Bredel pumps handle abrasive and viscous bodywork prep compounds

Based at Ware in Hertfordshire, Far©cla Products is an 80-employee business that exports its products to over 150 countries worldwide. Founded in 1952, the company has over 60 years of experience in the development and manufacture of surface finishing products. Moreover, recent growth has been impressive, with turnover rising to 17 million this year, from just 5 million as recently as 2000.

Richard Buxcey the company's plant and maintenance manager, says: "We've been using Bredel pumps for around 20 years, which tells its own story. Although nearly all of our products are abrasive, some are very abrasive and we've found that only the Bredel range can overcome the challenges presented by both viscosity and abrasion.

"We use Bredel pumps on all of our main filling lines: our paste line, bottle line and tube filling line. The pumps help us transfer the compounds and polishes from overhead hoppers and IBCs into actual product hoppers on the filling lines."

The latest investment, a Bredel 40 hose pump, is mounted on a portable trolley to introduce a greater degree of flexibility into Far©cla's small filling line activities. Although used intermittently, between 1000 and 2000 litres per hour are pumped, topping up hoppers with various non-abrasive retail products.

Other Bredel pumps on site, however, face far more challenging applications. The company's two Bredel 65 and two Bredel 100 pumps are used for transferring highly abrasive surface cutting compounds that can easily strip paintwork to bare metal in a matter of moments. In combination with viscosities that in some instances exceed 90,000cP, it's easy to see that correct pump selection is a vital component of business success.

Richard Buxcey says: "Despite the highly abrasive nature of these challenging cutting compounds, we often get over a year of life from a single hose. Furthermore, the pumps are very quick. Depending on viscosity we can easily empty a 5 tonne container in 30 minutes."

The two Bredel 100 hose pumps are used to transfer Far©cla's most abrasive and viscous products. Both pumps transfer the "fluid' from overhead vats into a hopper where it is dosed into 5 litre tubs/tins. The two Bredel 65 pumps are used in the same way but for the smaller line, which fills 250 or 500ml bottles. All of the pumps run intermittently and are activated using ultrasonic level sensors on the filling lines.

Far©cla products are very versatile and can be used across a wide variety of paint types and surface substrates. Although the principal market is automotive, other sectors that exploit the advantages of the company's products include marine, industrial, aerospace, consumer retail and valeting.

Mr Buxcey concludes: "We implement a planned programme of ongoing investment in the latest technologies at Far©cla that not only helps us provide our customers with the fastest way to the finest finish, but ensures we remain highly competitive in the marketplace."

For more information about Bredel pumps please visit www.watson-marlow.com/gb-en.