What makes molasses difficult to pump
The pump is sized at the coldest working temperature and turns slowly, so the gear teeth fill completely.
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 molasses
| Recommended series | CR · NAV · ZV |
|---|---|
| Flow range of these series | 0.47 – 4,292 l/min (0.03 – 258 m³/h) |
| Body material | Cast iron as standard; stainless steel NAV for aggressive variants |
| 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 | NAV: flanged DN 40 – DN 125 PN 16; ZV: threaded ports, close-coupled to the motor |
Suction is where molasses pumps fail
A gear pump does not suck molasses: it lets the tank push the product into the gears. With a long, thin suction line the pump cavitates, gets noisy and delivers half its rated flow. We ask for the suction pipe length and diameter on every molasses enquiry, and we prefer a short, large-bore suction and a pump at low speed — on molasses the right pump is often one size larger, running slower.
From the mill to the feed mixer
Large transfers from sugar mill tanks to road tankers use the flanged NAV Series; heated storage or cold-climate sites use the jacketed CR; molasses dosing into feed mixers uses the compact ZV, where each revolution moves the same volume.
Where molasses pumps work
Applications: Sugar mills (final molasses transfer), distilleries and ethanol plants, feed mills and lick-block lines, livestock farms, yeast and citric acid fermentation, ports and bulk terminals.
Typical markets: India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala. 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 molasses pump
- Product name, producer or data sheet of the molasses
- 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
- 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 molasses?
We normally propose the CR, NAV or ZV Series. The CR is heating jacket wrapped around the whole pumping chamber. 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 molasses 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.
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.
This page also covers: Beet molasses.