MechChem Africa January-February 2024

Simple pumps and solutions for hygienic, hazardous and demanding applications MechChem Africa talks to Tapflo’s local MD, Jason Andrew, about pumping solutions for the food, beverage and processing industries that carefully match pump technologies with control strategies to deliver reliable, efficient, and effective liquid transport solutions. for

clean & sanitary, but also chemical resistant process needs, whilst offering ATEX-certified units for more demanding applications. Tapflo has developed two ranges of high- and low-pressure hose pump technologies, which are marketed to these same two sectors. In addition, through our partners and third party suppliers, we offer a diverse and ex tensive range of different industrial process centrifugal pump technologies in both vertical and horizontal configurations with various mechanical sealing options.

solution.” The first products manufactured by Tapflo were air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps. “We've since grown into one of the largest European manufacturers of these pumps, and globally, we probably have the widest range of combinations and options of AODDs,” he continues. “We have also branched into the pro duction of two ranges of centrifugal pump technologies, suited for either the industrial or hygienic markets. The Tapflo baseline for centrifugal pumps is 316L stainless steel in either electro-polished or glass bead blasted surface finishes. This tends to meet both the “We have also branched into the pro

“T apflo is an independent, family-owned global com pany with manufacturing roots in Sweden. We are a well grounded company that operates according to family values: integri ty, enthusiasm, mutual respect, and commitment – to employees and our clients,” begins Jason Andrew, the managing director responsible for Tapflo in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa. Hygienic valves from Tapflo are high-quality components made of forged 304L and 316L stainless steel. “This enables us to be in control of the products and solutions we provide, from the technologies we apply and the manufacturing quality of our premium products, through to the local implementation of industrial pumping solutions. Our motto is ‘Simple is Art’ which reflects our drive to seek always the smoothest and least complicated solu tion that will fully satisfy the needs of an application across its lifetime,” Andrew tells MechChem Africa . As well as offering an extensive range of own-brand pumps and pump types, Tapflo also deals with reputable third-party suppliers to provide complete solutions: “We can customise our solutions by adding custom baseplates with gear motors, couplings and cou pling guards, for example. And increasingly, we are adding system-wide control and auto mation for the solutions we sell to end users; we are always looking to provide a complete

“For more demanding and robust applications needs, our partners offer centrifugal pumps that conform to ISO 2858 and/or ISO 5199 norms and ATEX certified units, in addition to offering different exotic alloys material options of construction to these ranges,” he says, adding that the com pany also offers magnetic drive pump technologies with metal or plastic linings. For positive-displacement applications, Tapflo offers a wide range of rotary lobe, screw, internal gear, and progressive cavity pumps. Also available are precision dosing using sole noid or electrical motor driven metering pumps. “We recently partnered with an International Pharmaceutical/Sanitary and Hygienic Certified Valve, Tank Top Fittings and Pipeline Components Manufacturer so can now offer our customers this range, which complements our own core product ranges for the sector.”

AODDs and catalytic converters

By using a combination of positive displacement and centrifugal pump technologies, Tapflo can convert and dilute concentrated SLES using efficient high shear mixing (HSM).

Tapflo’s AODD series is ideal for the gentle management of viscous

16 ¦ MechChem Africa • January-February 2024