Tryton Foods, a Hull-based producer that manufacturers ranges of traditional baked foods, recently specified Watson-Marlow Bredel's SPX direct-coupled hose pumps for its latest range of apple pies.
The objective was to introduce a modern method of transferring food mixtures that would minimise damage to the product. Tryton believed that by investing in the new pumps it would not only safeguard its reputation for producing quality foodstuffs but also protected the contents of its pies.
"We have a lot of peristaltic pumps," said Gordon Lockwood, project engineer at Tryton Foods. "They're the best method of getting the job done.
"The new pumps in particular simplify transferring the apple mix from the mixing bowl to the depositor's hopper. Unlike other pump types, they also minimise damage to the product, which was one of our main considerations."
Tryton Foods introduced the SPX25 and SPX80 pumps as an efficient means of transferring apple chunks between different stages of the production process. The company has up to 80 pumps on each of its four production lines. The plant, which employs around 700 staff, is capable of producing up to 20 million Yorkshire puddings a week.
Lockwood said that the company initially considered diaphragm and volumetric pumps for the new apple pies, but opted for the protection offered by Watson-Marlow Bredel hose pumps.
"We needed a big transfer pump, so we originally tested diaphragm pumps. They were not suitable because they became blocked up. The next step was to go for large peristaltic pumps, which were chosen in favour of volumetric pumps because they minimized damage to the product."
Tryton believes that the direct-coupled design of the Watson-Marlow Bredel SPX pumps offers a simplified maintenance routine. For instance, the unique assembly enables the drive to be removed and replaced without dismantling the pumphead.
More specifically, the SPX pumps compact design means the rotor is always fully and centrally supported by its own bearings. Apart from guaranteeing automatic alignment of the pumphead and drive, this also reduces maintenance and set-up times.
Lockwood claims that the introduction of the SPX pumps has provided Tryton Foods with a modern solution to an age-old problem. "I suppose we could transport the ingredients manually," he said. "But with the Watson-Marlow Bredel pumps, it's done automatically."
Watson-Marlow is the largest manufacturer of tube and hose pumps in the world, with over one million pumps sold. The company's pumps have no valves, seals or glands, and the fluid contacts only the bore of an elastomeric hose or tube.