Overcoming High-Viscosity Pumping Challenges How to use Bonve Rotary Lobe Pump Transformed Toothpaste Production

In industrial manufacturing, even minor inefficiencies in equipment can lead to significant production bottlenecks. For companies handling high-viscosity products like toothpaste, selecting the right pump is critical to ensuring smooth operations.

Recently, Bonve Pumps helped a client overcome persistent challenges with their rotary lobe pump system, transforming their production line from problematic to peak performance.



The Challenge: Dry Running and Inadequate Pump Performance

The customer, a toothpaste manufacturer, had been using a competitor’s rotary lobe pump motor power: 1.1kW. Despite its design for viscous fluids, the competitor‘s pump struggled with high-viscosity toothpaste (up to 1,000,000 mPa·s). Key issues included:

1).Insufficient suction capacity, leading to frequent dry running and cavitation.

2).Undersized motor torque, causing stalling during continuous operation.

3).Inconsistent flow rates, disrupting filling accuracy and production schedules.

4).It is not considered that the toothpaste contains calcium carbonate particles, resulting in severe pump wear

These problems resulted in accelerated wear, unplanned downtime, and increased maintenance costs.



Bonve Solution: Upgrading to the 50BV12-5 with Tailored Engineering

After analyzing the client’s needs, Bonve recommended transitioning from the competitor’s pump to Bonve Model 50BV12-5, paired with a 2kW motor and a PLC-controlled filling system. Here’s why this upgrade resolved their challenges:



1. Enhanced Performance with Bonve 50BV12-5

While the competitor’s pump motor power: 1.1 kW, its limitations became evident with high-viscosity toothpaste. By contrast, Bonve 50BV12-5 delivered a performance leap across critical parameters:



Displacement:

The competitor’s pump offer 0.15 L/r displacement, suitable for low-viscosity fluids. However, the 50BV12-5’s 0.32 L/r displacement—over double the capacity—ensured smooth transfer of thick toothpaste, eliminating pump starvation.



Flow Rate:

While the competitor’s pump maxed out at 2 m³/h, the 50BV12-5 achieved 5 m³/h flow rates, enabling faster production cycles without compromising consistency.



Motor Power:

The competitor’s undersized motor 1.1kW struggled with torque demands, leading to frequent stalling. Bonve’s 50BV12-5, paired with a 1.5-4 kW motor, provided robust, uninterrupted power for high-viscosity loads.



Suction Pressure:

The 50BV12-5’s superior -0.095 MPa suction pressure (vs. the competitor’s -0.080 MPa) ensured reliable product uptake into the pump cavity, preventing dry running and cavitation.



Pump material:

We use SS316 material for customers, to ensure the stability of the conveyor belt calcium carbonate particles toothpaste, but also to ensure the health performance standards.



Why This Matters

The 50BV12-5’s doubled displacement, 2.5x higher flow capacity, and stronger motor directly addressed the limitations of the competitor’s pump. This combination eliminated bottlenecks in toothpaste transfer, ensuring stable, high-efficiency production.



2. 4th-Generation (4G) Innovations

Bonve’s advanced 50BV12-5 pump leverages key 4G design features:

1).Bi-wing(Butterfly) rotors: Optimized for viscous fluids, reducing shear stress on sensitive materials like toothpaste.

2).Enlarged inlet port: Enhances suction efficiency to handle thick, sticky products.

3).Targeted mechanical seals: SiC/SiC or tungsten carbide options prevent leakage, even under high pressure.

4).CIP/SIP-ready design: Simplifies cleaning for hygiene-critical applications.



3. Intelligent PLC Integration

The PLC system dynamically adjusts pump speed based on real-time viscosity and flow data, maintaining ±0.5% filling accuracy and preventing motor overloads.



Results: Efficiency Redefined

After adopting Bonve 50BV12-5, the customer achieved:

1).100% elimination of dry running, thanks to superior suction and displacement.

2).25% faster production cycles with consistent flow rates.

3).40% lower maintenance costs due to reduced wear on lobes and seals.

4).Zero product waste from precise PLC-controlled filling.



The client now describes their Bonve pump as “the backbone of our toothpaste line.”





Why Choose Bonve Pump Portfolio?

Bonve offers a full spectrum of rotary lobe pumps to match any application:

1).Entry-Level Models (e.g., 40BV12-2): Ideal for low-viscosity fluids or intermittent use.

2).Mid-to-High Capacity Models (e.g., 50BV12-5 to 400BV12-400): Engineered for demanding, continuous high-viscosity operations.

3).Custom Solutions: Adjust rotor types (single-wing, tri-lobe), seals, materials (316L, duplex steel), and port configurations.



With 60,000+ pumps deployed globally, Bonve’s expertise spans industries from cosmetics to food processing.



Upgrade with Confidence

If your current pump struggles with high-viscosity challenges, Bonve pump or tailored solutions can optimize your production.

Contact Bonve today to discover how our pumps outperform competitors and deliver unmatched reliability.