The company discovered the 504S metering pump from Watson-Marlow Bredel, Wilmington, Mass., which made life easier.

A Canadian adhesive manufacturer was in a sticky situation. The company’s application called for an adhesive product with a viscosity of 300 cps to be pumped at a controlled rate of 0.6 ml/min to 20 ml/min to six different channels. The application also required the ability to self-prime and run dry without damage. The company was using six different gear pumps, but they were difficult to clean. It was also difficult to synchronize and recalibrate all the pumps at the required flow rates.

Then the company discovered the 504S metering pump from Watson-Marlow Bredel, Wilmington, Mass. The compact pump came complete with a built-in controller with six pump heads. The pump could replace six separate and dedicated gear pumps, and offer 100-percent synchronized flow rates. The adhesive-processing plant switched to the new pump to meter its adhesive. Marprene® tubing was chosen to provide the flow rates needed, as well as for the chemical resistance needed for the aqueous-based adhesive. This gave the company the capability to change product runs with no downtime, and offered 100-percent cleanability.

Peristaltic pumps come with a wide variety of chemically resistant elastomers, meeting just about every process need. They are virtually maintenance-free and can meter accurately at very low flow rates without stalling or clogging. Where other pump types can suffer from heat and seal damage as a result of running dry, these pumps are self-priming and dry-running, and tubing can last for years at slower speeds.