NEW EVENT! Cutting-edge Trends for Food Products at PACK EXPO Southeast
Discover all the latest packaging & processing solutions for food products at the all-new PACK EXPO Southeast in Atlanta, GA, March 10-12, 2025

Pumps and Valves Evolve to Meet Changing Needs

The latest designs ease concerns about labor availability, food safety, and sustainability, making the ubiquitous equipment easier to use and easier to clean.

Wilden Saniflo2
Photo courtesy of PSG

Food and beverage processors are being challenged by labor shortages, the threat of product recalls or losses due to contamination, and the growing demand for sustainable operations. As a result, the selection criteria are changing for the pumps and valves that are ubiquitous in nearly every processing plant.

Suppliers are evolving their products to meet these demands, with new designs that require fewer skills to operate and maintain them, can be cleaned more thoroughly, and consume less water and energy. 

“All of these market challenges, like the huge workforce reductions that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, are forcing processors to do more with less,” explains Michael David, manager of pump and heat exchange solutions for Central States Industrial (CSI). Though CSI doesn’t make pumps or valves itself, it acts as a distributor and provides installation and engineering services to the food and beverage industry. “Frankly, we’re seeing a slowdown in the uptake of new technology. Companies want to get more out of the technology they already have, and that means learning how to optimize their processes. They’re also trying to compensate for the labor they can’t get by replacing existing technology with pumps that are easier to maintain, can be cleaned automatically and faster, and can handle different product viscosities on the same production line.” 


Read article   See how the Paperless Process Recorder can replace cumbersome paper charts in a food or beverage plant.

No matter what types of pumps or valves they choose, the primary goals for processors continue to be increased productivity and reduced downtime and operating costs. The difficulty in finding skilled workers is one reason for the continuing adoption of remote monitoring technologies that can alert operators before components fail.

Moving to electric 

Graco has made significant advances with its pump lineup in an effort to provide the equipment capabilities that processors are demanding. “We’ve primarily produced pumps operated with pneumatics, but we’re now moving to electric products that reduce energy consumption and enable us to provide smarter controls as well as condition monitoring tools to deliver the feedback necessary for preventive and predictive maintenance,” explains Jeffrey Shaffer, senior product manager and North American sales manager for Graco’s Process division.

Graco’s Quantm all-electric diaphragm pumps have smarter controls, making them suited for condition monitoring.Graco’s Quantm all-electric diaphragm pumps have smarter controls, making them suited for condition monitoring.Photo courtesy of GracoThe company is introducing an entirely electric line of diaphragm pumps, the Quantm series, in the fourth quarter of this year. “This is an important technology breakthrough,” Shaffer says. “Until now, electric diaphragm pumps were big, bulky, and much more expensive than their pneumatic counterparts. These new products are as easy to service as existing Graco pumps but will greatly reduce operational costs for end users and contribute to a smarter, more sustainable facility.”

A candy and energy bar maker is using Graco’s new electric pumps to achieve better control of its production processes, which is saving on ingredients, according to Shaffer. “While the pump’s initial cost is higher, the lifetime costs will be significantly lower because it uses less energy than the pneumatic pumps,” he says. “It’s also quieter for an improved working environment. In addition, the improved control and remote monitoring capabilities mean it requires less hands-on worker involvement for maintenance if connected to a control system.”

Less maintenance

Condition monitoring is proving to be an effective tool for reducing both downtime and maintenance costs. By enabling maintenance staff to focus on tasks that prevent unplanned equipment failures, companies can significantly reduce the time and expense of routine maintenance activities that ultimately deliver little value.

A CM Connect wireless vibration monitor is attached to an Alfa Laval DuraCirc circumferential piston pump, helping operators make informed maintenance decisions.A CM Connect wireless vibration monitor is attached to an Alfa Laval DuraCirc circumferential piston pump, helping operators make informed maintenance decisions.Photo courtesy of Alfa LavalA new subscription-based condition monitoring and cloud gateway service introduced by Alfa Laval detects machine vibrations and other operating information, providing an early warning of potential equipment failure. It gives plant operators remote access to data from pumps and other rotating equipment on processing lines, including actual runtime, trend analysis, and time to next service.

Acting as a gateway communicating via Bluetooth, CM Connect can link up to 10 Alfa Laval CM wireless vibration monitors and transmit the data to the cloud for review and analysis, so operators can make informed maintenance decisions. Advanced vibration analysis enables early detection of any deviation from pre-set equipment threshold values.

Fewer resources, less waste 

Reducing resource consumption and the related waste from production and cleaning processes has become a priority, particularly among multinational corporations that have made a commitment to achieving sustainability goals, according to Jim LeClair, fluid handling commercial manager for Alfa Laval.


INTRODUCING! The Latest Trends for Food Products at PACK EXPO Southeast
The exciting new PACK EXPO Southeast 2025 unites all vertical markets in one dynamic hub, generating more innovative answers to food packaging and processing challenges. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity for your business!
REGISTER FOR $30!
INTRODUCING! The Latest Trends for Food Products at PACK EXPO Southeast