When reviewing cleaning processes for industrial vessels and storage tank equipment, it is important to consider factors such as contamination, product quality to meet today’s strict market standards. Many processing facilities are operating at maximum production levels and looking to improve their efficiency when it comes to minimising downtime in cleaning of process machinery and storage tank equipment.

Industrial tanks get extensive use in pharmaceutical, food, beverage and petrochemical processing applications. Companies commonly use process tanks, reactors, blenders, mixers, kettles, shipping containers or fermenters to complete these tasks.

Cleaning this equipment has been a long-standing challenge because a lot of the powders, granules and liquids are prone to clogging and clogging due to their viscous nature. Certain chemicals and residues can linger longer than others, and improper cleaning can negatively impact a company's bottom line.

Fortunately, there are several viable solutions available with modern tank cleaning services and equipment. You get an increased safety level, it's better for the environment, and it can significantly lower your cleaning costs. Today's cleaning solutions can: 

• Achieve 100% cleaning effectiveness
• Decrease cleaning times by 75% to 85%
• Eliminate or reduce confined space entry by 100%
•  Increase productivity by 20%
•  Reduce chemical and water usage by 70% to 80%

Why Spray Balls are the worst choice in tank cleaning

Spray balls were originally designed as a chemical distributing device, relying purely on the amount of chemical, rather than the impact to clean. Today, with rising chemical and water treatment costs and discharge restrictions, quicker CIP cycles are required, using less chemical whilst combining impact cleaning. 

Conventional spray balls struggle to achieve this. The design of many spray balls also means that whatever foreign material enters the ball may not be able to escape, acting like a sieve until it blocks, which can lead to wasting a batch, tank cleaning becoming defective until maintenance is carried out, and increased bacteria counts.

There are better tank cleaners than spray ball technology. Even the newest spray balls are poor performers in comparison to rotary head cleaners. The upfront cost of replacing spray balls is quite small, taking into consideration the much higher operation costs of spray balls.

Independent studies of rotary head cleaners have shown dramatic decrease in cleaning cycle times, water consumption, chemical usage, and cleaning effectiveness, when compared to spray ball cleaners.

 Spray balls are not only costing businesses, they are also costing the earth. For every litre of water saved, your business contributes to less carbon footprint to our planet. With manufacturing currently experiencing relatively modest growth, literally every second counts.

Production times are dependent on cleaning cycles. If that time can be cut by just 10 seconds, profits can grow dramatically. Rotary head cleaners, such as Gamajet from Alfa Laval, can cut at least 40 seconds of cycle times. 

Spray Nozzle Engineering has demonstrated experience in tank cleaning solutions matched with reliable technical and after-sales support. Partnerships with the world leaders in tank cleaning equipment combined with in-house engineering and customisation delivers a product range to cover every tank cleaning, sanitising and wash-down application.

The standard tank cleaning method for trailers has traditionally involved the vertical insertion of tank spinners through the centre manways. Despite this method has always been acceptable, this rarely cleans properly areas to prevent tank contamination. 

Gamajet Alfa Laval has created a solution for cleaning the notoriously hard-to-reach bulkheads in cargo tank: The Sidewinder. The Gamajet Sidewinder is a revolutionary, affordable accessory for achieving the most effective and efficient tanker, trailer, and railcar cleaning.

A revolutionary device for achieving the most effective tanker, trailer, and railcar cleaning, the Sidewinder enables a Gamajet Tank-cleaning device to be placed on its side, completely changing the nature of the nozzles’ orbit, enabling it to focus on the bulkheads. In effect, tankers can be cleaned in half the time.

Instead of following an ellipse pattern across the tank wall, as is the case when spinners are inserted vertically, the Sidewinder enables the machine to form a figure-8 pattern sweeping the length of the tanker. With the implementation of a Sidewinder, the spinner will deliver 30 times more hits to the bulkheads, cleaning tankers in half the time with no shadow areas, according to Gamajet officials.

Coupled with Gamajet spinners, which are designed to easily handle 6m to 9m throw lengths, the Sidewinder enables wash stations to provide the most efficient and effective clean to every inch of the tanker, giving you a Total Spraying Solution for the toughest application.

Gamajet Alfa Laval tank cleaning machines are designed for 100% elimination of confined space entry and to replace the need for manual entry tank cleaning. They may be permanently installed or used portably from tank to tank. For the portable applications they are dynamically balanced so that they may be lowered into a tank on a flexible hose.

Barrel racking wands such as Rack-it-Teer, are precision stainless steel spears, with patented locating finger and ‘positive-seal’ system that allows filling, decanting and oxygen purging without wasting gas.

Delivery of clean fluid is monitored via its sight glass and light adapter. With its patented extension system, Rack-It-Teer adapts to all barrel sizes, making it extremely versatile.

Barrel racking wands use gas pressure to transfer alcoholic beverages without agitation or oxidation. Barrel equipment is ideal for cellars that wish to reach high levels of racking cleanliness.

The Rack-It-Teer racking wand facilitates smoother cellar operations

Recently, Dave Bonighton of Mountain Goat Brewery identified advantages of the Rack-It-Teer saying, “We bought a Rack-It-Teer to help us fill and disgorge various beers through our set of whisky barrels. It makes our lives so much easier and treats the beer so gently. We’d recommend it to anyone using barrels.”

Wineries worldwide have successfully racked countless barrels with the Rack-It-Teer. An international winery stated, “We feel we are definitely softer on the wine and can taste the difference immediately after racking - the wine keeps its integrity.”

The Rack-it-Teer is preferred by operators for its good ergonomics and good locking mechanism. Operators are able to easily move from barrel to barrel, establishing a good air-tight seal every time and eliminate the need for adjustments. 

With over 25 years’ of fluid control and spraying solutions to the wine and beer processing industries in Australia and New Zealand, Spray Nozzle Engineering supplies an expanded range of automatic, decanting-filling gas spears by Rack-it-Teer. In addition to barrel racking equipment, Spray Nozzle Engineering also offers repairs and services Gamajet Alfa Laval tank cleaning equipment that is powerful, yet gentle on toast.

Best tank cleaning machines for mid-sized tanks, barrels and drums