01 MAY 2009
In the April 2009 issue, GEA Tuchenhagen US President Dave Medlar took part in a Q&A session with James Dudlicek from Dairy Food Magazine/Dairy Field Reports and other industry professionals.
Processing & Operations: Practically Invisible
by James Dudlicek
April 1, 2009
Pumps and Valves Q&A
What’s the best pump or valve for a dairy plant? The one a processor doesn’t even know is there.
Key suppliers of pumps and valves to the dairy industry say reliability and ease of maintenance to reduce downtime are high among the concerns of their customers, along with higher flow rates to move more product in less time. Plus, food safety always has been and continues to be a concern.
We reached out to several manufacturers of pumps and valves for their insight into current market conditions. Here are their responses:
DFR: What is driving the development of new pumps and valves for dairy processing?
... Dave Medlar, president, GEA Tuchenhagen North America, Portland, Maine: Firstly, the need for processors to continually increase plant productivity and operational flexibility, all the while doing this in an environmentally conscious and sustainable manner. This latter requirement means that processors are now continually looking for ways to minimize the use of natural resources and the effect of waste materials on the environment.
Secondly, there is a growing trend ...
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