Four new stainless steel AirJets, which incorporate the chopper pump that Landia invented back in 1950, have been installed in balance tanks that require thorough mixing.
Dai Williams, project manager at Dairy Crest, said, “Initially we did a try-before-you buy with Landia, renting an AirJet unit at low cost to put it through its paces. It proved robust, reliable and effective.
“As demand for our products has increased, so has the need to increase our production capacity, so it is important that we invest in top quality equipment with a long lifespan and low maintenance. Landia’s AirJet very much meets these requirements – and removes the cost of adding chemicals or using energy-intensive blowers.”
Dairy producer shift
A spokesperson told DairyReporter Landia supplied four of its AirJet Systems, which each incorporate an 18.5kW-1500rpm Stainless Steel Submersible Chopper Pump and an ejector system, each on a free-standing frame for easy servicing. The design also incorporates a knife system that stops the aerator from becoming clogged by solids.
The spokesperson said, “Judging by the increasing number of enquiries at Landia, there appears to be quite a shift at present with dairy product producers moving away from certain side-entry mixers that they’ve used for equalization tanks, to a system such as AirJet that mixes the tank far more thoroughly.”
He noted the “dancing tank,” whereby producers see lots of bubbles and activity at the top of the tank and assume everything is being mixed properly, but often, solids are not being kept in suspension, nor is the particle size reduced.
Inadequate mixing has meant downtime by having to drain down the tank to empty out the sludge, which is very time-consuming, the spokesperson said, so manufacturers have been looking to reduce pH levels with more robust, more energy-efficient and effective mixing technology that recirculates the air.
He added that also there are few manufacturers who offer hire or easy, gradual payments.
Takeover
Dairy Crest is currently the subject of a potential takeover by Canadian dairy company Saputo in a deal valued at approximately £975m ($1.29bn).
The board of directors of Dairy Crest said it intends to unanimously recommend to shareholders of Dairy Crest to vote in favor of the transaction.
Subject to conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019.