To select the right dedicated food-grade pump, many factors must be taken into account. For example, pumps must meet food hygiene standards to the highest degree — a challenging requirement for pump manufacturers worldwide.
To ensure the quality of products reaching consumers, equipment installed in production areas must comply with the mandatory standards and criteria of the industry.
Design standards for food-grade pumps
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- FDA (Food and Drug Administration): U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group): European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group
- QHD: Quality Hygienic Design
- 3-A: Sanitary standards
- 3A0/3A1: Sanitary/industrial standard (Ra ≤ 3.2 µm)
- 3A2: Sterile standard (Ra ≤ 0.8 µm)
- 3A3: Sterile standard (Ra ≤ 0.4 µm)
It is essential that pumps used in food-safe systems meet both design and material standards:
Material standards for food-grade pumps
Food-grade centrifugal pumps are designed to standard specifications with an open impeller, combined with the use of CF-3M 1.4404/AISI 316L stainless steel material.
On the fluid-contact surfaces, electrochemical surface treatment is applied so that the internal molecular surface roughness is < 0.5 micron Ra.
Accompanying this, the mechanical seals must be safe during fluid circulation inside the pump — preventing, for example, air contact with the food product — and sealing materials must comply with food industry standards.
Once pumps meet these standards, they can be applied in the following food industry sectors:
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- Transfer of food fluids — with viscosity up to 1000 cp
- Dairy industry (fresh milk, UHT milk, whey, and liquid cream blends)
- Fruit and vegetable processing (concentrated juices, fruit juices and beverages, fruit wine)
- Pharmaceuticals
- Basic food fluids (hot water, purified water, cold water)
- CIP process fluids
- Other fluids.
Which food-grade pump brands are well known?
There are currently many food-grade pump lines on the market, making it difficult for customers to identify a reputable brand.
CSF — horizontal-shaft food-grade centrifugal pumps — can help you with this. CSF is designed on a modular concept. With over 29 product series, it can accommodate a wide range of customer requirements, with a broad power range and efficiency in the selection process.
The maximum allowable flow rate reaches up to 500 m³/h and pump head up to 100 m (10 bar), with high efficiency and low NPSH values.
An additional benefit for customers using CSF is that the clamp-based design makes inspection, maintenance, and servicing easier, and this design also allows the discharge port to be adjusted to any position the customer requires.
With over 29 different pump stages but only 5 seal types, the system maximizes cost savings on spare parts inventory investment.
When combined with systems that meet applicable standards, these efficient pumps are well suited for any F&B production process.
Thái Khương Pumps is honored to be an authorized distributor of reputable food-industry pump brands such as CSF, Bertoli, Doseuro…
If you need advice on new installation solutions or replacement of any existing pump, contact Thái Khương Pumps immediately for dedicated support!
