|
|
Featured in the Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbun (Food Industry Journal) issued
on Thursday, November 27, 2008
|
In the materials, equipment and systems category of the 38th Food Industry
Technological Merit Awards, sponsored by Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbunsha Co.,
Ltd. (Food industry journal), the Yokota Defoaming-Degassing Pump ASP type
was selected for its technological usefulness in maintaining the freshness
of food products. The award appeared in the media as follows.
38th Food Industry Technological Merit Awards
33 Prestigious Entries Awarded
High-end market products prominent
New directions with environment-conscious products
The 38th Food Industry Technological Merit Awards ceremony, sponsored by
Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbunsha Co., Ltd. (Food industry journal), was held
in Tokyo's Ueno Seiyouken (restaurant) on November 15, 2008, from 11:00
AM. About 130 people were in attendance including 34 company representatives
receiving 33 awards, and the judging committee.
Award presentations this time included twelve awards in the product category,
six awards in the technological idea category, five awards in the materials,
equipment and systems category, seven awards in the marketing category,
two awards in the international category, and one in the special award
category.
|
38th Food Industry Technological Merit Award list
|
|
|
|
Reprinted from Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbun, Nov. 27, 2008 edition
|
|
|
|
Material, equipment and systems category
Defoaming-Degassing Pump "ASP Type" from Yokota Manufacturing
Co., Ltd.
|
|
|
|
 Introduction of product and technology entries receiving awards by category
Material, equipment and systems category
Defoaming-Degassing Pump "ASP Type"
Yokota Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
The Defoaming-Degassing Pump "ASP type" is equipment designed
to continuously remove bubbles and air from liquid with the capability
of reducing the oxygen in liquid (water) to 1/8 instantaneously. Moreover,
with a volume of approximately 1/74, the pump provides space savings incomparable
to equipment of the past. This has been a big plus for food product manufacturers
looking to introduce this type of equipment, and Yokota has a strong sales
performance throughout the food industry to show for it.
From its start, Yokota has been the top manufacturer of the "Enhanced
Self-Priming Centrifugal Pump", a pump which conveys liquid mixed
with bubbles and air. The Defoaming-Degassing Pump, developed utilizing
Yokota original technology, focused on the preservation of food freshness
by completely removing oxygen in the liquid (food product), and preventing
oxidation and decay.
The main technological feature of the pump is its instantaneous and continuous
separation of bubbles and gas in liquids using centrifugal force. The separated
bubbles and gas are then extracted via strong suction from a vacuum pump.
And a further advantage is obtained from the homogenization and particle
refinement of the liquid by simultaneously performing agitation using the
rotation of impeller blades. Moreover, equipped with both self-priming
and pressurization functions, which in the past required a number of different
components, the whole process can be performed using just one pump. |
 |
 |
Product development-related story from award-recipient company
Material, equipment and systems category
Yokota Manufacturing Co., Ltd.: Practical application of Defoaming-Degassing
Pump for food products
Managing Director: Masayuki Akiyama
Created based on originally developed principles aimed at self-priming,
Yokota is the leading manufacturer of the self-priming pump, a pump capable
of pumping water mixed with air.
At a time in the past when measures were required for the removal of rust
from tap water, Yokota successfully completed the production of the "Degassing
Pump, Degassing Equipment ASP" which extracts dissolved oxygen from
tap water through the practical application of self-priming pump technology
to separate air from water.
Soon afterwards, attention focused on the quality preservation and safety
of food and we soon became aware of the importance of defoaming-degassing
processing of food products while, at the same time, realizing that there
was only large-scale, inefficient production equipment available at the
time. Our company then began thinking about the practical applications
of the ASP as a defoaming-degassing pump for food products, and a development
team headed by Director Fumio Nishi then set about designing a mechanism
which conformed to sanitation specifications in the food sector. The design
focused on the following three main principles: (1) A structure with high
purification capabilities and no liquid back up; (2) Simplification through
an extreme reduction in the number of parts to enhance purification, and
(3) A compact structure. Under these three main principles, designing,
trials and other testing were conducted repeatedly on a daily basis.
In regard to the pump's development involving the balancing of the pump's
primary functions of defoaming, degassing and pressurization with its sanitation
functions, Director Fumio Nishi reflected on a stressful time during the
development and a truly rewarding moment to see a customer's happy face
appreciating this small mechanism doing just about anything.
The ASP went on to become a product which sufficiently meets the needs
of a market vexed with the "bubble" problem. We aim to further
intensify our development efforts in the future in meeting the needs of
the market.
|
|
|
For details of this product, please refer to Degassing Pump, Degassing Equipment ASP type.
Equipment suitable for defoaming relatively large amounts of liquid is
also available.
For details, please refer to Defoaming Pump, Defoaming Equipment UPSA type.
|
|
