Burkert Fluid Control Systems has supplied Profibus-compatible products as part of a control system for purified water in a Colgate toothpaste plant. Colgate Palmolive, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of hygiene and healthcare products, produces millions of tubes of toothpaste at its plant in Salford near Manchester, including famous brands such as Total and Ultrabrite. The company has recently installed a Profibus DP controlled dedicated ring main to deliver purified water to six toothpaste batch mixing vessels, each of which produces four tonnes of toothpaste per batch and five batches per eight-hour shift. The water needs to be maintained at a constant 75C and a constant velocity to meet Colgate hygiene standards.
Burkert Profibus compatible modulating globe valves and zero dead leg (ZDL) diaphragm valves are fitted as part of the control system for the ring main, which includes six loops to deliver purified water to each of the batch mixing vessels as well as the main process vessel.
The modulating valves control the flow in each loop in order to maintain the velocity and volume of purified water in the system. The ZDL diaphragm valves are used to shut off the flow to the loops and direct water into the process vessel.
