If you are in the food service industry then you know how important food grade pumps are to your operation. You use these pumps daily to serve food and manage all types of food handling equipment. If you don’t like spending money, then don’t use food grade pumps. These pumps have to be consistently cleaned and sanitized because they are used day after day and night after night. This translates to more money spent cleaning and sanitizing them.
Food Transfer Pumps are needed to meet sanitary standards, ensuring the entire transfer unit is safe, not only the seals. That means the entire pump is made of a high-density metal like Stainless Steel AISI 316L, an alloy that has a superior finish for the internal pump surfaces. Internal parts of food transfer pumps are usually stainless steel. Internally the pump body is made of plastic. The entire system needs to be sanitized to prevent the spread of food borne illnesses.
Cleaning and sanitizing food grade pump systems has two major goals. The first is to reduce the breeding and development of bacteria and other biological hazards in the pump and to prevent contamination of the finished product. The second goal is to maintain the viscosity of the inside of the pump. The higher the viscosity, the harder it is for liquids to penetrate and the slower the flow rate through the pump. Foods and medical products that need to be maintained in high flow state will typically need to have these two features included in their design.
Cleaning and sanitizing food transfer pumps is achieved using conventional cleaners. For smaller units or single machines, detergent and water can often do the job just fine. However, if you have a large, heavy, or very hot food mixing or pumping system then a better sanitary option is a sanitizer cleaning agent. In most cases, the cleaning agent will be a combination of pH stabilizers, enzymes, and other sanitary enhancing agents.
Once you have the equipment clean, sanitized, and working properly, the next step in maintaining your food grade pumps and their components is to store them in the proper storage conditions. There are several different storage techniques that should be used for food grade pumps. The first, and probably easiest is to keep the pumps in a cool, dry, and well ventilated area. Food and chemicals can interact and build up over time in a warm, moist atmosphere. This can compromise both the performance and longevity of your pumps.
Another technique for storing food grade pumps safely is to keep them inside a food cabinet. Depending on the specific pump you own, it may be possible to get the appropriate cabinet for the job. The food cabinet is a full range sanitizing and conditioning unit that keeps the unit at a constant temperature and will keep it free of dirt, debris, and other potential sources of contamination. These cabinets are available in both residential and commercial configurations and are extremely hygienic and safe.
Finally, you can store your food grade pump either indoors or outdoors. While an indoor pump can be brought into use fairly easily and usually remains operational for quite some time, an outdoor pump can be more susceptible to the effects of the weather. Food and chemicals can become stagnant and may begin to rot in outdoor conditions such as poor air circulation, uncovered hoses, and lack of ventilation. Food processing plants often have their own dedicated outdoor drying lines, so be sure to have a similar setup indoors. Also, the potential exposure to moisture can affect the condition of your pump. For this reason, it may be a good idea to store your food pump outdoors and to cover it with a cover, like those designed for food processing equipment.
As you can see, there are several different options when it comes to sanitary pumping solutions. It is important to understand the differences between each type and ensure that all equipment is appropriately certified for use. Only then can you be confident that your food grade pump will work as it is designed to. There are plenty of suppliers online who specialize in cleaning and conditioning units like these and can help you determine exactly which units will work best for your needs. If you need more information about food grade pumping and other sanitary pumping solutions, talk to a food manufacturing equipment specialist today!