Concentrate: get the dose right
June 1st 2007

Making quality cleaning formulations is one thing, but ensuring that they can be dosed accurately with robust and simple to use dosing equipment is quite another, as R.P Adam explains

More and more clients are requesting detergents with superior cleaning properties.They are not only prepared to pay a higher unit price for the concentrated quality, they are realising that as long as there are guarantees on controlling the consumption with an effective and simple-to-use dosing system, they can pay double the normal price, yet make a 50% saving.The market continues to be interested in concentrates, however the proof that they will save money lies with purchasing and commercial analysis.

In the last 35 years of its 116 years in business R.P Adam has manufactured mechanical dishwashing, glass washing and liquid laundry products for domestic and export markets.Over the last seven years the company has fully embraced and developed concepts of auto dosing concentrated chemical products.

In mechanical dishwashing, for example, super concentrated rinse aids and detergents can be meter dosed through Duotek2.

This is designed to be an ultra safe, off the floor, colour-coded dishwasher system capable of dosing concentrates at dilutions up to 4000 to 1 on a timed basis.

The system uses super concentrated chemicals in 5L containers to solve manual handling issues with traditional 20L containers.

Colour-coded container labels match the unit face and tubing to avoid user confusion on container switch over.There is a very low risk of users coming into contact with the hazardous dish wash detergent, due to a non return valve (5L bung insert) and feeder tube inside each 5L container.

To increase the safety profile the containers are also located in a sturdy steel cage to keep the chemicals safe, secure and off the floor.The digital LCD makes the programming of concentrations into machine tank or rinse line as easy a changing a plug.

The timed unit overcomes problems associated with some probe based systems which are affected by scale and soil in the wash tank, and it is not reliant on water pressure to dissolve alternative solid or powder systems on the market.Users simply load the full flask into the cage with the colour label matching unit face and remove the flask cap.They then insert a special bung and feeder tube into the flask and screw the coloured Duotek2 unit cap to the 5L flask.

It is important to remember that instilling confidence within your engineering and sales team with equipment is vital. If they are not comfortable with the equipment, engineering costs escalate and the sales force is reluctant to promote and sell.

Max Adam, sales & marketing director, says:"Concentrated chemicals and sophisticated meter dosing systems are important in today's world, however let us not lose sight of the fact we are selling clean dishes, glasses, crockery and linen – and not chemicals. If the results are poor – it doesn't matter how concentrated the chemicals are or how many bells and whistles the equipment has.

"Duotek2 can be fitted to almost any machine and the great thing about the chemical dosing here, is that there is no interference from the user and the customer gets true value from concentrates and high dilution levels."

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