Resolving Issues with Gel Pumps

The Application

A manufacturer of a major brand of sports nutrition products asked us to resolve issues they were having with gel pumps. The existing application was using a complete piston head which was a one-piece arrangement with integral seals energised by silicone O-rings. A major issue was that the piston head was manufactured from a low-quality material with little resistance to the cleaning process. The customer was unable to clean above 30-40 degrees, leading to ineffective cleaning and reduced piston head life.

Our Solution

We proposed replacing and re-engineering the piston head as a direct replacement, but designed to have separate seals fitted rather than integral seals. The new piston head was manufactured from food-grade acetal. The new seals were manufactured from blue food-grade polyurethane.

The Outcome

The customer now has a sealing arrangement that performs significantly better. Cleaning temperature was raised to 60-70 degrees for effective sanitisation without damaging the seals. Seal life span increased dramatically. When replacement is needed, only the seals require changing rather than the complete piston head, saving further costs.