Industry: Food and Beverage
Solution: Pump Repair
Location: Pasco, WA
Date: October 2024
Problem:
A potato processing facility was losing pump performance on their transfer line impellers within weeks of installation. The combination of potato starch, silt, and abrasive particulate in the slurry was aggressively eroding the impeller vanes and shrouds, opening up clearances and reducing flow rates. The plant was cycling through replacement impellers at significant cost, and every swap meant shutting down the processing line.
Solution:
The eroded impellers were rebuilt using Belzona 1111, restoring original profiles and Belzona 1331 was applied in 2-coats providing a smooth surface with far greater erosion resistance than the original cast iron. High-wear areas on the vane leading edges and shroud faces received additional build-up to extend service life in the heavy slurry environment. The repair was completed cold with no welding, no machine shop, and no waiting on OEM lead times. The pump was back in service the in 48 hours.
Project Photos
Erosion Damage
Pitting and Metal Loss
Resurfaced with Belzona 1111
Finished with 2-Coats of Belzona 1331