Sparked by the popularity of online shopping and the resulting demand for delivering products, corrugated cardboard boxes have become the most widely used packaging material worldwide. But without cornstarch glue, meant-to-be corrugated boxes would simply remain on the production floor as a stack of cardboard sheets.
Cornstarch Glue Conundrums
When dealing with cornstarch glue in corrugated-box manufacturing, the challenge lies in its adhesive nature and high viscosity, posing difficulties for pumps. Hardened glue within the pump can lead to premature wear, affecting mechanical seals and bushings, potentially causing leaks and safety hazards. The decision to repair or replace the pump depends on the extent of the damage, spare parts availability, and the impact on downtime and production schedules.
To avoid getting glued down and falling behind on production, operators should utilize pumps engineered to transfer cornstarch glue effectively in their cardboard-box manufacturing process.
Pumping Solutions for Sticky Problems
To help corrugated-box manufacturers overcome the challenges present in handling cornstarch glue, reduce the risk of downtime and stay on track with production times, PSG® offers a duo of reliable, safe and efficient pumps: Wilden® Metal AODD Pumps and Blackmer® G Series Internal Gear Pumps.
Wilden Metal AODD Pumps
With no mechanical seals for virtually leak-free operation, Wilden Metal AODD Pumps (available in clamped and bolted models) are portable, self-priming and dry-run capable – making them ideal for handling cornstarch glue. Additional features and options include:
Blackmer G Series Internal Gear Pumps
Featuring a jacketed cast-iron body, ANSI flanges, bronze or carbon-graphite bushings, and carbon-graphite packing or Buna-N mechanical seal, the Blackmer G Series has become a standard in many “starch kitchens.”
Stuffing-box area allows starch to settle out by displacing the liquid needed to lubricate the seal.
Triple lip seal provides “dry-run” capabilities to help prevent early failure of the seal.
Alternative “behind the rotor” design positions the seal in fresher product to help enhance seal life.
With the right pumping technology, operators can efficiently handle the stickiest cornstarch glue applications and continue producing the corrugated cardboard boxes used to ship products around the world.
For more information on how Wilden Metal AODD pumps and Blackmer G Series Internal Gear Pumps can help unstick cornstarch glue applications, read our whitepaper: Identifying the Best Pumps for Use in Corrugated-Box Manufacturing.