Australian innovator Products For Industry (PFi) is set to unveil a groundbreaking advancement in water treatment: a pure titanium cross flow membrane solution. This innovative technology promises significant improvements in uptime, environmental sustainability, and operational yields compared to conventional wastewater treatment methods, a critical development for industries facing increasing regulatory pressure and environmental challenges.
After over a decade of meticulous research and development, this sophisticated product is now being deployed in Australia at a prominent beverages company. The technology will effectively separate solids from liquid streams throughout various stages of the wastewater treatment process, marking a pivotal shift in how the industry handles waste management.
“This solution is a game-changer for the food and beverage industry, especially for beverages and spirits. The unique properties of titanium facilitate a lower environmental footprint and extend intervals between Clean In Place (CIP) processes, therefore minimizing operational downtime,” stated Gavin Dunwoodie, managing director of PFi, emphasizing the technology’s critical advantages for efficiency.
PFi, a locally owned enterprise, specializes in servicing the industrial sector with a comprehensive suite of in-house capabilities that support manufacturers with a range of machine automation products, systems, and solutions, right from concept to final production.
“Traditional membranes made from ceramic or plastic often face back-pulsing and cleaning issues, leading to compromised equipment longevity and performance,” Dunwoodie added, explaining the shortcomings of existing technologies compared to their innovative titanium solution.
Titanium (Ti), known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, is the ninth most abundant metal in the earth’s crust. It matches the strength of steel while being 45% lighter and stands out for its non-magnetic and non-corrosive properties, making it an ideal candidate for high-performance applications.
“This forward-thinking beverages company sought an advanced solution that would bolster their throughput while simultaneously minimizing their environmental impact. From the very beginning, they were adamant that quality should remain uncompromised,” said Dunwoodie, highlighting the collaboration and shared vision with their partner.
Simple integration of automation hardware
“We required automation hardware that was streamlined, repeatable, and easy to integrate. To meet these demands, we selected Rockwell Automation’s CompactLogix Control System and PanelView Plus Graphic Terminal. This combination ensured we achieved a premium integration that aligns with the standards of leading global brands in the beverages sector,” detailed Dunwoodie.
Rockwell Automation’s CompactLogix™ controllers are designed to deliver higher performance, increased capacity, and improved productivity, all while enhancing security to meet the escalating demands of smart manufacturing environments.
Offering a sophisticated graphical interface, the PanelView™ Plus integrates seamlessly with the CompactLogix Controller, enabling engineers to configure settings just once for the entire automation design. This system also supports the development of modern applications equipped with high-speed HMI buttons and enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
“Rockwell collaborated closely with us to identify and implement the most suitable hardware for our needs, ensuring it was tailored to our specific requirements,” expressed Dunwoodie, praising their supportive partnership.
“The customer also required the coding style to adhere to PAC-ML, an internationally recognized standard. Rockwell adjusted their technologies accordingly,” added Dunwoodie, underlining the commitment to high-quality standards.
Anthony Wong, regional director for Rockwell Automation in the South Pacific, stated, “We are thrilled to support PFi’s latest innovation in Australia with our automation technology solutions. PFi is a valued Gold OEM partner in our PartnerNetwork™, and we anticipate our continued collaboration will bring significant advantages to our customers.”
Australian innovation
To facilitate the development of the titanium cross flow membrane solution, PFi constructed a new manufacturing facility on its existing site in Queensland, enhancing its production capabilities.
“Extensive pilot testing was conducted at a wastewater treatment plant in New Zealand three years ago. Results showed the titanium membrane could achieve exceptionally high flow and flux rates while promising quick and efficient CIP processes with no fouling or long-term issues related to fats, oils, and greases (FOG). The tests indicated that both operational costs and energy consumption could be substantially reduced over the lifespan of the system, and notably, the titanium membrane can be fully recycled after its usable life,” explained Dunwoodie, emphasizing the efficiency of their innovation.
“We sincerely value the support from the Australian Government in scaling up and accelerating the success of this innovation, which possesses significant potential for both domestic and global markets,” Dunwoodie further noted.
Solution advantages
The titanium cross flow membrane solution offers a host of advantages, leveraging the natural properties of titanium, including:
- A continuous length exceeding 1.3 meters.
- A broader array of apertures and filtration sizes available for diverse applications.
- Unprecedented wall thicknesses under 400 microns, considered unique on a global scale.
- Exceptional resistance to high temperatures, acidity, and pressure extremes.
- Industry-leading high flux rates and flow levels through the membrane.
- Materials that are non-perishable and easily recyclable.
- Leading density and surface area per housing units, setting benchmarks in the industry.
- Features back-pulsable, steam-cleanable, and chemical-resistant design, unlike ceramic membranes which cannot be back-pulsed, all at a comparable cost to this new titanium alternative.
- Extended intervals between CIP cycles, significantly reducing operational downtime.
- Smaller environmental footprint, lower energy consumption, and enhanced product lifespan.
Scalability
Dunwoodie envisions significant market opportunities for this innovative solution on a global scale, and he is eager to scale up operations following successful pilot programs and current deployments with the beverages giant.
“Rockwell’s standardized design will facilitate our market acceptance as we target the export landscape. Particularly within the spirits industry, this technology stands to replace traditional paper membranes, leading to superior results with minimized waste,” emphasized Dunwoodie.
“Titanium truly provides a closed-loop solution, being the only membrane that is 100% recyclable even after 20 years of service, representing invaluable benefits for end-users committed to their ESG objectives.”
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About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 29,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.
Contact details:
Jack Mallen-Cooper
PR Consultant
Whyte Public Relations
(02) 9901 4306
whytepr@whytepr.com.au
