Steam Trap Standardisation for Dairy Production

Helping a Dairy Producer Keep Performance Flowing

How collaboration and standardisation helped simplify a critical production process

Every day, millions of people rely on food manufacturers to deliver the products they know and trust. Behind every bottle of milk, yoghurt, or dairy product is a complex production process that depends on hundreds of interconnected systems working together seamlessly. When those systems perform reliably, production teams can focus on what matters most: delivering consistent quality, every day.

For one leading dairy producer, maintaining that reliability meant taking a closer look at an often overlooked part of the operation: the steam system.

The challenge behind the scenes

Steam is essential to many food production processes. Across the facility, 174 steam traps played an important role in managing condensate and supporting the efficient operation of the steam network.

Over the years, different steam trap brands and specifications had been introduced across the site. While each had been selected for a specific purpose, the growing variety created complexity for maintenance teams responsible for keeping the system running smoothly.

Finding and ordering the correct replacement component was becoming increasingly challenging. The risk of selecting an unsuitable replacement could lead to unnecessary disruptions, additional maintenance activities, and reduced efficiency.

The customer wanted to simplify the situation and create a more manageable system for the people responsible for operating and maintaining it.

Working together to improve performance

ERIKS specialists worked alongside the customer's maintenance and engineering teams to gain a complete understanding of the steam network.

Every steam trap was mapped and assessed based on its application and operating requirements. Together, the teams identified opportunities to reduce complexity through standardisation, creating a clear overview of approved steam trap solutions across the site.

The result was a standardisation programme that significantly reduced the number of variants in use, supported by a clear identification system and linked product information that made ordering and replacement straightforward.

Most importantly, it gave maintenance teams greater confidence that the right component could be selected quickly and consistently.

Creating value for people across the operation

The benefits extended far beyond the steam traps themselves.

The project helped maintenance teams work more efficiently, reduced complexity in purchasing and inventory management, and supported more reliable day-to-day operations.

By simplifying a critical process, the customer could spend less time managing component variations and more time focused on keeping production running at its best.

The project also reduced inventory complexity and helped improve the overall efficiency of the steam network, contributing to a more streamlined operation.

Performance starts with people

This project is a reminder that industrial performance is ultimately about people.

The engineers maintaining equipment. The operators keeping production moving. The procurement teams managing supply chains. And ultimately, the consumers who depend on manufacturers to deliver products consistently, every day.

By combining application knowledge, technical expertise, and close collaboration, ERIKS helped transform complexity into a more manageable, reliable, and efficient operation.