There is an inherent paradox that governs many of the world’s industrial manufacturing operations: While it’s true that there is a wide range of chemicals that can be extremely hazardous to humans and the environment if mishandled, it is equally true that these same chemicals are often indispensable ingredients in many of the world’s most common and significant products. It is imperative that these chemicals are handled with extreme care.
Because pumps are ever-present in industrial manufacturing, it is critical for them to be equipped with operational capabilities that enable them to effectively handle and contain even the most hazardous chemicals. A pump in the back corner of the manufacturing facility that experiences a small, undetected leak over a period of time can lead to big problems for the manufacturer.
Recognizing this, the product brands of PSG® continuously strive to create pumping technologies that are capable of reliably and safely handling even the most hazardous chemicals – whether in their actual manufacture or when used as an adjunct component in the creation of another product. Let’s focus on the efforts of four of these brands with three distinct pumping technologies:
- Almatec®: Almatec specializes in the development of solid-body, plastic air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pumps for use in a variety of critical applications within the chemical industry. The solid-body design of Almatec pumps, along with their self-priming and dry-run capabilities, enable them to play a pivotal role in the transfer of chemicals that may be corrosive, hazardous, toxic or explosive, including acids, bases, solvents and chemical blends. Specifically, the E-Series AODD Pumps are available in highly abrasion-resistant polyethylene (PE) and almost universally chemically resistant PTFE materials of construction, both of which are also available in ATEX-compliant conductive versions.
- Blackmer®: Thanks to their revolutionary design and operation, Blackmer Sliding Vane Pumps, the principle of which was invented by Robert Blackmer in 1899, are relied on by chemical companies around the world. Versatile Blackmer sliding vane pumps are used to transfer hazardous chemicals as raw products from storage containers into the plant, within the plant’s operating processes – including batching, mixing, blending, packaging and storing – and onto transport vehicles when production is completed. The TX Series, SNP Series and new MAGNES Series magnetic-drive pumps are popular choices for the handling of hazardous chemicals.
- Mouvex®: Mouvex Eccentric Disc Pumps have been designed to provide premium performance and support the ultimate level of product containment and safety in all chemical-processing applications. Mouvex pumps feature no chemical seals, packing, couplings or magnets that can fail and lead to leaks of hazardous chemicals. Instead, unique double stainless-steel bellows promote reliable product containment while enabling the pump to create very high suction and discharge pressures. The SLC Series pumps have been specifically designed for use with hazardous chemicals such as isocyanates, acids, solvents, methacrylate and ether.
- Wilden®: It has been 65 years since Jim Wilden invented the AODD Pump, and in that time the technology has become a first-choice technology for many operators in the chemical processing industry. Wilden AODD pumps excel when tasked with handling such chemical-based compounds as caustics, acids, solvents and polymers because their leak-free design keeps the chemicals inside the pump, where they belong. The Pro-Flo® SHIFT Series of bolted metal and plastic AODD pumps help ensure reliable product containment, while the new Chem-Fuse Integral Piston Diaphragm (IPD) takes diaphragm performance to the next level due to a revolutionary integral piston design that eliminates the outer piston abrasion that can lead to the development of leak points.
The breadth and depth of brands and pumping technologies that PSG offers gives chemical processors an enviable array of options for their operations, all of which can be used to support optimized control and containment of even the most hazardous chemicals and chemical by-products.