One thing you’ll probably witness in the coming years is the evolutionary nature of technology. And the pump industry has much to offer regarding the different forms and nature of pumps. To meet the growing demand for a liquid or gas product, you may have to keep advancing your pump to ensure that it doesn’t become a hurdle for effective service delivery.
Pumps fall into two main categories. The first category is standard pumps that you can purchase over the counter or by ordering online. The other category is custom-made pumps that are tailored to suit your needs. It would be best if you worked with professionals such as KNF UK or any other reputable company for bespoke pumps. A good company will ensure that your pump offers high capacity, high pressure, noise reduction, leak tightness, long-term service and different port configurations.
To keep you informed, below are the current innovations and tech trends that are driving the pump manufacturing industry:
1. Power-Efficient Pumps
Globally, there is a continued urge to have more innovative ways of conserving power usage. As a result, pump manufacturing organisations have been at the forefront of introducing energy-efficient pumps to lower the energy used in any company. You can achieve this by having power-efficient systems without compromising reliability and quality.
As a result, a company that wants to produce electricity-usage-friendly pumps needs to invest in efficient motors or pumps that can handle low-flow situations. It’s expected that the power consumption for pumps in the future will significantly go down. Much money and effort are being invested in research to develop more powerful pumps with less energy input.
2. Internet Of Things (IoT)
The pump industry has been taken by storm in the last decade by adopting internet-connected pumps. As a result, you don’t have to physically monitor and operate your pump. You can now effortlessly achieve that remotely. Thus, you can increase productivity by engaging in other activities while your pump is still operating.
Assuming that you’re pumping some water for cooling your machines in your manufacturing company. In that case, you can fit your tank with a sensor that sends you a message when the tank is full. Because your pump is fitted with wireless connectivity, you can switch it off remotely.
The advantage of connected pumps is that they reduce maintenance costs and downtime, making them energy-efficient. Wirelessly connected pumps are expected to be a game-changer in the new era of smart cities. As such, pumping systems can be automated for backup purposes, especially during emergencies. For instance, significant events such as world cups for various sports are hosted by different cities. Such cities can leverage smart pumps to boost the supply of services such as water to cater to the population’s seasonal influx.
3. 3D Printing
Visualisation is vital during manufacture. As a result, pump manufacturing firms are increasingly adopting 3D printing technology. With the technology, manufacturers can design customised 3D-printed parts for specific applications.
In addition, 3D printing improves the manufacturing process by reducing time compared to traditional procedures. Moreover, it becomes easier to upgrade and repair pumps.
4. Smart Pumps
Technology has gone a notch higher to having self-operating pumps. As such, you can have your pumps fitted with sensors for collecting data such as flow rate, temperature, pressure and viscosity of fluid pumped. Such data is critical for optimising the pump’s performance. For instance, using a thermostat, the pump can self-switch off if the temperature goes above the threshold. Once the temperatures are normalised, you can remotely switch the pump on if it is wirelessly connected.
5. Alternative Materials
Traditionally, pumps are made of aluminium or steel. However, this trend is now shifting to include other materials, such as composites and plastics. Engineers behind the technology cite advantages such as improved durability, reduced weight and lowered production costs. In addition, alternative materials have opened doors to new pump designs in sizes and shapes.
6. Wearable Pumps
This might sound strange, primarily if you’ve never heard of wearable pumps. This technology is a massive game-changer in the healthcare industry. You can wear such pumps on your body—for instance, pumps used during blood transfusions or insulin delivery.
Another category of wearable pumps is those attached to other wearable devices like fitness trackers and smartwatches. The wearer can easily monitor the pump performance and get alerts in case of any problems.
7. Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality is the fulcrum of virtual modelling. As such, pumps for an entire plant can be modelled virtually and tested under various conditions. In addition, you can use virtual reality models for training purposes on how to use specific pumps.
Final Thoughts
The pump manufacturing industry is quickly changing through the adoption of current technology. Hopefully, this article has brought you up to speed regarding the tech trends and innovations transforming this industry.