Repeat Business - The global paint producer Tikkurila has used Larox Flowsys products since 1993 when the first pinch valves were installed to the factory. The pump family of Larox Flowsys was established in 2003 and the first LPP pumps were delivered to Tikkurila in 2006. LPP pumps have brought considerable benefits to pumping processes in Tikkurila including reduced maintenance and energy costs in addition to improved operational reliability.

Established in 1862, Tikkurila has almost 150 years of experience in the paint business. It is the biggest paint producer in Finland, manufacturing paints and coatings for private consumers, professional painters and industrial users. The company has production units in seven European countries in addition to sales units in ten more countries.

Hose Pumps Excel in Tikkurila

The Tikkurila production plant located in Vantaa, near Helsinki, Finland, uses Larox peristaltic pumps and Larox pinch valves in its processes. At the moment approximately 30 Larox valves and 10 LPP pumps are successfully operating in the production plant. Tikkurila has four LPP-T40 pumps transferring raw materials from the storage tanks to the process and six LPP-T65 pumps moving the color paste forward in the process.
At the beginning Tikkurila used screw, diaphragm and rotary lobe pumps in the paint factory. However, these pump types had several challenges in the application. Seal leakages, insufficient capacity, drying of the solids, corrosion and jamming of the pumps were major problems, in addition to the start-up disturbances that occurred with pneumatic pumps. Furthermore the maintenance and energy costs were extremely high.
Hose pumps have been used in Tikkurila since 2000 and were selected due to their capability to pump sensitive medium. In 2006, Tikkurila replaced their current hose pumps with LPP pumps. The major deal maker in the first delivery was the compact design of LPP pumps along with the competitive price, and easily adjustable installation position. Moreover, the domestic knowhow in spare parts and maintenance were an important factor.

Customer Satisfaction through 
Reduced Life-cycle Costs

The introduction of LPP pumps in Tikkurila was successful and Ere Toivonen, the maintenance manager of Tikkurila has been very satisfied with their operation: "Larox pumps increased our pumping capacity considerably and the operational reliability took a leap forward. Since the installation of LPP pumps the maintenance and energy costs have also significantly decreased."
The LPP pumps are known for their low environmental load and reduced total cost of ownership. In Tikkurila, the energy costs of LPP pumps are 10 times lower than with previously used pumps, the concrete savings being almost €5,000 in one year. Due to their high output, LPP pumps are used in Tikkurila only 83 hours per year which means that the savings would be even higher in applications where the pumps operated 24/7.
Thanks to the increased capacity of LPP pumps the lead time of the product has decreased from 1.5 hours to only 15 minutes, making the process much more efficient. Life-cycle costs are also affected by the reduced maintenance need and long hose life of LPP pumps. "The maintenance need with LPP pumps has been low and till now we have not had to change any hoses due to wearing," says Toivonen. The first hose changes will take place this year on those pumps that have been in operation for three years. According to Toivonen, "Larox Flowsys promised three years' life-time for their hoses and that promise has now been claimed."

Effective Cooperation

The cooperation between Tikkurila and Larox Flowsys has been successful. Before the actual installation of the pumps, the required piping geometry was given to 
Flowsys engineers, who then executed the pump sizing 
according to specifications. 
"The cooperation with Larox Flowsys has worked out well. The contact persons are available and take measures when needed," says Toivonen. Problems have also been solved in cooperation. When the LPP-T65 pumps were first installed, problems occurred as the pumps broke down when they were driven against closed valve. Together with Larox Flowsys engineers, Tikkurila found a solution to use overflow valves in the process. Also the pump mechanics was altered to overcome the problem. Larox Flowsys came halfway to meet the costs caused by the redesign.
Hose pumps have established themselves in paint production and especially the LPP pumps have proven to be a perfect solution for these processes. The customer relationship between Tikkurila and Larox Flowsys has also functioned well and the customer has been very satisfied. This promises a good future for LPP pumps in Tikkurila. According to Mr Toivonen: "LPP pumps do well in pumping water-dilutable media, and as the focus is shifting towards these products, more LPP pumps may be needed in Tikkurila in the future."