SPX FLOW, Inc. a leading provider of process solutions for the nutrition, health and industrial markets, unveiled a new APV Pilot 4T Homogeniser to help customers test recipes with a new level of versatility in a compact unit.
Said Con O’Driscoll, Global Product Manager of Dispersion Products, SPX FLOW: “We’ve used our proven technology and experience to bring customers a big homogeniser performance in a small package. Pilot scale homogenisation is often used to validate processes before investing in full lines, and this will help customers scale up from their initial laboratory tests to production.”
SPX FLOW pioneered homogenisers through its APV Rannie and Gaulin brands, and today’s announcement marks another milestone where customers can now choose an APV homogeniser capable of running either lab tests or small-scale production. It’s useful for a range of customers, particularly food and beverage producers targeting the growing demand for enhanced nutritional or plant-based products.
This will help save time and money for several groups, including end users needing homogenisers, R&D customers who must scale up quickly without losing quality or taste after developing new recipes and processes, as well as OEMs and integrators who benefit from variable capacity, compact design, short delivery and ease of integration.
The APV Pilot 4T homogenises immiscible liquids into an emulsion, operating like a positive displacement pump with a valve. Liquids get forced through a small gap in the valve at high pressures, increasing velocity, decreasing pressure and causing a turbulence/pressure differential that disrupts and disperses particles.
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) began testing the compact homogeniser late last year to develop recipes for food and beverages, including dairy products and plant-based food, such as peas and oats. The abrasive particles on those recipes can cause heavy wear on the homogenisers, but the new machine is durable and requires less maintenance.
Said Erik Krabsen, Group Manager Pilot Plant Dairy and Beverages: “We need a homogeniser that’s reliable, flexible and must guarantee scalability to large production. The 4T’s control system with variable speed drive makes made it very easy to control the flow rate accurately. It’s also quieter than other homogenisers and it takes up less space.” For more visit spxflow.com
