04/11/2024
Norway has a long tradition of catching and processing fish. The country ranks second in the world for exports behind China. To ensure the high quality of their freshly caught products, Norwegians pay particular attention to an unbroken cold chain. One company that contributes to a high level of food safety is Atlantic Styro. The manufacturer, based on the Atlantic island of Lovund, just outside the Arctic Circle, produces containers made from expanded polystyrene (EPS). The polystyrene boxes keep fish and seafood fresh during transport and storage.
Three liquid ring vacuum pumps from the LRP VSD+ series from Atlas Copco are used on Lovund.
In addition to high quality, efficient production is more important than ever. In order to produce as sustainably as possible, the box manufacturer relies on a modern vacuum supply. The vacuum is used to extract the process vapor that is produced when the foam expands.
"Atlantic Styro achieves this very effectively thanks to our modern vacuum solution," said Roy Mikalsen, the Responsible Sales Manager at Atlas Copco. "Three liquid ring vacuum pumps from the LRP VSD+ series are used on Lovund, which are very well integrated into the overall process."
In addition to the high, stable vacuum performance, the liquid ring pumps are energy efficient and ensure low operating and maintenance costs. Equipped with two variable speed drives, the vacuum system saves energy and water. The first of the VSD twins maintains the required vacuum level by precisely controlling the operating speed of the pump, which ultimately reduces power consumption. The second drive controls the water circulation pump and thus optimizes the water flow in the pump.
"The closed water circuit means that leaking seal water is collected in a tank and recirculated," said Mikalsen. This recovery secures the water supply. An additional energy recovery also reduces production costs. To achieve this, the LRP VSD+ series is equipped with the powerful, user-friendly Elektronikon™ vacuum controller from Atlas Copco, among other things. This enabled Atlantic Styro to integrate the vacuum solution into its system and control the entire system.
With its compact design, the LRP VSD+ installation saves space. A soundproof bonnet insulates the background noise in the immediate working environment to a pleasant level of 65 dB(a). The ease of operation rounds off the ergonomic advantages: inlet, outlet and power cable connections are located on the top of the pump for easy installation. These easily accessible features make the solution as a whole an uncomplicated plug-and-play product.
For Atlantic Styro, the LRP VSD+ pumps combine high functionality with significant savings: Overall, the Norwegian company can calculate with 50% less energy consumption. Its user friendliness and centralization options make the vacuum solution from Atlas Copco the ideal system for the production of EPS boxes. This allows the full range of benefits of the raw material to be realized: a lightweight, cost-effective material that is perfect for packaging, insulating and transporting frozen fish and seafood. This means that seafood and fish retain their temperature and consistency over a long period of time and develop their full flavor when eaten later.
About Atlas Copco Vacuum Technique
At Atlas Copco Industrial Vacuum, we have revolutionized vacuum technology. Our state-of-the-art vacuum pumps and systems exemplify today’s connected and digitalized industry. Our teams of exceptional and passionate people engineer customer-centric vacuum solutions that offer better energy efficiency, consumer safety, improved productivity and a sustainable future. Our products are the invisible force that drive all industrial applications and manufacturing and our division includes the Atlas Copco, Edwards and Leybold brands. We are headquartered in Cologne, Germany with production centers in Germany, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, the United States and China. For more information, visit https://www.atlascopco.com.
