Pneumatic conveyers and engineered pump systems play vital roles in ensuring efficient and sanitary material handling and wastewater processes in food and beverage production.
But failure to choose and maintain the right systems carries a high cost.
According to ABB’s "Value of Reliability" report, food and beverage businesses lose an average of $85,000 per hour during each downtime event.
What specific measures can food and beverage manufacturers take to avoid costly pneumatic and pump system failure?
Reliability matters. To minimize downtime, plant maintenance managers say the top three things they prioritize when selecting equipment are reliability, safety, and energy efficiency.
That’s not surprising. Careful purchasing and maintenance of mission-critical equipment like pumps and blowers means a higher likelihood of:
- Repeat business
- Competitive edge
- Positive reputation
- Financial performance
- Meeting contractual obligations
- Preventing unplanned downtime
About 92% of those plant managers said regular maintenance increased their uptime, while others reported optimized productivity, higher product quality, and extended equipment lifespan.
Are you a food and beverage manufacturer looking to avoid losing millions in lost products, wasted ingredients, and potential reputational damage?
MCE can help with robust system design and proactive preventative maintenance programs, covering the entire state of Florida and South Georgia.
Pneumatic Conveying in Action: How Food Companies Use Pneumatic Conveying
Engineered pump and pneumatic blower systems are mission-critical in the food and beverage industry for several reasons. They:
- Ensure safety and hygiene
- Optimize efficiency and productivity
- Maintain product quality and consistency
- Help manufacturers meet sustainability goals
Pneumatic systems use the integration of air movement, motors and controls to move products. In the food and beverage industry, pneumatic conveying helps maintain product purity, improve worker safety, and ensure compliance with sanitary handling requirements.
Pneumatic conveying is a method of moving dry bulk materials through a pipeline using air or another gas to transport. The system works by creating a pressure differential (either pushing material with positive pressure or pulling it with a vacuum) that suspends and propels particles through enclosed tubes. This approach minimizes dust, prevents contamination, and allows materials to travel long distances in a controlled and enclosed environment.
THE BENEFITS OF PD BLOWERS FOR FOOD & BEVERAGE MANUFACTURERS
MCE customers use positive displacement (PD) blowers for conveying flour or sugar pneumatically from railcars to silos, and from silos to production areas. By integrating air movement, motors and controls, the setup enables clean, efficient movement of large volumes of dry materials.
Engineered Pump Systems for Wastewater and Utility Water Handling In Food Processing
In food and beverage manufacturing, engineered pump systems are used for transferring liquids, syrups, sauces, dairy products, and cleaning solutions, as well as for handling wastewater.
Engineered pump systems are customized fluid transfer solutions designed to efficiently move liquids, semi-solids, or slurries while meeting specific process needs. They can be configured with hygienic pumps, precision controls, and materials that resist corrosion and bacterial growth.
By integrating flow control, pressure regulation, and CIP (Clean-in-Place) capabilities, these systems allow for consistent performance, reduced waste, and proper sanitation, essential for optimal production and waste management processes.
>> A Guide to Proactive Maintenance for Wastewater Systems
MCE: Optimizing Pneumatic Conveying and Engineering Pumps for Your Needs
At MCE, we recommend conducting a full audit of your processes and equipment to understand how downtime impacts your business. With this insight, we can help you invest in reliable equipment, automate your processes, and establish a long-term maintenance plan for success.
We serve both industrial and municipal customers by providing the power and pumps necessary for material movement and processing. We partner with best-in-class manufacturers, including: ShinMaywa, All Prime Pumps, Romanoff, MD-Kenny, TACO, Dodge Industrial, Hyundai, Verder, Toshiba and more.
We supply and service a wide range of components, regardless of where they were purchased, including:
- Pumps
- Power transmission
- Blowers and vacuum systems
- Fluid sealing and lubricants
- Packaged lift stations
- Automated solutions
- Control panels
- Valve boxes
- Electric motors and drives
- VFD integration support
Why Food and Beverage Plants Choose MCE
Reliable equipment is essential not only for procurement but also for ongoing support.
According to the “Value of Reliability” report, service partnerships play a crucial role in ensuring equipment reliability for food and beverage manufacturers. Most plant managers expressed appreciation for service partners who employ qualified technicians with in-depth technical knowledge, especially regarding service and maintenance.
With MCE, you can take advantage of local engineering services, product support, and expert maintenance provided by professionals who understand your unique needs. Our offerings include:
- Expertise in sizing and system integration
- In-house service and field support
- Emergency response capabilities
- Inventory management services
MCE’s technical team collaborates directly with plant managers and engineers to design custom solutions tailored to each facility’s unique challenges. From system design and installation to ongoing support and optimization, we ensure companies get maximum value from their investment.
Additionally, we’re also a factory-authorized service center for ShinMaywa and All Prime pumps.
We offer preventative maintenance, emergency repair, field service, and shop-based repairs for your pneumatic, pump, and motor needs, whether you purchased from us or not.
We provide a range of services, including:
- Pump Sales and Sizing: Complete engineering support to match or spec replacements.
- Field Service and Repairs: On-site installations, troubleshooting, retrofits and VFD integration support.
- In-House Repairs: Our shop is staffed with experienced technicians who can service competitors’ pumps.
- Measuring Pump Efficiency: Laser alignment and flow testing
- Preventive Maintenance (PM) Contracts: PM includes oil changes, belt swaps, vibration/moisture checks, etc.
- Control Panel Engineering: MCC and SCADA integration
- Project Management: We manage installations, vendor coordination, and site visits.
- Engineering Consultation: We work closely with municipal and private engineering firms to spec products.
- Start-Up Assistance & Training: We provide training in process, technology, and product skills development.
- MRO Contract Management: Assistance with procurement and service management for maintenance, repair, and operations.
MCE provides integrated solutions (e.g., filtration, fluid power products, hoses, valves and valve repair, automation, inventory management, and more) while managing the process through a single point of contact to simplify procurement for our customers. Learn more.
BOOK A PLANT WALKTHROUGH or SYSTEM AUDIT
Let MCE help you meet demanding production schedules as well as hygiene and sustainability goals with pneumatic conveying and engineered pump systems. Ask us how reliable equipment and preventative maintenance plans can reduce downtime, improve process control, and enhance cleanliness in your business.