Case Study
Hygiene Boosted and Downtime Cut by Almost 90% by Switching to BFM®
Pet Food
Maintenance Headaches Resolved with BFM® Fitting
A leading British pet food manufacturer was struggling with frequent leaks, product loss, and lengthy maintenance caused by a 1.5m corrugated hose connecting its extruder to the dryer.
After installing BFM® fitting with modular pipework, the company reduced downtime by nearly 90% and eliminated product loss—while achieving a cleaner, safer, and more efficient production process.
The Challenge
The customer’s production setup featured a dogleg configuration
between the extruder and dryer, requiring a long flexible connector.
Standard connectors couldn’t handle the negative pressure, forcing the team to use a heavy-duty corrugated hose instead.
However, this hose created several challenges. It was difficult to install
and remove, prone to dust leaks, and allowed product build-up that
risked contamination. Positioned three metres above ground, it also required elevated access for maintenance.
The hose needed monthly maintenance lasting up to two hours, consuming labour and increasing downtime, while misaligned pipework sometimes led to product deformation and potential quality failures.
The BFM® Solution
To solve these issues, the ProSpare BFM® team recommended replacing the corrugated hose with BFM® connectors and modular stainless-steel pipework.
The new setup featured two BFM® spigots welded to the existing pipework, quick-release lipped spigots on modular sections, and Ø300mm x 100mm Seeflex connectors that snapped securely into place.
This streamlined design removed the need for jubilee clips, delivering a dust-tight, tool-free connection that was faster, cleaner, and easier to maintain.
The results were immediate and have seen downtime
reduced by almost 90% and a much cleaner process environment.
Benefits Achieved
Monthly maintenance takes just 15 minutes instead of two hours - almost a 90% saving in terms of production downtime!
The smooth internal surfaces eliminate crevices where product could collect, and noleaks has provided a cleaner overall environment.
The snap-fit installation has made maintenance much simpler and faster tocomplete when required.
The dust-tight seal of the BFM® system has eliminated product loss and contaminationrisks.
What the client said about BFM®
“BFM® fitting connectors are easier to remove and reinstall, streamlining maintenance tasks and reducing downtime”
- Engineering Manager
Case Study provided courtesy of BFM® Distributor ProSpare Limited (United Kingdom)
Our most popular connector that can be used in virtually all applications. Made from clear ether-based thermoplastic polyurethane alloy.
A BFM® fitting spigot with a 6mm 'lip' that allows the fast and easy integration of a BFM® fitting system with major modular piping systems using...
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