What are Food Grade Pumps?
Throughout the food and beverage industry, food pumps are used to mix, transfer, and dose fluid and semi-fluid substances during processing and production. This most commonly occurs in the form of oils that are used in the processing of food but does have select other applications as well. In order to prevent contamination from food and bacteria buildup, food processing pumps are made of food-grade materials and have smooth surfaces.
Despite the need for these pumps, they are not one size fits all. Pumps are built to different specifications to fit specific needs as efficiently as possible. Things are not likely to go very well for you if you use the wrong pump for the job. Most likely your pump will quickly break, or your process will go much slower than intended. Neither of which is the desired outcome. All that complication and that doesn’t even scrape the surface of how regulations will affect what you need as well.
It is possible to find several types of food pumps on the market. However, not all of them are suitable for food and beverage use. First off, a food-safe pump should be made from materials that can be easily sterilized. The applies even to the housing as well as seals and gaskets. For lubricating the pump, only food-grade lubricants should be used.
In addition to complying with regulatory requirements, your pump should be designed to handle the type of product being pumped. In order to process thicker materials like corn syrup, food processing pumps must have larger clearance between internal components. For yogurt or pie filling, you need a food pump that can provide a gentle flow without damaging the fruit. As you can see there are a lot of variables to consider when purchasing a food pump for your business.
Strainer: Another Key Factor
After pumps, another critical component of the food pump system is strainers. In the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, sanitary strainers are used to separate large particles from smaller particles. To ensure the purity of the consumable products, these strainers must also maintain a 3A Certification.
Strainers should be easy to install and clean. Keeping up with their maintenance is important because if a strainer is clogged, it will quite literally back up production. And vice versa, if one breaks, then you are at risk of creating a bad product or creating a less than ideal situation for the rest of the system. Damage could occur in other parts of the assembly because of stray particles that find their way through the system. The time investment required to find industry-standard strainers is well worth it. Being able to operate stress-free with confidence in your system is a priceless advantage to have in the workplace.
Maintaining High Standards
To keep your business professional, it’s important to be equipped with top-of-the-line equipment that meets industry standards. Not only do you benefit from the efficiency and reliability, but you’re also staying up to the required codes and regulations as well.
So if you’re in the food processing industry, go take a look at your gear. It may be time to upgrade. If it is, make sure you find professional food processing equipment from a vendor you can trust.