Flux F 427 Hygienic Drum Pump — Advanced Drum Pump Food Grade Solution for Hygienic Transfer

• Pump type: F 427, hygienic drum pump food grade, seal-less in liquid area 

• Ex-classification: Not applicable 

• Outer tube material: Stainless steel 316 Ti (1.4581) 

• Driveshaft: Stainless steel 316 Ti, 0.4 micron surface finish 

• Inner tube: Stainless steel 316 Ti, 0.4 to 1.6 micron surface finish 

• Impeller: Stainless steel polished (hygienic design) 

• Bearing material: Food-grade PTFE 

• Immersion lengths: 700 mm (for smaller containers and hobbocks), 1000 mm (for 200 l drums), 1200 mm (for 1,000 l IBCs) 

• Outer tube diameter: 43 mm max 

• Outlet connection: 1 1/2“ tri-clamp 

• Certification: FDA CFR 21, EC 1935 / 2004, optional 3A version available to comply with international pharmaceutical safety standards 

• Optional silicone-free version available 

• F 427 drum pumps are suitable for use with F 414, F 416 Ex, FEM 4070, F 457, F 458, F 460 Ex and FBM 4000 Ex motors 

• Please note a hose connection is not included and must be purchased separately.  

• Max flow rate: Approx. 240 l/min*1  

• Max discharge pressure: Approx. 13 mwc*1 

• Maximum liquid temperature: Approx. 100 degrees C  

• Max density: 1.9 g/cm3 

• Max viscosity: Approx. 1000 mPas 

• Dry run limitations: Suitable for limited dry running 

• Solids handling: Not recommended for handling large quantities of solid particles (see pump model F 430 FOOD) 

*Measured with water at 20 degrees C in open flow condition. The maximum figures listed above are dependent on the application, fluid properties and the pump configuration. Please refer to technical data sheets or performance diagrams.  

*Dependent on motor 

The F 427 is compatible with a range of food, beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products of viscosity <1,000 mPas.  To discuss your application, please contact our sales team. 

Firstly, this pump is the ideal solution for hygienic transfer of low viscosity products from drums, barrels and IBC containers. F 427 is a seal-less drum pump food grade solution, incorporating unique plug-in PTFE bearings (including the lower bearing housing) to facilitate rapid disassembly for cleaning or de-contamination. In addition, you can sterilise all disassembled parts in a high-temperature parts washer, or autoclave. The pump is also suitable for Clean-In-Place (CIP) and Sterilise-In-Place (SIP) protocols, where applicable. 

Additionally, the use of stainless steel 316 Ti, known for its enhanced resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, ensures this pump endures repeated sterilisation without degradation. The pump tubes are polished to a surface roughness of 0.4 microns, with welds being treated to 1.6 microns.  Furthermore, the design eliminates any dead spots where product residue could accumulate, helping to reduce the risk of bacterial growth and product contamination. 

This pump is versatile, handling a wide range of liquids, including those containing suspended soft-solids such as pulp, soup or spices. However, the pump is not suitable for transferring highly flammable liquids, or media containing a large quantity of hard solid particles. Finally, the sealed bearing and two radial shaft seals protect the motor coupling from ingress of vapours and liquids. 

When selecting a drum pump food grade solution, carefully consider the following criteria to ensure product quality, operator safety, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency: 

• Material certification: Use pumps made from materials certified for food contact, such as stainless steel 316 Ti, with documented compliance to FDA CFR 21 or EC 1935 / 2004 sanitary standards. 
• Sanitary design features: Ensure the pump design eliminates dead spots where bacteria can accumulate. Highly polished surfaces and smooth, treated welds are essential.  
• Ease of disassembly: The pump should allow full disassembly into individual parts within minutes, consequently facilitating thorough cleaning and sterilisation.  
• Seal-less or hygienic seal design: Selection depends on the pumped media and the presence of solid particles. 
• Compatibility with cleaning protocols: Pumps should withstand repeated CIP / SIP processes and chemical cleaning agents without material degradation. 
• Performance adaptability: The pump should handle a range of media viscosities, temperatures and densities typical in sanitary applications. 
• Temperature compatibility: Wetted components should be suitable for repeated cleaning cycles at high temperatures, up to 130 deg C. 
• Certification and documentation: Official certification (FDA, 3A, EC) and serial number traceability will support regulatory audits and quality assurance. 
• The Flux F 427 surpasses these requirements, thereby ensuring that your hygienic transfer processes remain compliant, safe and reliable. 

Both the F 424 and F 427 belong to Flux’s high-performance F 400 series drum pump range and primarily feature stainless steel construction. However, their intended applications and hygienic capabilities differ significantly: 

• F 424: The F 424 S is designed for general industrial use and handles a wide variety of chemicals and petroleum-based fluids with rugged reliability. F 424 S models are seal-less and incorporate our screw-on foot piece to aid disassembly. However, this pump version lacks the specialised sanitary design features required for sterile pumping. The materials are not certified for food contact and the surface polish is to a lower standard, making it unsuitable for most hygienic applications. In addition, the high surface area, spiral shaft bearing may trap adhesive food products, making cleaning problematic. Furthermore, F 424 has a BSP male threaded outlet, rather than a sanitary threaded, or clamp type connection. 

• F 427: Engineered explicitly for hygienic applications, the F 427 incorporates FDA and 3A certified materials and quick-release, plug-in PTFE bearings that facilitate rapid disassembly for cleaning. These features enable straightforward cleaning, sterilisation and contamination control. Additionally, all components are certified and traceable. Stainless steel components are highly polished and any bug traps present in the F 424 design, have been eliminated. Furthermore, F 427 has a sanitary tri-clamp outlet port, rather than an industrial BSP threaded connection. Finally, we supply every F 427 pump with detailed sanitary certification and approvals, which distinguishes it as the premium choice for food-grade applications. 

The F 458 (or F 458-1) electric motor is the perfect choice for most sanitary applications. This motor is a fully-enclosed, double walled design.  The motor housing retains carbon dust created as the motor brushes wear, therefore eliminating contamination risk. In addition, these motors are portable, quiet running and can safely be used in wet or humid conditions. Incidentally, if a single-phase electricity supply is unavailable, consider the F 414 3-phase motor, or F 416 compressed air motor. 

The Flux F 427 is a seal-less centrifugal, axial-rotor pump, optimized for hygienic fluid transfer. There is no semi-axial rotor option for this pump. Therefore it is best suited to high-flow, low pressure transfer tasks and handling lower viscosity media. 

The pump cannot create suction, therefore, the impeller must be submerged in the pumped liquid to operate. The pump relies on atmospheric pressure to push liquid to the pump inlet. Because the pump’s inner tube is open to the fluid, the fluid level inside the pump equalises with the fluid level inside the drum or container. When the drive motor is activated, the impeller generates centrifugal force, propelling the liquid axially, parallel to the driveshaft and thus upwards, to the side discharge outlet. The motor drives the impeller at speeds up to 10,000 RPM. The pump is powered by a range of Flux F 400 series electric or compressed air motors. 

Notably, F 427 is extremely easy and fast to disassemble, thanks to its unique plug-in bearing system and screw-on foot piece. Once disassembled, the pump components can be sanitised at temperatures up to 130 deg C. The seal-less design ensures no dynamic seals are in contact the fluid and reduces the number of wear parts – thereby, cutting maintenance requirements. Additionally, the pump can be dry run for short periods without risk of damage. Twin radial shaft seals safeguard the motor coupling area from vapor or liquid intrusion, thus extending the service life of the pump and motor. 

F 427 is available with food-approval or 3A certification for pharmaceutical applications.  

• Complete hygiene compliance: Meets FDA CFR 21, EC 1935 / 2004 and optionally, 3A sanitary standards, supporting food and pharmaceutical transfer processes. 

• Rapid disassembly: Easily dismantled in minutes using simple tools, allowing comprehensive cleaning and sterilisation, vital for batch production environments. 

• Seal-less design: Extends operational reliability and eliminates preventative maintenance. Allows dry running for limited periods. 

• Minimal dead spots: Smooth, polished surfaces and precision-treated welds reduce the risk of microbial growth.  

• Robust material construction: Stainless steel 316 Ti resists corrosion, pitting and mechanical wear under repeated CIP / SIP cycles. 

• Versatile media handling: Capable of transferring liquids with suspended soft solids, such as pulped juices or spiced soups, without clogging or damage. 

• Sanitary connections: Available with hygienic tri-clamp or RJT connections for easy integration into sterile piping systems. 

• Suitable for use with F 414, F 416 Ex, FEM 4070, F 457, F 458, F 460 Ex and FBM 4000 Ex motors, including high-power variants. 

Flux F 424 Drum Pump – Industrial Applications 

Flux F 400 Motor Options.