Pumps 101 — Peristaltic
The gentlest way to move product. The hose is the only wetted part — no seals, no valves, no impellers — which makes these pumps ideal for delicate, abrasive, and whole-piece product.
The Basic Idea
A peristaltic pump moves product by squeezing a flexible hose. A rotor fitted with shoes or rollers compresses the hose against the housing; as the rotor turns, the pinch point travels along the hose, pushing product ahead of it and drawing more in behind. As the hose springs back to shape it creates suction, which makes the pump self-priming.
Because product only ever touches the inside of the hose, there are no seals, valves, or impellers in the flow path. That single fact drives most of the advantages: nothing to shear delicate product, nothing for abrasives to wear against, and a flow path that cleans easily. Flow is proportional to rotor speed, so the same pump handles metering and dosing as well as bulk transfer.
The trade-off is the hose itself, which is a wear part sized to the duty and replaced on a planned schedule — predictable maintenance in exchange for a very simple, very gentle pump.
Strengths & Limits
Straight answer, since we carry several pump types and don't need to force this one on you.
On the Line
The Lines
The peristaltic lines in our portfolio built for sanitary duty.
Related: Positive Displacement Pumps → | AODD Pumps → | Seafood Processing →
Good to Know
Are peristaltic pumps good for shear-sensitive product?
Yes. With no impellers or seals in the flow path and low running speeds, peristaltic pumps are among the gentlest available, which is why they are used for whole fish, delicate product, and live transfer.
How often does the hose need replacing?
The hose is a wear part, and its life depends on pressure, speed, and product. It is sized to the duty and replaced on a planned schedule, which keeps maintenance predictable.
Can a peristaltic pump run dry?
Yes, safely, because it is self-priming and has no seals to burn up. Continuous dry running still wears the hose, but brief dry running does no harm.
Tell us your product, flow, and process step, and we'll say whether a peristaltic pump fits or point you somewhere better.
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