Alfa Laval ThinkTop valve sensing and control unit

The Alfa Laval ThinkTop, a valve sensing and control unit for hygienic valves used in the dairy, food, beverage, brewery and pharmaceutical industries, has been re-engineered to meet customer needs while incorporating the latest advances in technology.

For example, the auto set-up feature offers manufacturers quick, easy commissioning, said to be up to 90% faster than the previous generation. A burst of CIP liquid is meanwhile emitted during the opening moment of seat lift and seat push. These optimised valve activations are said to reduce water consumption during cleaning-in-place and to save up to 90% in cleaning agent costs.

The product fits on any Alfa Laval valve, making it suitable for retrofits. It features 24/7 self-diagnostics, checking and remedying operations when required, and an enhanced 360° LED visual status indication so that operators can clearly see the valve status no matter where they are on the production floor.

The minimalist industrial exterior, with its strict lines and lack of cover screws, is 30% more compact than the previous version yet has the same height, making the product suitable for tight installations. One sensor target control board packed with functionality handles all valve functions and communication, so no adapter is required. The Gore Vent has also been repositioned to make the unit more durable, equalising the enclosure pressure while eliminating the risk of water ingress.

The Alfa Laval ThinkTop V50 and V70 series cover all valve requirements and are selected based on the number of solenoid valves required. The ThinkTop V50 series matches the requirements of the Alfa Laval DV-ST, butterfly, single-seat and double-seat valves while the ThinkTop V70 series matches the requirements of all these valves plus Alfa Laval double-seat and special valves. Both series meet the protection class IP66, IP67 and IP69K.