Axiflow Technologies

Twin screw pumps have long been the workhorse of fluid handling in upstream oil and gas, valued for their ability to manage everything from low-viscosity condensates to high-viscosity crude and multiphase flows with entrained gas. Their appeal was simple; uninterrupted throughput, no matter the process condition.

It was this consistency that caught the attention of Axiflow Technologies’ founders. But they saw something more; a broader cross-industry application hiding in plain sight.

At the time, food and pharmaceutical manufacturers were struggling with a longstanding bottleneck. Running a viscous product like a sauce or a nutraceutical paste required one pump. Cleaning the line meant switching to another pump system or disassembling the existing one. Downtime was accepted as a trade-off for sanitation, even if it meant higher labor costs and greater contamination risk.

In 2008, at a time when sanitary twin screw technology was virtually unknown in North America, Axiflow introduced a hygienic platform that could handle both product and cleaning media alike without switchovers or teardowns. Suddenly, production lines ran longer, cleaning cycles were shortened and uptime became the norm.

The Axiflow STS Series made this shift possible. With nothing more than a change in pump speed, processors could easily switch from handling high-solids products to cleaning solutions.

“When we translated it to the food industry, we saw real value in changing how customers processed,” says George Doan, product manager. “They no longer had to take equipment apart to clean it or run separate systems for cleaning and production.”

To coin a phrase from Axiflow’s owner, “It was like going from a flip phone to an iPhone. Once they saw what it could do, there was no going back.”

The Real Workhorse Inside the Line

The Axiflow STS Series features a dual-screw geometry and axial flow design, enabling precise handling across a wide viscosity spectrum. Engineered from precision-machined 316L stainless steel and certified by both 3-A and EHEDG, the STS Series is purpose-built for hygienic environments where compliance, performance and uptime are non-negotiable.

With flow capacities up to 2,500 GPM, pressure ratings reaching 725 PSI and temperature tolerances exceeding 425°F, it handles everything from melted cheese to thick smoothies with ease. A simple speed adjustment allows the pump to transition seamlessly from product transfer to clean-in-place, eliminating the need for disassembly, hardware changes or additional equipment. It also integrates effortlessly into Axiflow’s broader systems, pairing with mixers, auger feeds or turnkey blending solutions.

“The twin screw pump lets our client partners stop choosing between flexibility and efficiency,” says Doan. “Now, they get both in one system.”

Its benefits don’t stop at adaptability. The STS operates with near-zero pulsation, preventing the pressure surges that can destabilize downstream equipment or impact product quality. For sensitive applications, it delivers low shear performance that preserves the integrity of emulsions, suspended particulates and delicate product structures.

One food processor experienced the difference during a peak season. Each year, the line ran thick, creamed corn for six to eight weeks, after which the pump sat idle or was replaced for off-season production. Switching to broths meant uninstalling equipment and reconfiguring the system. But once they shifted to Axiflow’s twin screw design, that workflow changed. The same pump ran corn one day and pivoted to chicken broth the next. Fewer shutdowns and faster changeovers also extended production windows and resulted in a measurable increase in throughput.

More Than a Pump Provider

Rather than treating the twin screw pump as an isolated asset, Axiflow builds around it, designing entire workflows that blend, move and transform product without interrupting flow. Its sister company, Process Technologies, offers end-to-end system design and build capabilities, including powder incorporation lines, continuous blenders, auger feeds and specialty mixing platforms. Each solution is tailored to maximize the performance of the core pump while eliminating the constraints of legacy equipment.

This system-level thinking comes from experience. With more than 125 years of combined expertise across engineering, operations and process optimization, Axiflow team members bring a practical, hands-on understanding of manufacturing environments. Their backgrounds inform an application-first mindset, delivering integrated solutions that align with the realities of production.

For processors, the result is flexibility where it’s needed most. Axiflow’s modular designs adapt easily to seasonal demand shifts, new product introductions or varying shear requirements without sacrificing yield, product integrity or uptime. Instead of bending processes to fit legacy setups, clients gain systems that scale with their business and simplify complexities at every turn.

“We’re always looking at the full application, because when you understand how everything works together, you can unlock performance no one expected,” says Doan.

That mindset is fully realized at Axiflow’s Charlotte-based pilot plant. Food and pharmaceutical processors run test products through live systems, analyzing pump feasibility, validating blend sequences and refining system design. Whether high-viscosity slurries or delicate emulsions, every trial is grounded in the customer’s actual processing environment. Customers gain both confidence and data-backed configurations, tuned to the unique demands of their production lines.

Service that Remains in the Field

Support deepens beyond delivery. While most suppliers focus on equipment handoff, Axiflow embeds its team in the process, offering on-site assistance during startup, operator training and live diagnostics. That hands-on approach ensures each pump is integrated to match the nuances of the production line.

When performance lags or inconsistencies appear, Axiflow doesn’t default to blame or replacement. Instead, the team works with the client, tracing inefficiencies to their source and identifying upstream or downstream dynamics that require adjusting. It’s a level of application-first support that reflects the company’s roots as operators and problem-solvers, not just manufacturers.

That same field proximity shapes the way Axiflow innovates. The STS Series continues to expand through direct response to processor needs. New sizes, flow geometries and configurations often originate from real production challenges like tight spaces, shifting viscosities or evolving line requirements.

After more than 15 years in the sanitary processing space, Axiflow continues to see its role as part educator, part enabler. Many processors are still new to sanitary twin screw technology. The tool remains underutilized simply because it’s unfamiliar. That’s why Axiflow invests in knowledge sharing as actively as it does in engineering, helping customers see where the technology fits and where it can take them.

By translating twin screw performance into hygienic environments and anchoring it in complete system thinking, Axiflow has reframed what a pump can be. It’s not just a mechanical solution but a platform for greater uptime, adaptability and control. And in a production landscape defined by complexity and constant change, that kind of continuity has become more than an operational benefit. It’s a competitive edge.