While makeup might seem like a thoroughly modern invention, the cosmetics industry is actually as old as civilization itself. Ancient societies, from the Egyptians to the Romans and the Greeks, all indulged in various perfumes, face paints, and minerals in efforts to enhance their physical attractiveness and appearance.
Today, the American cosmetics industry continues to generate an annual $56.6 billion, though times and practices have changed since the fall of the Roman Empire. While most consumers don’t think about how their makeup is made, a small army of professionals works behind the scenes to make sure cosmetics are safe and nontoxic. Modern federal regulations and safety standards make sanitary drum pumps an essential part of any cosmetic-based manufacturing operation. Here’s why:
- Avoid Cross-Contamination – There are more than 7,000 different substances listed by the European Union’s International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, each one of them containing special properties. From oils to pigments and from chemicals to waxes, the special and often very precise combination of these ingredients is what makes cosmetics effective and safe for use.Any type of cross-contamination may drastically interfere with chemical potency or potentially inflict serious allergen issues for consumers. That’s why sanitary drum pumps are easy to disassemble for optimal cleaning and sanitation between uses. To maintain hygienic standards, sanitary pumps for the cosmetic industry are made using polished stainless steel, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and food grade elastomers. The best sanitary drum pumps are also FDA compliant and 3-A certified.
- Precise Measurement Capabilities – It’s easier to avoid spills or cross-contamination when using 55-gallon barrel pumps to transfer liquids of any viscosity. Additionally, integratrated Flow Meters on pump systems can be used to avoid human error and maintain vital accuracy when measuring ingredients large and small. Where precise dosing is required — and that’s virtually always the case with cosmetics manufacturing — an integrated Batch Control System can be used for measurement of ingredients.
- Shear Control – Investing in sanitary drum pumps that can handle a range of viscous levels, from essential oils to cosmetic lotions, will also help control shear rates. A progressive cavity design with low shear can deliver a continuous flow of product with viscosities up to 100,000 cps/mPAS. This can help ensure that emulsions and suspensions stay combined in their proper form, maintaining the integrity, safety, and quality of your cosmetic products.
The cosmetics manufacturing industry isn’t alone in facing strict standards and decrees. High standards for safety and sanitation are also seen in the food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical sectors, the latter of which totaled $142.1 billion in sales in 2011 and is projected to reach $204.8 billion by 2017, a compound growth rate of 6.3%. As all of these industries grow, so too will the technologies behind them — not least of all the utility and importance of sanitary drum pumps for manufacturing.
