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Transferring pharmaceutical and cosmetic liquids demands precision engineered, efficient and hygienic pumps. A Flux stainless steel barrel pump is a versatile solution for such important operations. They can handle liquids of varying viscosities and densities safely and effectively.
In industries such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, handling ingredients and finished products involves stringent safety and cleanliness standards. Therefore, these pharmaceutical and cosmetic liquids require specialised stainless steel barrel pumps to maintain product integrity, minimise waste and meet regulatory requirements.
Flux pumps efficiently transfer almost any liquid, including viscous cream, soap, gel, ointment, fragrance oil, perfume, alcohol and more.
Flux is your trusted solution for handling sensitive, high-value products.
The Flux stainless steel barrel pump range, including the F 424, F 427, F 430 low-viscosity pumps, and the Viscopower high-viscosity pump, delivers high performance in hygienic applications.
These pumps offer numerous advantages for pharma and cosmetics producers:
Smooth, highly-polished surfaces and EC / FDA approved food and pharma-safe materials reduce risk of contamination and meet regulatory demands. The design of these pumps minimises dead space where residue could accumulate, maintaining sterility and cleanliness for sensitive transfer applications such as food, ointment, injectables, or high-purity cosmetic products.
Designed for Clean-in-Place (CIP) and Sterilise-in-Place (SIP) systems, F 430 and F 570 pumps can also be disassembled for physical cleaning in under one minute, without the use of special tools. This feature is particularly valuable when switching between raw materials or finished products in pharmaceutical and cosmetic production.
Made from 316 L stainless steel, these pumps are hygienic, durable and chemically resistant. This makes them ideal for handling challenging liquids such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), alcohol-based formulations, or stabiliser-rich cosmetics, ensuring purity and long-term reliability.
Motors with adjustable speed control, such as our totally-enclosed F 458 EL model, provide accurate, consistent performance. This reduces waste, lowers material costs and ensures that every batch meets strict quality standards.
The F 427 sanitary model is a seal-less design that allows dry running for short periods. Plug-in PTFE bearings facilitate rapid disassembly for cleaning and maintenance. The seal-free design also reduces the chance of leakage or contamination, making it perfect for transferring high-purity liquids such as vaccines, serums, or sensitive emulsions.
Use one motor to drive several pumps: Our impeller pumps can handle thin, free-flowing liquids such as perfumes and toners. Transfer the drive motor to the Viscopower pump and use it to pump thick, high-viscosity products such as ointments, gels and creams (up to 30,000 mPas). This adaptability allows manufacturers to optimise costs by using one motor for various duties.
Many Flux stainless steel pumps hold ATEX certification. This ensures they perform safely in explosive atmospheres, or when pumping flammable alcohol-based products, such as sanitisers or fragrances.
A range of drive motors, hoses, dispensing nozzles and accessories are available to suit specific applications. This flexibility optimises performance, whether transferring delicate emulsions, cleaning chemicals, or dense formulations.
The Flux stainless steel barrel pump handles a wide variety of pharmaceutical and cosmetic liquids. Here are some examples:
Soap is a fundamental ingredient in personal care and cosmetic products, such as hand washes, facial cleansers, body washes, shampoos and shaving products. Manufacturers create soap through the process of saponification. This is a chemical reaction between an acid e.g. fat or oil, and an alkali, typically Sodium Hydroxide.
Soap Manufacturers carefully dispense pre-determined quantities of the acid and alkali, then mix and monitor for a set time. After testing, additives such as essential oils, moisturisers, botanicals or fragrances can be added. The product is then mixed, sometimes while being heated, before being poured into mould. This is where the saponification process is completed. The soap then cures and hardens.
The viscosity of soap products varies widely. Liquid soaps typically fall between 1,000 and 3,500 mPas. On the other hand, thicker formulations like body washes or cream-based soaps can exceed 5,000 mPas. Flux pumps transfer soaps in all stages of production, from raw materials to finished products. They ensure precise handling of both low and high-viscosity formulations, maintaining the product’s consistency and avoiding contamination during transfer.
Shampoos are specialised formulations designed to cleanse, condition and nourish hair. Beyond basic cleaning, shampoos address specific concerns such as dandruff, dryness, or hair loss. There are many variations inlcuding clarifying, colour-protecting and sulphate-free shampoos. Ingredients typically include surfactants (for cleansing), conditioning agents, emulsifiers and preservatives.
Shampoo manufacturing involves combining these ingredients under controlled heating and mixing conditions. Shampoo viscosity varies from 2,500 to 9,000 cP, depending on factors such as type of surfactants and the presence of additives such as oils or silicones. A Flux stainless steel barrel pump allows for smooth transfer during production, adding precision to blending and filling processes without altering product quality.
Foundation is a cornerstone of the cosmetics world. Users apply it to create a balanced skin tone on the face and neck before applying makeup. Formulations range from liquid to cream and powder forms. Liquid foundations are often oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions, incorporating pigments (like titanium dioxide or iron oxides), fillers (mica, talc), and binders (magnesium stearate) for texture and adhesion. Other ingredients may include hydrating agents, sunscreens and anti-aging additives.
The viscosity of liquid foundations typically ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 cP. This depends on the type of product and its coverage (light, medium, or full). Flux pumps are ideal for transferring these formulations, ensuring precise handling of pigment-rich liquids and maintaining homogeneity during the filling process.
Mascara is a high-viscosity cosmetic product that enhances eyelash volume, length and colour.
It is made using waxes (e.g., beeswax, carnuba), pigments (e.g., carbon black or iron oxides), oils (eg. castor oil), and emulsifiers. The two main production methods are anhydrous (hot-melting wax and oils) and emulsion-based (combining water phases and oils).
Mascara viscosity can be high, exceeding 50,000 mPas, making it one of the thickest formulations in cosmetics. Flux pumps excel in transferring these dense mascara formulations without clogging, ensuring smooth production and packaging processes. Several world leading cosmetics brands trust Flux Pumps to handle their mascara production processes.
Manufacturers commonly produce creams and ointments for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use. Examples include skin moisturisers, anti-aging creams and wound healing antiseptics.
These products are used to treat conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and fungal infections. They are typically manufactured as emulsions (oil-in-water or water-in-oil), using ingredients such as emollients, humectants, active agents, stabilisers and preservatives.
Viscosity can vary significantly, from light lotions (~500 cP) to thick creams and ointments (over 30,000 cP). Temperature-sensitive during production, these products require precise handling. Our Viscopower pump delivers pulsation-free flow, guaranteeing product consistency and eliminating issues such as emulsification breakdown. Flux pumps are approved by leading pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Liquid pharmaceuticals, such as syrups, suspensions, protein solutions and intravenous drugs, play a crucial role in healthcare. These products may serve as oral medications, injectable solutions, or topical treatments. Manufacturing involves precise processes such as maceration, granulation, filtration and sterilisation, adhering to stringent GMP standards.
The viscosity of medicinal liquids varies widely - thin syrups may have viscosity of less than 100 cP, while suspensions or gels may exceed 2,000 cP. Flux pumps are specifically designed for pharmaceutical-grade applications, ensuring sterile, contamination-free transfer of delicate formulations while maintaining product quality and integrity.
Perfumes are low-viscosity liquids made from essential oils, aroma compounds and solvents.
They are used not only as fragrances, but also in body sprays, deodorants and hair mists. Perfume production involves blending flammable alcohols, fragrance oils and water, followed by aging and filtration to achieve a consistent scent profile.
With water-like viscosities typically between 1.7 and 2.1 mPas, perfumes flow easily and require precision during transfer to prevent evaporation or contamination. Flux Ex-certified barrel and IBC pumps allow safe, consistent fragrance handling. They improve filling and packaging processes while preserving the delicate balance of the fragrance composition.
Nail products, including nail polish, base coat, top coat and gel formulations, can be highly viscous liquids. Manufacturers produce them by blending pigments, resins, stabilisers and solvents to create durable, fast-drying finishes. Specialty products like glitter polishes or metallic coatings require additional processing to ensure smooth dispersion of particles.
Viscosity can vary from 2,000 to over 30,000 cP, depending on the formulation. Flux pumps are indispensable for transferring these thick, often chemically active formulations, ensuring precise filling and minimising waste during production.
Yes, a stainless steel barrel pump is highly effective for pumping cosmetic formulations. There are drum pumps available for a variety of liquids, from low density products such as perfumes to thicker, high-density creams and clays. Using a progressive cavity pump with precision flow control preserves the texture and quality of cosmetic products, making these pumps suitable for a diverse range of applications.
A stainless steel barrel pump can handle both water-based and oil-based formulations, maintaining consistency and integrity during transfer. Their versatility and adaptability make them essential tools in modern cosmetic manufacturing.
Our sanitary stainless steel barrel pump and IBC pumps meet FDA CFR 21 standards and optionally, the 3A sanitary standard. They are built using materials safe for pharmaceutical applications and are easy to clean, either physically, by CIP or by being disassembled and placed in a suitable high temperature washer.
Polished, corrosion-resistant surfaces and elimination of “dead spots” where residues could be trapped, reduce contamination risk. This makes these pumps ideal for handling sensitive liquids eg. vaccines, alcohol-based solutions and liquid medications.
The Viscopower is the perfect sanitary drum pump for transferring facial and body peeling creams from drums and mixing containers to the filling process. Previously, workers manually transferred creams into filling machine hoppers, a method that was slow, inefficient and posed hygiene risks. The pump’s low rotational speed ensures gentle handling with minimal shearing, preserving the cream’s consistency and quality. Equipped with level sensors in the hopper, the pump is automatically switched on and off to keep the filling process running. By switching to the Viscopower, transfer speeds have significantly increased, and hygienic conditions greatly improved.
The F 430 S drum pump with mechanical seal is the ideal solution for decanting perfume oils from 200-litre drums into mixing systems. With FOOD and Ex certifications, this pump meets the required hygienic and safety standards for handling volatile substances like perfume oils.
The F 430 S design ensures easy cleaning and portability, making it perfect for quick and efficient decanting. Users can disassemble it into two parts without tools, allowing for hassle-free cleaning. The mechanical seal minimises the risk of cross-contamination, while the F 460 Ex drive motor features an IP 55-rated, double-walled housing to prevent carbon deposits from contaminating the product.
The pump’s portability allows operators to move it easily between containers and with a non-return valve at the outlet, dispensing is simple and efficient. Users control dispensing manually using a hand nozzle and monitor the weight of the product via scales, for accuracy.
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