FALMOUTH, UK — Five Qdos 30 chemical metering pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) are being deployed in a critical paint shop application at Bredel, a part of WMFTG and a world leader in the design and manufacture of hose pumps. Delivered by surface finish technology specialist Indufinish as part of a system for treating non-ferrous metals prior to painting, the Qdos 30 units replaced diaphragm pumps in the original specification to help improve process management and bath quality.

It was in 2018 that Indufinish first contacted Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group in the Netherlands with a request for five Qdos pumps to replace diaphragm pumps in a chemical metering application at the Delden plant of Bredel. Now installed, the Qdos pumps are being used for pH-control; for metering proprietary Chemetall chemicals such as Gardoclean (cleaner/degreaser), Gardobond (phosphate conversion coating) and Oxsilan (silane-based pre-treatment); and for introducing additives like zirconium and fluoride.

The surface-treatment installation consumes chemicals, which are replenished by the Qdos pumps. Here, the run time and flow rate of the pumps depends on the paint shop’s workload. However, the manually controlled Qdos units typically operate for 2-5 hours a day, at flow rates of 1 to 15 l/h.

Bertus Groteboer, Senior Manufacturing Engineer at the Bredel plant, said, “Inherent ease of use means we can easily program the flow rate, which in combination with checking the fluid level of the jerry cans, brings about a major improvement in process management. In turn, the quality of the process baths has increased and is more consistent.”

The set flow rate of Qdos pumps remains constant up to the maximum 7 bar operating pressure, giving them a unique advantage over diaphragm metering pumps. In addition, Qdos pumps offer long maintenance intervals, reducing the impact of process downtime and lowering TCO (total cost of ownership). In fact, TCO is typically half that of diaphragm pumps in chemical metering applications.

A further issue with diaphragm metering pumps is their frequent requirement for a range of high-maintenance ancillary items in order to function effectively. There is no such need with Qdos pumps, which deliver accurate, linear and repeatable metering across all process conditions without back-pressure valves, pulsation dampeners, degassing valves, foot valves, strainers or float switches.

The ReNu peristaltic pumphead is at the core of Qdos pumps, ensuring the delivery of accurate and repeatable flow for fluids with wide-ranging viscosities. Process uptime is maximized by facilitating quick, safe and easy pump head removal and replacement, without any requirement for tools, specialist training or skilled maintenance technicians. The contained pump head design with integral leak detection reduces waste and eliminates operator exposure to chemicals.

Danny Fine, Country Manager Benelux at Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group, said, “It’s great to have our own breakthrough products proving their capabilities in company production facilities. The Qdos pumps are really helping the Bredel plant to excel in manufacturing.”