Packo – rotary lobe pump for food and chemical industries (ZL)
Packo ZL pump — a versatile rotary lobe pump. Capacity — up to 100 m³/h, differential pressure — up to 20 bar, temperature — up to 150 °C, viscosity — up to 1,000,000 cP.
The series covers ten model sizes and six rotor geometries. This allows a selection tailored to the specific product, rather than a one-size-fits-all execution for every scenario.
Steiner Ukraine supplies Packo equipment in Ukraine: process-specific selection, delivery, service, and spare parts.
What is a Packo ZL pump?
ZL is the basic Packo lobe pump series with the widest range of applications. The manufacturer lists nine industries: dairy, food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, baking, detergents, spirits, and chemical.
The pump transfers liquids ranging from watery to highly viscous with gentle product handling. Parts in contact with the product are made of 316L stainless steel, and internal welds are hand-polished to 0.6 µm.
In terms of hydraulic limits, the ZL matches the ZLC pharmaceutical series: the same 100 m³/h, 20 bar, 150 °C, and 1,000,000 cP. What sets them apart is their hygienic class and price.
Other equipment from this manufacturer can be found on the page Verder – Packo.
What standard sizes are available in the ZL series?
The manufacturer lists ten standard sizes by displacement per revolution.
| Size | Displacement, l/rev |
|---|---|
| ZL/105 | 0,02 |
| ZL/110 | 0,05 |
| ZL/115 | 0,12 |
| ZL/120 | 0,21 |
| ZL/220 | 0,40 |
| ZL/225 | 0,62 |
| ZL/330 | 1,02 |
| ZL/340 | 1,44 |
| ZL/440 | 2,27 |
| ZL/450 | 3,34 |
Displacement per revolution is the basic parameter for selecting a positive displacement pump. Flow rate is equal to displacement multiplied by rotational speed. The manufacturer does not publish tabulated values of flow rate by size range.
The range from 0.02 to 3.34 l/rev covers both low-volume dosing and process pumping.
What technical parameters does the Packo ZL pump have?
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | rotary lobe pump |
| Maximum flow rate | 100 m³/h |
| Maximum differential pressure | 20 bar |
| Maximum temperature | 150 °C |
| Maximum viscosity | 1,000,000 cP |
| Revolutions | 1000 rpm |
| Size of the pipes | 25–125 mm |
| Standard sizes | 10 |
| Rotor geometries | 6 |
| Details regarding the product | 316L stainless steel |
| Roughness of internal welds | 0.6 µm, hand polishing |
| Gearbox | filled with cooking oil, helical gears |
| Gearbox option | stainless steel, investment casting |
Hoses from 25 mm – the widest inlet range among the Packo lobe series. The pharmaceutical ZLC starts at 50 mm, and the wine ZW also starts at 50 mm.
Helical reduction gears engage gradually rather than across their entire width at once. This reduces noise and torque transmission unevenness.
What six types of rotors does the manufacturer offer?
The rotor geometry determines how the pump behaves with a specific product. The manufacturer offers six options.
| Rotor geometry | Original title |
|---|---|
| Bivalved pterygoid | Bi-plane |
| Trilobate | Tri-Lobe |
| Helicoidal | Heli-Lobe |
| Multi-bladed | Multi-Lobe |
| Single-bladed aerofoil | Single Wing |
| Bivalved | Bi-lobe |
The manufacturer publishes a list of geometries without a separate description for each. The general rule is as follows: fewer blades mean a larger flow area and better passage of solids; more blades mean a smoother flow and less pulsation; a helicoidal profile provides the smoothest delivery.
The specific geometry for your product is determined together during the selection stage. This is the main reason why the enquiry requires not only the flow rate and pressure, but also a description of the product.
Why is the Packo ZL pump quick to service?
The manufacturer cites three design solutions.
| Solutions | What does this achieve? |
|---|---|
| Rotors are replaced without special timing mandrels | no alignment is needed upon replacement |
| Rotors are changed without opening the gearbox | the gearbox remains sealed and filled |
| Wetted seal components are replaced without dismantling the rotor casing | the pump cannot be removed from the line |
The sense lies in the sum of three. Replacing a worn friction pair or switching the pump to a different product requires neither dismantling the drive nor readjusting clearances.
The seals are mutually interchangeable. The pump can be converted from a single mechanical seal to a double mechanical seal without replacing the casing.
What seals and materials are available?
| Position | Options |
|---|---|
| Mechanical seal | single, with flushing, double |
| Other seals | o-ring, triple lip seal |
| Sealing rings | EPDM, FKM, FFKM |
| Details regarding the product | 316L stainless steel |
| Gearbox | food grade oil; optionally stainless steel |
FFKM — perfluoroelastomer. It is more expensive than FKM, but resists a wider range of aggressive media and withstands steam treatment without degradation.
The triple lip seal is used where the mechanical seal is excessive: it is simpler and cheaper to maintain with non-aggressive products.
What is the difference between ZL and ZLC?
The hydraulics in both series are the same. They differ in their hygienic class and pipe connection range.
| Parameter | ZL | ZLC |
|---|---|---|
| Flow rate, pressure, temperature, viscosity | 100 m³/h, 20 bar, 150 °C, 1,000,000 cP | the same |
| Size of the pipes | 25–125 mm | 50–100 mm |
| Surface roughness | 0.6 µm, hand polishing | < 0.4 µm, electropolishing |
| Design | hygienic | fully drained, gapless |
| Rotor geometries | 6 | are not being published |
| USP | yes | USP Class VI |
| Target sectors | nine, from Molochka to Khimichna | pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics |
Selection rule. The process requires cleaning validation or pharmaceutical-grade surface finish — that is ZLC. A stub pipe of 25 mm or larger is needed, rotor geometry selection or a wider industry profile — that is ZL.
For which industries is the Packo ZL pump intended?
The manufacturer lists nine industries.
| Industry | Typical products |
|---|---|
| Molochna | milk, cream, cheeses, fermented dairy products |
| Food | sauces, pastes, fillings |
| Beverages | juices, concentrates, syrups |
| Brewing | wort, yeast slurries |
| Baking | dough, fillings, icings |
| Pharmaceuticals | process fluids |
| Cosmetics | creams, gels, emulsions |
| Cleaning products | concentrates, gel-like formulations |
| Spirits and chemical | solutions, viscous compounds |
List of industries according to the manufacturer's description. Typical products in the second column are provided as a guide; suitability for a specific product is determined during selection.
A positive displacement pump must not be started against a closed valve. The flow rate does not drop with an increase in backpressure, and the pressure rises until the equipment is damaged.
Frequently asked questions about the Packo ZL pump
What is the maximum flow rate?
100 m³/h
What is the maximum pressure?
20 bar of differential pressure.
What is the maximum temperature?
150 °C.
What is the maximum viscosity?
1,000,000 cP.
How many sizes are there in the range?
Ten: from ZL/105 with a displacement of 0.02 l/rev to ZL/450 with a displacement of 3.34 l/rev.
What are the pipe sizes?
From 25 to 125 mm. This is the widest range among the Packo lobe pump series.
How many rotor options are there?
Six geometries: Bi-Wing, Tri-Lobe, Heli-Lobe, Multi-Lobe, Single Wing, Bi-Lobe.
Can the rotor be changed without dismantling the drive?
Right. The manufacturer claims rotor replacement without timing jigs and without opening the gearbox.
Can the seal be replaced without removing the pump from the line?
The manufacturer claims replacement of the wetted seal parts without dismantling the rotor casing.
What is the surface roughness?
0.6 µm for internal welds, manual polishing. The ZLC series with electropolishing and a value below 0.4 µm is intended for the pharmaceutical surface grade.
Enquiry for selection and price via ContactsOther equipment from the manufacturer — Verder – PackoPharmaceutical implementation of the same hydraulic limits — ZLCWinemaking — ZWTankers — LTRelated sections: Pumps for food production, Industrial pumps, Spare parts.
