Out With the Old and… You Know the Rest

Discontinued Sanitary Equipment Product Lines – How does it affect you?

Over the years we have seen many changes in sanitary processing equipment, especially with smaller items like pumps, valves, etc.  What is the reason for this?  Let’s examine some possibilities.

One reason for these product line changes may be the evolution of companies and the equipment they manufacture.  During the last 25 years there have been a lot of changes within the corporations that make the majority of the sanitary equipment available.  When you consider global giants like Alfa Laval, SPX, and all of the smaller companies under these umbrellas, each with dozens of product lines, it is amazing that they can maintain the constancy of a single product as long as they do.

Another possible reason for the changes is the betterment of sanitary standards, making the newer products more beneficial for consumer safety. There have been great advances in the evolution of sanitary standards and the designs that have followed, as well as increasing ease of maintenance with many of the current product offerings.

For example, think back to the days of the Ladish 100 Series Valve that had a closed bonnet, so you never knew when the stem seal was leaking and product would collect and spoil.

Or what about those old Crepaco Centrifugal Pumps with an “X” shaped four-blade impeller and exposed threads at the end of the pump shaft?

Sanitation standards and equipment design have come a long way since those “good ol’ days,” wouldn’t you agree?

Think about some of the product lines that have fallen by the wayside:

• Tri-Clover’s 100, 200 & 300 Series Valves
• G&H/Alfa Laval’s SRC Valve Line
• Almost anything with the name Crepaco on it
• APV’s Zephyr line of valves
• Tri-Clover pumps – EH Series & CL Series Centrifugals, and not to ever forget the PR and TSR Series Positive Displacement Pumps.

This is just a few; I am sure you can remember some others that have caused you pain upon exiting.

So, how has all of this affected you and your company over the years?

Who do you turn to and ask: “Do you know where I can find one of these?”