As distilleries have turned to also producing hand sanitizer, IDEX has offered them assistance in how to properly convert the use of their pumps.
Versamatic, a brand of Ohio-based Warren Rupp, recently assisted The Old Pogue Distillery in Maysville, Kentucky, as it joined the fight against COVID-19. Known primarily for its bourbon production, Old Pogue quickly converted to producing hand sanitizer in March.
Using a Versamatic pump, they were able to transfer high-proof alcohol between tanks and into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers, including buckets and spray bottles. In order to comply with FDA regulations, they used a Versamatic 1″ (25mm) FDA Stainless Steel air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump, which the distillery purchased in 2011.
“It’s been a challenge to improvise a hand sanitizer product as fast as possible, but we started talking to local businesses about the endeavor and there was an outpouring of ingredients, containers, parts in order to expedite production,” said a representative from the distillery.
Over the span of ten weeks, the Old Pogue Distillery produced approximately 500 gallons of hand sanitizers. Four hundred gallons of hand sanitizer were donated to hospitals, first responders and healthcare facilities across eight Kentucky counties.
The remaining 100 gallons were sold to local businesses in order to assist with the cost of production and to provide other essential businesses with access to sanitization products.
“We never would have been able to deliver the product to the market as quickly as we did without the contributions from the business community, including Versamatic,” said a representative from the distillery.
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