These are the results that the DMK Group’s largest cheese plant in the north-western German municipality of Edewecht is pleased to report since putting a new vacuum system from Busch Vacuum Solutions into operation. In addition to products for the food retail market, the company produces cheeses for large-scale industry in 15 kg blocks. These 50 cm long, 30 cm wide and 10 cm high blocks of cheese are called Euroblocks and are prepared for transport in the company’s packaging hall. For this purpose, they are automatically pushed into bags by the four packaging machines in the hall. In order to open the bags in preparation, four suction cups on each packaging machine draw up the undersides of the bags. This process is made possible on all four packaging machines by a single MINK claw vacuum pump from Busch Vacuum Solutions. It is part of a vacuum system designed specifically for this process. Supplier to the German food retail market As Germany’s largest dairy cooperative, DMK is one of the most important suppliers to the German food retail sector. With more than 20 locations in Germany, the Netherlands and other countries, the company processes around 5.5 billion litres of milk per year, which comes from more than 4,400 farms. For its main brand MILRAM, the DMK Group produces cheeses such as mild Gouda, nutty Burlander and hearty Müritzer. It also produces a wide range of other dairy products. The repertoire ranges from German butter to quark, yoghurt, cream, and condensed milk, and even ice cream and baby food. One vacuum pump replaces five others The MINK system supplies vacuum to all four packaging machines simultaneously with a single active vacuum pump. Previously, four individual dry-running rotary vane vacuum pumps were used to package the cheese blocks, one on each packaging machine. These rotary vane vacuum pumps ran at full rotational speed for up to 24 hours seven days a week and, at 75 dB(A) per vacuum pump, were very noisy. Standing in the packaging room therefore exposed employees to considerable noise. The air in the packaging room is humid and salty, as salt plays an essential role in cheese production. This resulted in increased corrosion and higher wear of mechanical parts in the vacuum pumps. "That’s why the vanes in the rotary vane vacuum pumps had to be replaced twice a year, and there were also repeated total losses," explains Georg Backer, Maintenance Team Leader, who was looking for a quieter, more energy-efficient solution that was less susceptible to failure. High energy savings and low maintenance Vacuum specialists from Busch recommended the latest claw vacuum technology to the customer, the efficient MINK MV. Thanks to its high performance, it can supply the four packaging machines with vacuum on its own. In addition, they made the decision to place the vacuum pump in a separate room. This measure significantly reduced employees' noise exposure – even though the MINK MV is already comparatively quiet at 68 dB(A). It also protects the vacuum pump, which is no longer exposed to the same amount of salty humidity as in the packaging room. In addition, the MINK vacuum system from Busch incorporates a standing filter upstream of the vacuum pump. Due to its vertical alignment, it takes up little space, is easy to clean, and is protected from damage from contamination. However, the Maintenance Manager is particularly pleased with the energy saved by the new MINK system. “Compared to rotary vane vacuum pumps, we now consume at least 50% less energy,” summarizes Georg Backer. Visit the Busch website to read the full story.

https://www.buschvacuum.com/uk/en/news-media/energy-savings-in-dairy-food-packaging-with-central-vacuum-supply-from-busch.html