Cadbury removes sticky valve problem

Dublin - Cadbury’s gum base facility in Tallaght, Dublin, initially contacted Vortex last year after they had suffered problems with existing pneumatic slide valves fitted to their gum production process. The ingredients for gum pellets used in producing chewing gum products are particularly sticky and unforgiving to the process equipment.

The existing valves were becoming jammed due to the ingress of vapour, coupled with the intrinsic stickiness and hygroscopic tendency of the product passing through them. Aware of the severity of the problem, Vortex European managing director, Jon Naylor, visited the site to provide a free assessment and recommend a solution from the company’s range of dry bulk solids valves.

Consequently Vortex supplied its HDP (heavy duty, pressure) slide gate, which, through its positive material shut-off and silicone seal, lends itself very well to highly abrasive and sticky applications, as well as being able to handle a five bar pressure differential. A DN150 valve was supplied on a “try before you buy” basis to enable Cadbury to evaluate it without having to commit to any cost.

Although the trial valve performed well, it too succumbed to the stickiness of the gum ingredients after a long period of operation. Jon Naylor explains: “We could have tried to sort it remotely but we felt Cadbury were committed to working with us and deserved an uncompromising response from Vortex”.

This time Shawn Werner from the technical team in Kansas, US, joined Jon for a close look at the trial valve. With a plan for design changes in place, they serviced the valve to keep Cadbury going and instigated construction of the new ‘Cadbury spec HDP’ slide gate valve.

Incorporating some internal modifications and Teflon coating of selected components, the new valve has proved capable of handling the particularly tough conditions in gum pellet production. Other plants within the Cadbury group are already showing an interest and have taken the free trial for different, arduous applications.

Stephen Cullivan, production engineer at Cadbury, Tallaght said: “The experience of working with Vortex has been entirely positive. A keen approach to service is clear in their ability to visit site, look at our specific needs, recommend a product on a trial basis, take that product and re-engineer to overcome our combined product, process and environment problems to establish the ‘Cadbury spec HDP’ design.”