When a long-established paint manufacturer had a brush with contaminated pipes, they quickly needed a comprehensive solution.
Founded in 1920, Barbot Paints has been a cornerstone in the Portuguese paint industry, recognised for their extensive range of water and solvent-based paints, varnishes, sealants, and solvents. Despite their commitment to quality, they discovered bacterial contamination in their water-based paint products, leading to costly product recalls and rework. Residual paint in transfer pipes and the reduced effectiveness of biocides, restricted by EU regulations, resulted in about 20% of their production being returned for rework.
In search of a life-line, Barbot turned to HPS Pigging Technology. With a proven track record of success with industry leaders like PPG and AkzoNobel, HPS offered advanced liquid product recovery systems known for increasing yields, reducing waste, improving sustainability, and minimising contamination risks.
We spoke with Peter Elgar, Executive Chairman at HPS, who explained, “Barbot needed a robust solution to these contamination issues. After assessing the situation, we designed, supplied, and commissioned fully automated pigging systems for four critical lines in their production process.”
“The outcomes were transformative. Our systems, which use water and compressed air as propellants, ensured thorough cleaning and efficient product recovery.”
Peter Elgar – Executive Chairman at HPS
The results spoke for themselves: Bacterial contamination was slashed from 20% to approximately 1%. The pigging process integrated initial flushing, enhancing cleaning efficiency and saving time. The systems recovered up to 99.5% of residual product from the lines, reducing the need for extensive Clean-in-Place (CIP) procedures. By recycling the water used to propel the pigs. Barbot also significantly cut their water consumption, aligning with their sustainability goals.
Peter highlights the lasting impact, “Our partnership has dramatically improved Barbot’s operations. They now have significantly fewer product recalls, better product quality, and substantial cost savings from reduced rework and waste disposal. This increased operational efficiency and environmental sustainability has reinforced Barbot’s position as a leading and innovative player in the paint manufacturing industry.”
The collaboration between Barbot and HPS underscores how advanced technology and strategic partnerships can drive substantial improvements.
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