Sanitary Pumps

Sanitary pumps provide cleanable, controlled transfer of pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, cosmetic and personal-care products. They are used where product-contact materials, drainability, surface finish, cleaning, seal design and gentle handling can affect product quality or contamination risk.

AxFlow supplies sanitary centrifugal and positive displacement pumps for liquids ranging from purified water and low-viscosity solutions to creams, gels, suspensions and highly viscous formulations.

This page focuses on sanitary process pumps for pharmaceutical, biotech, cosmetic and personal-care production. For food, beverage and dairy applications, see our Hygienic Pumps guide.

What Is a Sanitary Pump?

A sanitary pump is a process pump designed and configured to support effective cleaning, product containment and contamination control.

“Sanitary pump” does not describe one pumping principle. Sanitary executions are available across several technologies, including:

• Centrifugal pumps
• Circumferential piston pumps
• Rotary lobe pumps
• Twin screw pumps
• Eccentric disc pumps
• Air-operated double diaphragm pumps

The correct technology depends on the liquid, required flow and pressure, sensitivity to shear, cleaning method and process classification.

Stainless steel construction alone does not make a pump sanitary. The internal geometry, surface finish, seals, elastomers, connections, drainability and installation must also suit the process.

Sanitary, Hygienic and Aseptic Pumps

The terms sanitary and hygienic are often used interchangeably. For clarity, this page uses “sanitary pumps” for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and personal-care applications requiring controlled cleanability, documentation and product protection.

An aseptic pump is intended for processes where a sterile boundary must be maintained. A sanitary pump is not automatically aseptic, and CIP compatibility does not by itself prove that a pump can be sterilised or used in an aseptic process.

Aseptic applications may require:

• Sterile-flushed or barrier seals
• Sterilisable product-contact components
• Validated SIP cycles
• Controlled drainability
• Defined surface-finish requirements
• Material and elastomer documentation
• Installation qualification and process validation

ASME BPE covers materials, design, fabrication, inspection, testing and certification for bioprocessing, pharmaceutical and personal-care equipment. GMP, meanwhile, applies to the complete manufacturing process and quality system rather than acting as a stand-alone pump approval.

What Makes a Pump Suitable for Sanitary Processing?

Cleanable Internal Design: Product-contact areas should minimise pockets, crevices and stagnant regions where product or cleaning fluid could remain. Cleanability depends on the complete installed system, including pump orientation, connection design, flow velocity and the effectiveness of the cleaning cycle.

Drainability: The pump and connected pipework should drain as completely as the process requires.

A nominally drainable pump can retain liquid if it is installed in the wrong orientation or connected to pipework that creates low points.

Suitable Product-Contact Materials: Sanitary pumps are commonly available in 316L stainless steel, but material selection must reflect the actual product, cleaning chemicals, sterilisation temperature and corrosion risk. Product-contact elastomers and seal materials must also be compatible with the process and cleaning regime.

Defined Surface Finish: Internal surface finish is usually specified using roughness average, or Ra. The required finish should be defined by the user requirement specification or applicable process standard. Electropolishing or a finer mechanical finish may be required for some high-purity applications.

Sanitary Seal Design: The mechanical seal is a critical product-contact area. Depending on the process, the pump may require:

• Single mechanical seals
• Double mechanical seals
• Flushed seals
• Barrier-fluid systems
• Sterile seal flushing
• Leakage monitoring

The correct arrangement depends on product risk, operating pressure, dry-running potential and whether the process boundary must remain sterile.

Sanitary Pump Applications

AxFlow sanitary and hygienic pumps are designed for processes where hygiene, product integrity and reliable fluid handling are essential.

Typical applications include:

• Food processing – sauces, syrups, oils, ingredients and products containing soft solids
• Beverage production – juices, soft drinks, brewing and distilling
• Dairy processing – milk, cream, yoghurt and other dairy products
• Pharmaceutical & biotechnology – hygienic transfer of sensitive process fluids
• Cosmetics & personal care – creams, lotions, gels and other viscous products
• CIP applications – circulation and transfer during Clean-in-Place processes
• Viscous & shear-sensitive products – gentle handling where product quality must be maintained

How to Choose a Sanitary Pump

Selecting the correct sanitary pump requires more than simply determining the required flow rate.

Important considerations include:

• Required flow rate
• Discharge pressure
• Product viscosity
• Operating temperature
• Shear sensitivity
• Presence and size of solids
• Abrasiveness
• Required hygiene standard
• CIP, COP or SIP requirements
• Product-contact materials
• Seal requirements
• Required level of product containment

For example, a sanitary centrifugal pump may be appropriate for high-flow, low-viscosity applications, while an ECP, rotary lobe, eccentric disc or twin screw pump may be better suited to viscous or shear-sensitive products.

WHY BUY SANITARY PUMPS FROM AXFLOW

AxFlow UK boasts the widest range of sanitary and food grade pumps in the UK. Our range includes many hygienic centrifugal pumps and sanitary positive displacement models for use as high viscosity pumps. AxFlow is the exclusive UK distributor for APV.                                       

Our hygienic pump portfolio covers low shear rotray lobe and eccentric disc pumps, AOD pumps, hygienic stainless steel centrifugal pumps, and vane pumps. AxFlow offers many EHEDG pumps and 3A certified pumps as well as using FDA and 1935 approved materials. 

Food Grade Centrifugal pumps for use in food and beverage production.

Hygienic AODD pumps designed and built with materials suitable for food production in mind.

AxFlow UK offers several ranges of food grade eccentric disc pumps.

All of our external circumferential disc pumps are ATEX rated range offers the benefits of low shear pumping with ATEX certification.

AxFlow's range of realax peristaltic pumps are all available as ATEX rated pumps.

Vane pumps can find a range of problem solving applications in the food industry.

Sanitary and hygienic rotary lobe and external circumferential piston pumps.

When selecting sanitary pumps for specific applications, factors such as pump material, design, cleaning capabilities, and regulatory compliance should be considered to meet industry standards and maintain product quality. It's important to work with pump manufacturers and suppliers who have expertise in providing solutions for sanitary and hygienic processes.

Axflow UK are able to pump some of the most Viscous and sensitive fluids. 

Click the image to find out more about our sanitray pump repair. 

The importance of Sanitary pump maintenance

Maintaining sanitary pumps is crucial to ensure the integrity and safety of processes in industries where hygiene and sterility are vital. Regular maintenance routines involve meticulous cleaning, sterilization, and inspection of all components to prevent the possibility of contamination and uphold overall product quality. Thorough disassembly, cleaning with approved solutions, and proper reassembly are critical steps. Additionally, adherence to industry regulations, documentation of maintenance procedures, and continuous training for personnel are essential to guarantee consistent and effective operation of sanitary pumps.

System Cleaners provide all segments in the food and beverage industry with state-of-the-art manual and automated cleaning solutions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sanitary pump?

A sanitary pump is a process pump designed and configured for cleanable transfer of contamination-sensitive products. Suitability depends on its materials, surface finish, internal geometry, seals, drainability and cleaning method.

Are sanitary pumps and hygienic pumps the same?

The terms are often used interchangeably. On this AxFlow page, sanitary pumps refer primarily to pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and personal-care processing, while our Hygienic Pumps page covers food, beverage and dairy applications.

What is the difference between a sanitary and an aseptic pump?

A sanitary pump is designed to support effective cleaning and contamination control. An aseptic pump includes additional features intended to maintain a sterile process boundary, such as sterile seal flushing or barrier arrangements.

Are all sanitary pumps suitable for CIP and SIP?

No. CIP and SIP capability depends on the exact pump model, seal arrangement, materials, installation and operating limits. Compatibility must be verified for the proposed cleaning chemicals, temperature and cycle duration.

Which sanitary pump is best for creams and gels?

Circumferential piston, rotary lobe, twin screw and eccentric disc pumps are commonly considered for creams and gels. Final selection depends on viscosity, shear sensitivity, required flow, pressure and cleaning regime.

Can sanitary pumps handle solids?

Selected positive displacement sanitary pumps can handle soft particles and suspended solids. Maximum particle size depends on the pump geometry, internal clearances, connections and operating speed.