Just the right dosage!
How exactly should laundry detergent be dosed so that the laundry is completely clean, without the environment suffering? Does the dishwasher detergent compartment have to be filled completely in order to achieve streak-free cleanliness?
But then it might not be possible to close the drawer properly? These are just a few of the questions that are frequently discussed on the Internet for example. These considerations are being eliminated, as laundry and dishwashing detergent is available.
ViscoTec hygienic pumps are used for filling viscous cleaning agents
into these pods or tabs. For example, in cooperation with the machine
builder Harro Höfliger, highly industrial production and packaging
equipment is developed that enables 24/7 production and operates fully
automatically. There are a number of points that need to be considered
during the manufacture of the tabs and pods: In order to obtain the
useful pads, the detergent is dosed onto a water-soluble film, which
then dissolves in the washing machine or dishwasher. “Companies come to
us with a design where the shape, number of chambers and filling
material is already specified,” explains Jürgen Luka, Engineering &
Innovation Services (EIS) department at Harro Höfliger. “For example,
they would like a pouch with three chambers containing 15 grams of
powder, five grams of gel and five grams of liquid. Both the gel and the
liquid can be applied with the ViscoTec pumps.”
Detergent pods
The
material to be dosed for the detergent pods has a gel-like, viscous
texture and poses no real challenges for ViscoTec’s dosing pumps.
However, there are two special advantages of using progressive cavity
pumps for dosing: On the one hand, they are easy to clean automatically,
and, on the other hand, they have a particularly short cycle time,
which is achieved by only employing high-quality materials. ViscoTec
hygienic pumps and dispensers can be thoroughly cleaned within the
dosing process without the need to dismantle them (CIP). Automatic
rinsing is particularly advantageous when changing the color of the
dosing material, for example. It saves time and downtimes are greatly
reduced.
Dishwasher tabs
Particularly abrasive suspensions are dosed into dishwasher tabs. One
challenge here is to counteract sedimentation of any solids during the
entire dosing process. ViscoTec has met this challenge by circulating
the dosing material within the complete system. It remains in constant
motion. Filling takes place within the flow movement. This concept is
made possible by integrating a bypass into the dosing pump. In this
bypass, the material can be kept in constant motion during the dosing
process and also when the system is at a standstill. This also prevents
sedimentation in the pump feed. The dosing pumps comply with the
requirements of the GMP and FDA guidelines. The complete filling system
consists of a storage container with agitator, an RD hygienic feed pump
and several hygienic dispensers. A further challenge is the abrasiveness
of the materials to be dosed: The abrasive dosing materials usually
cause above-average wear in filling systems. Thanks to the stainless
steel/elastomer pairing in the rotor and stator of the ViscoTec dosing
pumps, particularly long service lives are achieved in contrast to
steel/steel combinations in piston pumps. By adopting the endless piston
principle used in the ViscoTec products, the materials are dosed or
filled purely volumetrically and almost wear-free. A decisive benefit of
this technology lies in the resulting conveying chamber, whose volume
remains absolutely constant during movement.ViscoTec as system supplier
As
a system supplier, ViscoTec not only supplies the dosing pumps and
components, but also the engineering and design of the complete gel
filling station. With its large design department, ViscoTec is a
competent partner for machine builders and offers customer-specific
solutions – even for difficult applications.
In
the field of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), ViscoTec has made a
name for itself worldwide over the past 22 years. Numerous dosing and
filling applications of liquids and pastes in the fields of cosmetics,
food, cleaning agents etc. have been successfully implemented. With
ViscoTec products, shorter cycle times and various volume quantities are
possible with constant high precision and repeatability. The automatic,
programmable suck-back at the end of the dosing cycle guarantees
absolute drip-free dosing. This prevents contamination of the sealing
surface, for a high quality end product.
About Harro Höfliger
Harro
Höfliger develops and manufactures production and packaging systems for
customers all over the world. In addition to pharmaceutical and medical
technology companies, the extensive portfolio is also aimed at
manufacturers of consumer goods. With its market segment “Portion
Packs”, the company offers technology platforms for the production of
pre-dosed packs, including those for dishwashers and washing machines.
The services cover product optimization and all production steps – from
forming the web material to filling, sealing and cutting. Many years of
experience meet the spirit of innovation. For example, the company
relies on patented water sealing for sealing, which results in a
hard-wearing and narrow sealing seam. All processes developed in the
laboratory phase can be transferred to small series and high-speed
production machines.
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