Twin screw pumps use two intermeshing screws to create smooth, pulsation-free flow. Unlike many pump types, they can handle both product transfer and CIP with the same pump, reducing system complexity. Their design allows for excellent handling of viscous, shear-sensitive products while still achieving high-speed CIP flow.
Twin Screw Pumps for Sanitary Processing
Twin Screw Pump Overview
Twin screw pumps provide exceptional versatility in sanitary processing, delivering smooth, pulse-free flow that gently handles everything from thin liquids to high-viscosity products.
Their unique intermeshing screw design allows the same pump to move product at low RPM during processing and operate at high RPM for CIP, enabling many facilities to replace two separate pumps with a single, efficient solution. Built for cleanability, reliability, and wide operating range, twin screw pumps offer a powerful combination of performance and flexibility across food, beverage, dairy, and pharmaceutical applications.
Universal Twin Screw Pump
Key Features
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Reliable Performance:
- Screws made from Waukesha Alloy 88 non-galling material allow the pump to run through incidental contact and reduce risk of pump damage if screws make contact
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Gentle Product Handling:
- Pumps large particulates without degradation
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Responsive Service:
- Extensive global distribution network with certified repair centers provide quick response times for parts and service
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Easy Maintenance:
- Front loaded access to product side seals
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Process Flexibility:
- Low inlet pressure requirement and a wide range of operating speeds allow for multiple duties including process and CIP supply.
- Bi-directional flow capability without making modifications to the pump.
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Smooth Operation:
- Reduces slip pulse in low inlet pressure, low viscosity, and high pressure conditions.
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Reduced Noise Levels:
- Operating principle virtually eliminates pressure fluctuations.
- EHEDG (Type EL Class I) certification applies for UTS pump sizes 015 to 220 with EPDM, FKM or FFKM gaskets and SiC, TC or C mechanical seal material
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Theory of Operation:
Twin Screw Pumps
Twin screw pumps operate using two intermeshing, non-contacting screws that rotate in opposite directions within a precision-machined pump housing. As the screws turn, they form sealed cavities that gently convey product from the suction side to the discharge side in a smooth, pulse-free flow. Because the screws do not touch each other or the housing, the pump handles shear-sensitive, abrasive, and particulate-laden fluids with minimal wear and extremely low shear.
A defining feature of twin screw technology — and a core advantage of the Waukesha Universal Twin Screw Pump — is its ability to run at a wide speed range. At low RPM, it provides gentle product handling for viscous foods, creams, slurries, and delicate solids. At high RPM, the same pump transitions into a powerful CIP booster, allowing facilities to use one pump for both process and CIP. This eliminates the need for a separate centrifugal CIP pump and reduces system complexity, downtime, and cleaning changeover steps.
The non-contacting screw design also ensures excellent cleanability. The pump is fully CIP capable, self-draining when properly installed, and engineered to minimize product hold-up. Waukesha’s precision screw geometry and tight tolerances improve volumetric efficiency, allowing accurate, consistent flow across a wide range of viscosities — from water-like liquids to thick pastes.
With its combination of versatility, hygienic performance, smooth flow, and high-pressure capability, the Waukesha Universal Twin Screw Pump offers a highly flexible solution for modern sanitary processing environments.
Alloy 88 Rotor Design
For decades, Waukesha has advanced rotary pump technology, refining every detail. The Alloy 88 rotor design continues that legacy, built to prevent galling, maintain precision, and keep your process running smoothly in demanding environments.
Key Applications
Food & Beverage
Soups
Stews
Tomato Pastes
Vegetables
Dressings
Chocolate
Fats & Oils
Batters
Cream Fillings
Brewery
Wort
Soft Drinks
Fruit Drinks
Meat Processing
Dairy
Cream
Milk
Cheese Curd
Whey
Cottage Cheese
Yogurt
Pharmaceutical & Cosmetics
Pill Pastes
Syrups
Extracts
Slurries
Face Creams
Lotions
Hair Styling Gels & Liquids
Dyes
Alcohols
Soaps
Cosmetics
Chemical & Industrial
Solvents
Paints
Fuels
Resins
Polymers
Sludges
Oil
Lubricants
Frequently Asked Questions
In many applications, yes. Twin screw pumps operate at low speeds for gentle product handling, then ramp up to high speeds for CIP circulation. This eliminates the need for a separate CIP pump, reduces piping and valving, simplifies installation, and lowers long-term maintenance costs.
Twin screw pumps excel in food, dairy, beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, and specialty processing. They handle everything from thin liquids to thick, viscous products with solids—such as yogurt, sauces, creams, gels, and CIP chemicals—making them one of the most versatile sanitary pump technologies available.
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