Top 5 Tips to Improve Dairy Processing Amid Industry Challenges

As U.S. dairy processors navigate a complex landscape of quality demands, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, shifting consumer preferences and stringent regulatory requirements, leading brands like APV and Waukesha Cherry-Burrell (WCB) are stepping up to provide advanced components that tackle these critical issues head-on. Here are five expert recommendations for improving dairy processing.

1. Elevate Quality with Advanced Components

Ensuring the highest quality components for processing operations is one of the foremost challenges in the dairy industry. Time is crucial for maximizing uptime and safely enhancing product yield. WCB mixproof valves and centrifugal pumps are designed and assembled in the U.S. to meet rigorous sanitary standards.

SPX FLOW Recommendation: Consider the 200 series centrifugal pump, which comes with a robust five-year warranty. The D4PMO mixproof valves are certified for Grade A dairies, ensuring compliance with necessary standards.

2. Streamline Operations Amid Labor Shortages

The manufacturing sector is experiencing a labor shortage of more than 600,000 positions since the 2020 pandemic. Maintaining efficient dairy plant operations is critical during this time of reduced workforce availability and increased automation.

SPX FLOW Recommendation: Use valves and pumps that require only one seal kit for a range of sizes, simplifying inventory management and reducing emergency repair costs. The one-piece impeller sleeve design of the 200 series extends seal life and minimizes the variety of spare parts needed.

3. Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions

Supply chain challenges can severely impact dairy processing uptime, making it essential for producers to meet deadlines and satisfy customers.

SPX FLOW Recommendation: Spare parts are readily available from the WCB facility in Delavan, Wisconsin, and through local distributors, ensuring rapid delivery and minimized downtime. A Quick Ship program guarantees that complete 200 Series centrifugal pump assemblies are shipped within five business days or less from date of order, backed by an extended five-year warranty.

4. Adapt to Consumer Preferences and Enhance Sustainability: As consumer preferences evolve and emphasize sustainability, dairy processors need adaptable and eco-friendly solutions. Modern markets are increasingly influenced by new flavor profiles and dietary trends, leading to unpredictable production schedules.

SPX FLOW Recommendation: The D4PMO series valve design allows for minimal clean-in-place loss during operations. Its hydraulically balanced design enables the use of a smaller actuator, which reduces air consumption and energy costs. Additionally, innovations like the APV 4T Pilot homogenizer and the Homogenizer Water Recycling System (HWRS) facilitate rapid recipe testing and can repurpose up to 97 percent of the water used for cooling and lubrication.

5. Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with industry regulations is non-negotiable for clean and effective plant operations.

SPX FLOW Recommendation: The D4PMO mixproof valves are certified to comply with PMO directive M-B-357 and the 3-A PMO sanitary standard 85-02. Both the 200 Series Centrifugal Pump and the 4T Pilot Homogenizer also meet 3-A standards, with the 4T Pilot Homogenizer further ensuring safety and compliance by using FDA-approved materials for product contact.

APV and Waukesha Cherry-Burrell remain committed to advancing the U.S. dairy industry by offering innovative solutions that address its most pressing challenges. By implementing these tips, dairy processors can enhance their operations and better meet the demands of today's market.