What makes honey difficult to pump
The pump is sized at the coldest working temperature and turns slowly, so the gear teeth fill completely.
Hygienic design, stainless steel wetted parts, no hold-up zones and quick stripping for cleaning.
Low speed and a smooth, pulse-free flow protect the structure of the product.
The pump must not be left full and cold: it is kept warm, kept full or flushed at every stop.
How we build the pump for honey
| Recommended series | FX · ZV |
|---|---|
| Flow range of these series | 0.47 – 247 l/min (0.03 – 15 m³/h) |
| Body material | Stainless steel machined from solid (FX) for hygienic duty |
| Heating | Recommended in cold climates, for long storage or where the product thickens at night |
| Speed | Low speed: a larger pump turning slowly, often with a gear motor or inverter |
| Shaft seals | Kept wet or flushed at shutdown to avoid deposits on the faces |
| Connections | ZV: threaded ports, close-coupled to the motor |
Where honey pumps work
Applications: Honey extraction and filtering, packing and jarring lines, honey cooperatives, bakery and confectionery.
Typical markets: Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Turkey, Iran, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil. For these sites we size for local conditions: the coldest night temperature, 50 or 60 Hz power, heating available on site and spare parts that can be kept in stock locally.
Recommended pump series
Data we need to size your honey pump
- Product name, producer or data sheet of the honey
- Viscosity at the pumping temperature, and the lowest temperature on site
- Flow rate required (l/min, m³/h or bbl/h)
- Discharge pressure, or line length, diameter and height
- Suction: tank, line length and diameter, liquid level
- Hygiene requirements and cleaning method (manual strip or CIP)
- How often the line stops, and for how long
- Power supply: voltage and 50 or 60 Hz
Frequently asked questions
Which gear pump do you recommend for honey?
We normally propose the FX or ZV Series. The FX is hygienic, machined from solid stainless steel, quick to strip and CIP-ready. The final model depends on flow, viscosity at temperature and suction, and is confirmed by our technical office.
Why do you size the pump for honey larger than the flow requires?
Because a viscous fluid needs time to fill the gear teeth. A larger pump turning slowly fills completely, runs quietly and wears far less than a small pump at high speed.
Will the pump damage the honey?
Not if it is sized correctly. A gear pump at low speed moves the product as a gentle positive displacement flow, with far less shear than a high-speed centrifugal pump.
Do you supply pumps outside Italy?
Yes. The pumps are built in our Bologna workshop and quoted for export. Write your country in the form and we will size the pump for your power supply (50 or 60 Hz) and site conditions.