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In hygiene-critical industries, cleaning systems must deliver consistent performance while reducing energy and water use. As a leading manufacturer of industrial hygiene systems, Elpress focuses on developing practical and reliable solutions that integrate seamlessly into customers’ production processes. Together with Grundfos, a pump supplier for many years, Elpress developed a new generation booster unit that makes industrial cleaning systems smarter, more efficient and future-ready.
Increasing demands for industrial cleaning systems
Expectations around cleaning infrastructure have changed significantly in recent years. Companies are not only looking for effective cleaning, but also for systems that reduce water consumption, energy use and operational complexity. As Kaeso de Jager, our General Manager, explains:
“Previously we used the Grundfos products as they were and integrated them in our machines. In recent years, customers were demanding more, especially around saving energy and saving water.”
This change in customer demand led Elpress to deepen the collaboration with Grundfos.
“And we started to collaborate on designing something better.”
Rethinking the booster unit
Within an industrial cleaning system, the booster unit plays a crucial role by delivering pressurized water to multiple cleaning stations. By bringing the piping system to the correct working pressure, operators can efficiently rinse, foam or disinfect production areas. However, earlier booster systems required more equipment and had a relatively large footprint. According to Jannes Voss, our Managing Director:
“The old Grundfos pressure booster was bigger in terms of footprint, it was more expensive, more energy inefficient. And we used to need to connect a lot more equipment to it to have it function.”
The goal of Elpress was to develop a solution that was:
- more simple
- more robust
- more reliable
- less complex
Smarter control, better insights and a more efficient system
One of the key innovations in the new booster unit is the integration of advanced control technology directly into the pump. Instead of relying on multiple external components, much of the system intelligence is now integrated within the pump itself.
“Now we have a small control box where we only do the power distribution. All the smart things are happening in the pump itself.”
With Soft PLC technology integrated into the pump, the system can control the application, collect operational data and optimize performance. This enables several benefits for industrial cleaning systems:
- improved energy efficiency
- simplified system architecture
- reduced carbon emissions
- easier system control
Luke Gardener, Regional Sales Manager at Grundfos, describes the new solution:
“Previously, Grundfos supplied the pumps as the heart of the booster systems, delivering the flow and pressure to customers. Now with the Soft PLC technology, Grundfos is also supplying the brain of the system, unlocking all the opportunities to deliver energy savings, lower carbon emissions and simplifying the system in totality.”
In addition, the new solution also offers opportunities for data and monitoring. Through the integration with the Elpress eCloud environment, operators gain valuable insights into system performance, allowing them to identify optimization opportunities and further improve efficiency.
Innovation through collaboration
The project highlights the value of close cooperation between technology partners. Guus van Bree, our Manufacturing Engineer, says:
“The cool thing is that we did this together with Grundfos. We’ve never had this with any of our other suppliers – that they come to us and say, ‘Let's see how we can make this product better.’ And we now have a system that is how we like it supplied by Grundfos. This has been really great.”
This collaborative approach made it possible to develop a system that fits seamlessly within Elpress cleaning solutions while improving efficiency and reliability. Sustainability also played an important role, as improved energy efficiency creates long-term value for customers. The partnership between Elpress and Grundfos also lays the foundation for future innovation. As Kaeso de Jager notes:
“The collaboration with Grundfos gives me the trust that we can bring this to the next level.”
Want to learn more about Elpress cleaning systems?
Elpress develops industrial cleaning systems that ensure optimal hygiene, efficient use of water and energy, and reliable performance in production environments.
