Reliable Hot Oil Pump Solution Saves Over £30,000 Annually

A major UK food manufacturer saved over £30,000 per year and eliminated all pump-related breakdowns by replacing their cheap competitor centrifugal pumps with Fristam FPE 742 centrifugal pumps. This upgrade not only cut costs but also significantly improved site safety, equipment reliability, and maintenance efficiency.

The Challenge: Frequent Failures with Inadequate Centrifugal Pumps

At the heart of the issue was a demanding hot oil recirculation application, where four cheap competitor centrifugal pumps struggled to withstand temperatures of up to 190°C. These pumps were used to circulate oil between an industrial deep-fat fryer and a filtration system.
Due to extreme temperatures, the mechanical seals frequently failed, leading to hot oil leaks on factory floors and inside motor housings — a serious health and safety risk. On average, these pumps failed every 13 days, resulting in an average four-hour production delay per failure. Each downtime required the oil to cool before any repair work could begin, costing the engineering team significant time and resources.

Hidden Costs of Unreliable Equipment

In just 12 months, this UK manufacturer experienced 27 pump failures. Each incident cost an average of £1,160 in parts and labour, adding up to £31,320 annually — that’s £7,830 per pump, per year!

In addition, over 1,800 litres of hot oil were lost due to leaks and breakdowns, contributing to a further £3,000 in annual costs. In total, maintaining the existing setup was costing the business approximately £34,320 every year.

The Fristam Solution: High-Performance Centrifugal Pumps
To resolve these issues, the manufacturer turned to Fristam Pumps for a more durable and dependable pumping solution. After careful evaluation, Fristam recommended their FPE 742 model, equipped with 4 kW motors and high-temperature single mechanical seals made from hard-faced silicon carbide – designed to handle temperatures up to 220°C with ease.

Key features of the Fristam FPE centrifugal pump include:

• Minimum 9 mm wall thickness – almost double that of the previous pumps, reducing vibration and wear.
• Optimised internal clearances – improving hydraulic efficiency and reducing cavitation.
• Seal longevity – significantly extended lifespan due to improved thermal resistance and reduced mechanical stress.

Cost Comparison: Fristam Pumps vs Cheap Competitor Centrifugal Pumps

Switching to Fristam provided an immediate return on investment. The one-time cost for four new Fristam FPE 742 centrifugal pumps was just £19,160 – nearly 40% less than the annual maintenance cost of the previous pumps.

In the two years since installation, the Fristam pumps have required no seal replacements, caused no unplanned downtime and have zero maintenance costs. By contrast, had the previous pumps remained in service, the estimated cost over the same period would have been over £63,000, with at least 54 breakdowns between them!
The estimated payback period for the Fristam upgrade was just 7 months!

Long-Term Impact: Safety, Efficiency, and Sustainability
Beyond the immediate financial benefits, switching to Fristam brought tangible operational advantages too:

• Zero pump failures in 24 months
• Improved site safety, with no hot oil leaks since installation
• Increased engineering productivity, as maintenance teams were no longer tied up with regular pump repairs
• Sustainable savings, with Fristam FPE pumps typically requiring no seal changes for 5–6 years (although this depends on many factors)
• Reduced waste, as hot oil was no longer being wasted during a leak

Upgrade to Fristam for Long-Term Savings and Reliability
If your facility is battling recurring issues with cheap centrifugal pumps struggling with high temperatures? Fristam offers a proven alternative that boosts productivity, protects your workforce, and significantly cuts costs.

Contact Fristam today to discuss a reliable, high-performance centrifugal pump solution for your process application!