Kingsport, Tenn., USA, Sep. 23, 2020 — To solve problems with existing materials, global specialty plastics provider Eastman joined with Vansun Technologies in India to produce automated cow milking machines made with Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, a crystal clear and durable polymer that is also BPA free and shatter resistant.
Automated milking machines work on the principle of vacuum — just like the calf suckling its mother. The vacuum applied to the teat opens the liner (milking phase) and milk flows down. Milking machines need transparent plastic material in the critical area where users want to observe the flow of milk.
In the past, Vansun used polycarbonate (PC) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPSU) —but farmers often complained about breakage during usage and machines becoming hazy. Because cow and buffalo milk have a high fat content, the milk flowing through the machines left a residual haze that hindered transparency.
In addition, the milk machine components are subjected to cleaning in place (CIP) treatment at high temperatures of 80°C in the presence of alkaline and, sometimes, acidic solutions — which causes considerable stress that was affecting material longevity. The machines also took on a yellow tone that customers disliked.
Tritan has successfully replaced PC and PPSU in many applications with its unmatched balance of properties. Products made with Tritan are clear, durable, safe, and stylish. In Tritan, Vansun found the solution to its material problems.
“The right design combined with the right polymer properties ensured the final product was liked and appreciated by our customers, and it was encouraging to get the positive feedback from them. Selecting Tritan for our product design was very appropriate,” says Sandeep Raina, director of Vansun Technologies Pvt. Ltd. India.
Vansun sells automated milking machines to dairy farmers across India, and market response to Tritan has been good. Thanks to Eastman’s excellent technical support and reliable supply chain, Vansun has future projects in mind for Tritan.