Alfa Laval has introduced its Controlled Rotating Retractors, a new line of clean-in-place cleaning devices designed to improve cleaning performance in ducts, pipes, tanks, spray dryers, and other enclosed equipment used in hygienic processing industries.

The retractable devices are intended for manufacturers in the dairy, food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors, where incomplete cleaning of hard-to-reach surfaces can increase contamination risks, product loss, and production downtime.

According to Alfa Laval, the Controlled Rotating Retractors provide up to twice the cleaning efficiency of traditional static spray ball systems by reaching shadow zones more effectively. The company says the devices also reduce water and cleaning media consumption by up to 55%, allowing manufacturers to achieve full cleaning coverage with fewer units while lowering both capital and operating costs.

The cleaning devices integrate with the Alfa Laval ThinkTop V70 sensing and control unit to provide real-time monitoring and cleaning validation. The company says this enables greater process control, reduces downtime, and minimizes manual intervention.

During production, the retractors remain sealed and flush with the vessel wall to prevent contact with the product area. During clean-in-place operations, the cleaning head extends to clean product-contact surfaces and retracts at the end of the cycle.

Alfa Laval also designed the system to simplify maintenance with a one-handed service tool that allows wear parts to be replaced without disconnecting the supply tube.

According to Alfa Laval, the Controlled Rotating Retractors comply with applicable FDA, EU, and China regulatory requirements for hygienic processing. The Controlled Rotating Retractor UltraPure version also includes Alfa Laval Q-doc documentation to support traceability, qualification, and validation for pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications.