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. Based on Lovund, an Atlantic island just outside the Arctic Circle, the manufacturer produces containers made from expanded polystyrene (EPS), a lightweight, cost-effective material for packaging, insulating, and transporting frozen fish and seafood. The polystyrene boxes keep fish and seafood fresh during transport and storage.
In addition to high quality, efficient production is more important than ever. To produce as sustainably as possible, the box manufacturer relies on a modern vacuum supply. The vacuum extracts the process vapor produced when the foam expands.
“Atlantic Styro achieves this very effectively thanks to our modern vacuum solution,” said Roy Mikalsen, 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.”
The three liquid ring pumps are energy-efficient and ensure low operating and maintenance costs. Equipped with two variable speed drives (VSDS), the vacuum system saves energy and water. The first of the VSD twins maintains the required vacuum level by precisely controlling the pump’s operating speed, ultimately reducing power consumption. The second drive controls the water circulation pump and thus optimizes the pump’s water flow.
“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.”
The LRP VSD+ is compact and saves space. A soundproof bonnet insulates background noise in the immediate working environment to 65 dB(a). The inlet, outlet, and power cable connections are located on the top of the pump for easy installation. These easily accessible features make the solution an uncomplicated plug-and-play product.
Overall, the LRP VSD+ pumps combine high functionality with significant savings and 50% less energy consumption. Their user-friendliness and centralization options make the vacuum solution from Atlas Copco suitable for EPS box production so that seafood and fish retain their temperature and consistency over a long period and develop their full flavor when consumed later.
Atlas Copco
atlascopco.com
