News

Recently one of PennWhite’s clients asked for help monitoring and controlling the volume of foam control agent used in their process. In response PennWhite developed a precision-engineered solution tailored to their needs.

Fabricated in food-grade 316 stainless steel, PennWhite’s bespoke 3-Way Manifold creates a flooded suction which, when connected to a standard IBC of PennWhite Foamdoctor, delivers the correct volume of foam control agent to the clients dosing system. The manifold’s three sight glasses make it easy for the client’s on-site team to check and control the amount of anti-foam they are using at any time.

PennWhite Sales Manager Ginter Szoltysek commented that production of the manifold illustrates that “PennWhite’s dedication to customer service goes far beyond just the delivery of chemical formulations.”

If you’ve sat outside a country pub on a warm evening over the last few weeks, particularly in the flatlands of Lincolnshire and Norfolk, chances are you’ve seen convoys of agricultural vehicles exhibiting a little more haste than normal.

It’s likely that these vehicles will be taking part in an annual harvest that aims to pick, transport, process and freeze billions of peas within just 150 minutes of being picked. After being delivered to the processing facility the fresh peas are washed, sorted, blanched and prepared before being frozen and shipped to distributers and supermarkets across the country.

At each stage of pea processing natural sugars within the peas generate significant volumes of foam that can delay production and reduce the quality of the peas. Fortunately processors use PennWhite’s range of specialist Foamdoctor products to eliminate foam throughout the cycle, ensuring that peas are frozen within their two and a half hour deadline to claim their Class AAA status.

The Race to Pick the Perfect Pea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On an average day the two large roller shutter doors at either end of the PennWhite manufacturing facility see a lot of traffic. Our forklift truck drivers are in and out every few minutes, either unloading raw materials from delivery vehicles or moving finished goods to our warehouse. As a result the doors are left “up” most of the time. While this makes access to the factory easier and quicker, it lets heat out in the winter and lets heat in during the summer. The impact on our environmental performance, and our heating and cooling bills, is significant.

But we’ve found a solution.

Earlier this week two automated fast-action energy-saving doors were installed at PennWhite. Each door detects the approach of a forklift and quickly raises the lightweight door before lowering it again once the forklift is clear. These new doors will provide a more consistent working environment for our staff and our temperature-sensitive manufacturing plant year round. They will also help us reduce our annual carbon footprint, one of our Environmental Policy’s key objectives.

An advanced PennWhite foam control agent has helped a new business recycle 500 million plastic drinks bottles in just 12 months!

The first step in recycling Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles is to wash, which inevitably creates an excessive amount of foam. In the past this foam has made PET bottle recycling inefficient and even commercially unviable. Adding PennWhite’s anti-foam to the washing process eliminated the troublesome foam and gave the company the confidence to start a joint recycling venture with a global soft drinks giant at a purpose built plant in the United Kingdom.

Another PennWhite anti-foam is being used at a previously mothballed plastic bottle recycling plant that has re-started after a £500,000 investment. When it was initially opened the plant struggled to reach quality standards, largely because of the impact of unwanted foam on its recycling process. Our foam control agent is now a key part in helping the plant deliver a thoroughly cleansed and high quality recycled bottle.

Together, These high-tech facilities will recycle billions of plastic bottles previously destined for landfill, as well as stimulating their local economies and creating jobs for local people.

Plastic Fantastic, PDF

Last week PennWhite were visited by Rabbi Kay from the Manchester Beth Din. Rabbi Kay undertakes an annual inspection of our Middlewich manufacturing plant and the raw materials we use to create our food-grade foam control agents. Following his inspection he certified that 32 of our Foamdoctor products are “Kosher and Parev”.

We have just received our new certificate (see link below), confirming Rabbi Kay’s approval and listing the associated products, which can include a hechsher, more commonly known as a “Kosher symbol”, on their label.