Expertise aids mobile CIP efficiency

CIP Services is revolutionising food-grade tank cleaning services with a unique mobile cleaning unit that takes the wash facility to the customer for temporary or long-term contracts.

Burkert Fluid Control Systems has provided products and systems expertise to CIP Services, a company that is revolutionising food-grade tank cleaning services with a unique mobile cleaning unit that takes the wash facility to the customer for temporary or long-term contracts.

Mark Stevens, of CIP Services, who has worked with many major companies in both liquid food transportation and food manufacture, used his years of experience to design the unit that offers customers a faster, hassle-free, cost-effective means of cleaning tanker fleets without the cost of their own on-site facility.

Also achieved are significant reductions in energy consumption and effluent disposal.

CIP Services installs a unit on the customer's site and charges by fixed volume or per wash - with or without labour.

The CIP unit saves substantial amounts of money because customers avoid overheads such as staff wages and the cost of driving tankers to a cleaning facility that could be located miles away.

Explains Stevens: "The units not only have to meet the highest standards of food manufacturers and transporters but also have to be flexible enough to adapt to the differing requirements of the customer.

"One day the tank might be carrying milk, the next it might be used to carry molasses.

The cleaning requirements differ depending upon the viscosity of the substance being transported and we have to be able to assure customers that after cleaning, their tanks are safe and hygienic for the next delivery".

CIP Services also offers its customers proof of the service's efficiency in a clear and unequivocal printed record that shows everything from the amount of cleaning water entering the tank to the amount of water withdrawn after cleaning.

It also shows the temperature of the water and conductivity readings of the chemicals used.

But most of all it offers peace of mind.

The evidence for the reports is gathered throughout the process by Burkert temperature, flow, pressure and conductivity sensors.

In addition to offering proof of the unit's efficiency, each sensor in the washing system features Burkert's unique visual indication technology that allows an operator to see at-a-glance a readout of pressure, flow, temperature or conductivity value - ensuring effective control over each section of the process.

Stevens, who turned to Burkert for its expertise in fluid control and the vast and varied range of products it supplies, says he knew what he wanted to achieve with the new unit but wasn't really sure if he could do it.

"Burkert offered us the means by which we could put our theories into practice and we didn't have to explain the concept of CIP because Burkert have a lot of experience and knowledge of the process".

Throughout the system Burkert sensors and valves are installed to ensure accuracy, indicate malfunctions or simply ensure a smooth-running unit.

With each tanker needing its own wash programme, a simple touch screen offers the operator a drop-down menu to handle every substance from milk to cider.

The programmes are automated and controlled at every stage of the process.

Burkert flow meters check the amount of liquid used during the three-phase wash cycle.

A conductivity transmitter checks the concentration of the chemicals used in the hot wash and triggers a dosing system to keep the chemical strength within strict limits.

Temperature sensors also record the heat of the cleaning liquids used.

As well as maintaining the automated process, the sensors also act as a safety feature.

If the correct flow isn't recorded in the required amount of time, it indicates to the operator that a pipe is blocked or a valve is stuck shut.

At the end of the cycle a signal from the level probes ensures that tanks are topped up correctly, and the unit produces a cleaning certificate - a record of temperature, conductivity, duration of wash etc.

Stevens concludes: "Before we spoke to Burkert we were also manually adding chemicals which, in itself, can be hazardous and inaccurate.

Burkert advised us to install an automatic dosing system which eliminated the guess work and made the whole procedure safer and more accurate - with Burkert's help and advise we are now confident that we can find the right solution for every client".

Stevens says: "The Burkert sensors and valves give us complete control over flow, temperature and pressure, as well as acid concentration and dosing, enabling us to tailor the process to suit large or small vehicles".

Commenting for Burkert, Regional Sales Manager Steve Tucker says: "Liability is a major concern in the food transportation industry.

Fortunately, the Burkert equipment not only helps CIP Services to prove that its mobile cleaning service is efficient, it also provides the client with hard copy evidence".

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