Achieve More StoriesStraight Tube OPTIMASS Achieves More ProductivityTo view a 63 page OPTIMASS Applications PDFclick here.
When Signature Fruit Company needed a mass flow meter with exceptional concentration measurement capabilities and low differential pressure drop across the meter they evaluated and selected KROHNE.
Signature Fruit Company, based in Modesto, California, is the leading processor of shelf-stable fruit Products.  | Peaches
| | Pears
| | Apricots
| | Fruit Cocktail, Mixed Fruit and Fruit Salad
| | Nectars and Concentrates |
Their fruit is available in a variety of styles and packing mediums to suit a range of tastes and uses. Signature Fruit sells its products under the Libby?s® and Nature's Orchard? brands, as well as customer owned labels for the retail, food service, international and industrial markets. Signature Fruit carries on a long legacy of fruit processing in California's Central Valley that began in the 1930's with Tri Valley Growers.
Upgrade Requires New Flowmeters for Fructose Blending
The company was using mechanical meters and pumps to measure flow to a mixing operation for bulk syrup, which consisted of canners corn syrup, high fructose, and sucrose. The new mass flow meters are used during initial blending of concentrates to achieve bulk product at the desired Brix, which is calculated by the control system?s PLC from the measured mass flow readings. During a second phase, the blended syrup is diluted with water and placed into containers with the fruit.
As part of a process upgrade the engineering department was looking to purchase 70 flowmeters, and placed the job out for bids. The initial assumption was that it would go to E&H, which was the only company which had expressed interest. However, the E&H meters created two problems: a) their straight-through tube model had dual ¼ inch tubing, and this restriction caused significant pressure drops, and (b) because of rangeability issues, two meters had to be used to measure the full range of possible flow.
KROHNE Optimass Flowmeters Provide Lower DP at a Reduced Cost
KROHNE proposed the use of the Optimass 70 Single Straight Tube meter as a solution. Its single tube design creates a lower pressure drop, and is resistant to blocking or fouling. It has a hygienic connector design that is ideal for applications in the food industry, and the Optimass meters are manufactured from materials specially selected to conform to FDA guidelines.
During evaluation of this proposal, the company?s engineers found that because the pressure differential was smaller than the E&H meters, they could reduce the size of the meter by a full size. In addition, a single KROHNE meter could meet the required rangeability and turndown factors. This meant that the total number of meters required could be reduced.
To date the company has purchased nineteen of the OPTIMASS meters, and plans to standardize on them throughout their plants whenever upgrades are required.
To view the OPTIMASS Food page click here.
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