Case Study: Maximum Efficiency in Tomato Sauce Unloading
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By
TMXFLOW
Handling viscous products in food processing is always a challenge. Beyond preserving product quality, it is essential to maintain hygiene and avoid losses when transferring raw materials from large containers into production lines.
Recently, we received a request from a client in the food industry — a raw meatball producer working with tomato sauce and ketchup supplied in 200-liter drums. These products present viscosities ranging from approximately 500 to 10,000 cP, which makes unloading and transfer to mixing tanks complex.
The challenge
The client’s priorities were clear:
- Achieve high recovery of the product contained in each drum.
- Guarantee hygienic operation throughout the process.
- Preserve the original characteristics of the sauces, even with variations in density and consistency.
The solution
To meet these needs, we implemented a Drum Unloading System (DUS). The equipment uses a follower plate with sealing that descends into the drum and pushes the product directly to the pump inlet. This approach allowed the client to:
- Recover more than 98% of the drum’s content.
- Adapt the system to products with viscosities ranging from 1,000 to over 150,000 cP.
- Benefit from custom options such as heating, automation, CIP, ATEX compliance, and pump selection according to the specific application.
Although the solution was designed here for tomato-based sauces, the same principle can be applied to a wide range of pasty products, always combining efficiency, hygiene, and consistency.
In the video below, you can see how the unloading process works in practice and how it impacts productivity and waste reduction.
Final thoughts
This was just one example of how engineering can turn a production challenge into a clean and efficient process. If your operations also deal with viscous products, it’s worth considering how the right solution can reduce losses and improve reliability. After all, efficiency is not only about technology — it’s about making every drop count.
STS Twin Screw Pumps are engineered for exceptional performance across various industries:
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