Vacuum and blower technology for the food and beverage industry
Vacuum and blower technology for the food and beverage industry
In the food and beverage industry, virtually no production line runs without vacuum or air movement. In a large share of the production processes within the food and beverage industry, vacuum pumps, blowers and side channel blowers are used. They play an important role in packaging, drying, conveying and processing food and beverages. DOVAC supplies the technology behind it, from the pump or blower to the air knife and all accessories, including calculation, advice and maintenance.
Everywhere in the line: from packaging to blow-drying
Think of the packaged fish, meat or cheese on the supermarket shelf: virtually all of these products are vacuum packed or thermoformed into their packaging. In addition, products are blown dry on a large scale. Bottles after washing and before labelling, crates from the crate washer, eggs before they go into the carton, packaging that comes out of a pasteurisation process wet, and products that have to come out of the freezer ice-free. Collecting and blowing back residual material, for example with bakery products, is also done with air technology.
Vacuum and blower installations are also widely used for the vacuum conveying of powders, granulates and other foodstuffs. Think of conveying flour, sugar, coffee, cocoa or spices within the production process. Conveying products pneumatically makes for hygienic, dust-free and efficient operation.
Behind all of those process steps is a vacuum pump, a blower or a combination of a blower with an air knife. The right choice determines whether the process runs reliably and how much energy it costs.
Where the pressure points are: hygiene, energy and dependency
The two main challenges in this sector are:
- Hygiene and product safety: as soon as air comes into direct or indirect contact with the product, high demands apply to the pump, the filters and the oil used. Every application places different demands on hygiene, filtration, material choice and the oil used. That is why it has to be determined carefully for each process which vacuum pump or blower is most suitable. When blowing an egg dry, the contact is less critical than when blowing away ham trimmings, where the air comes into contact with food that will later be consumed. The right solution therefore has to be selected carefully for each process step.
- Unnecessarily high energy consumption: drying processes are still regularly carried out with compressed air from a compressor. That works, but often requires more energy than necessary. A properly calculated blower solution can deliver the same result with considerably lower power consumption.
In addition, dependency on the machine manufacturer can pose a practical risk. Many packaging machines from Italy, Germany or the United States are supplied with a factory pump as standard. As a result, companies can become dependent on the original supplier for maintenance, spare parts and breakdowns, with potentially higher costs and longer lead times.
Our possibilities
Air gun
The air gun is the portable counterpart to the air knife, for spot blow-off of moisture or dust where a fixed installation isn't practical. Fed by a blower instead of compressed air, it uses far less energy and runs quieter.
Air knives
An air knife dries, cleans or de-ices products and conveyor belts in a single pass, running on a blower instead of compressed air to save energy. We calculate the right combination in advance.
Side channel blowers
Side channel blowers move large air volumes, suiting aeration, conveying and porous materials. Oil-free and low-maintenance, from compact single-stage to two-stage models, including ATEX.
Turbo blowers
Turbo blowers deliver a steady airflow at high efficiency and low noise. Direct drive matches output to demand, cutting energy use substantially.
Liquid ring pumps
A liquid ring pump keeps running with wet, contaminated or vapour-laden gas streams. It tolerates particles, runs isothermally, and is the robust choice for demanding wet conditions.
Vacuum pumps
Every process places its own demands on the vacuum, from a deep ultimate vacuum to dry operation. We supply the full spectrum and select the pump that fits best.
Benefits for your business
- A correctly selected pump or blower means first and foremost a reliable process: dry products, properly sealed packaging and less rejected product.
- In addition, the energy-efficient approach delivers immediate savings. DOVAC calculates in advance what a more efficient solution costs and what it returns; a slightly higher investment often pays for itself through the energy bill within one to one and a half years. After that, it earns money.
- A well-matched installation also means less maintenance, a longer service life of the equipment and a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
- This keeps production processes running reliably and reduces unexpected breakdowns to a minimum.
What it costs when things go wrong
A wrongly selected or poorly maintained pump, air knife or blower hits the line directly. Wet products mean labels that will not stick, carton that collapses and cans that start to rust. A pump that does not meet hygiene requirements is a risk to the product itself. And if the pump in a packaging machine fails without maintenance and spare parts being arranged close by, the entire line comes to a standstill. This can lead to lost production, delivery delays, higher maintenance costs and unplanned downtime. Anyone who keeps drying with compressed air in the meantime is also paying an unnecessarily high energy bill every month.
Our approach: from calculation to complete installation
DOVAC supplies a broad range of vacuum pumps (dry running, oil-lubricated and claw pumps in various pressure ranges), alongside Roots blowers, side channel blowers and turbo blowers. For the food industry, pumps are available with food-approved oil, so that oil vapour or the occasional droplet poses no risk. The suppliers DOVAC works with deliver in accordance with ISO standards.
For drying processes, the complete installation comes from a single source:
- Air knives, in stainless steel for hygiene-critical environments
- Blowers and energy-efficient turbo blowers
- Hoses, hose clamps and filters
Arrange a meeting or demonstration
Would you like to know which vacuum pump, blower or air knife set-up best suits your production process? Or are you looking for a more energy-efficient alternative to your current installation? DOVAC is happy to help with technical advice, a no-obligation calculation or a demonstration on site. Together we will arrive at a reliable, efficient and future-proof solution.
Why choose DOVAC?
A large stock of our own, available immediately
A product is no use if it arrives in eight weeks. That's why DOVAC keeps a large stock of its own, including filters, valves and maintenance kits.
At the table from the development phase onwards
With Dutch machine builders, DOVAC is at the table from the development phase, determining the technical solution.
Benelux agent for maintenance and parts
With a foreign factory pump, DOVAC acts as Benelux agent for maintenance and parts: short lines, plenty of stock.
Proving it works comes first
For a replacement, DOVAC first asks about the application and demonstrates the solution on site first.
