Wilden Pro-Flo shift pumps prevent stalling wear for linoleum producer

John Brooks Company recommended a Wilden series for a flooring manufacturer.

John Brooks Company Limited offers dozens of customer success stories to back its reputation. For example, there was a company that manufactured flooring coverings, and its production process for linoleum kitchen flooring included pumping a solvent-based plasticizer to the resin coating for the floorboards. By recommending Wilden’s Pro-Flo shift pumps, John Brooks Company eliminated the customer’s stalling and wear-and-tear issues, reducing downtime by 650 per cent in the process.

More than 70 million strokes

The manufacturer was using air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pumps that experienced frequent stalling, resulting in a full roll of linoleum getting scrapped. The downtime for troubleshooting and repair, plus the scrapped material and reduced production, led to substantial expense. Another issue the customer had: the pump diaphragms lasted about four months, adding to the replacement and service costs.

For a better pumping solution, the customer contacted Harry Webb, an application expert with John Brooks Company. Webb suggested converting one pump with a Wilden Pro-Flo shift pump’s centre section and Gore-Tex diaphragms, to see how the parts fared. These non-Teflon diaphragms could handle more than 70 million strokes before wearing out, and the shift technology optimized air consumption. Both the shift pumps and diaphragms could handle abrasive liquids, and the fewer parts simplified maintenance. By eliminating stalling, the centre section would boost production and reduce scrap.

When this proved successful, all of the AODD pumps were converted in the same way. The stalling problems immediately stopped, and the new diaphragms lasted for more than two years. This resulted in zero production downtime, and eventually, the customer replaced all of the AODD units with Wilden Pro-Flo shift pumps customized with Gore-Tex diaphragms.

Other advantages of using these pumps: their self-priming capability; their portability; high vacuum; lube-free operation; no mechanical seals; corrosion resistance; easy operation and maintenance; and dry-run capabilities without damage.

Check out the video below for a better look at Wilden Pro-Flo shift pumps:

To learn more about this case study and others, visit the website.

To learn more, contact John Brooks Company.

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