Vacuum technology in the sugar industry

Pfeifer & Langen automates evaporation crystallization for pilot-scale research and development trials

In the research and development of sugar products, reproducible conditions are crucial for systematically investigating and advancing processes. At Pfeifer & Langen – the inventor of cube sugar and gelling sugar – vacuum is a central control parameter in evaporation crystallization at pilot scale. Stable and precise vacuum technology from VACUUBRAND contributes significantly to process reliability, product quality, and energy efficiency of the trials – seamlessly integrated into the company's advancing digital transformation of its research division.

The automation of the pilot-scale crystallizer was to be implemented using vacuum technology already available in the equipment inventory: a PC 3001 VARIOpro vacuum pumping unit with integrated CVC 3000 controller (successor product PC 3001 VARIO select). For the control system, the team developed a Python script that was intended to handle precise vacuum control, among other functions.

"The combination of compatible interface technology and VACUUBRAND's dedicated support enabled us to continue using the existing vacuum technology in our pilot plant efficiently and successfully integrate it into our automation system for the evaporation crystallizer. This has further increased the degree of automation in our research and development." (Sandra Bormann, Pfeifer & Langen)