OLD FERMENTORS DON'T DIE!

In my years of being involved in fermentation and fermentors, I have regularly noticed that in most cases:

1 Fermentors are underused
2 Fermentors are improperly used
3 Fermentors are rarely serviced until they are broken down or unworkable

It is sad to note that in many laboratories and fermentation plants I have visited a significant numbers of the fermentors are left standing in one corner and being treated more as white elephants and occupying spaces. Fermentors are capital equipments and represents high investments

In mosr cases these fermentors should not have a premature retirement. They are still good and workable. All it needs is a minor repair and replacements. These fermentors should be retrofitted or refurbished as it is capable of giving many many more years of faithful service.

Often the 'failure' of these fermentors are not the failure of the equipment but the failure or poor understanding of the person who bought and operate these fermentors. Some of these failures could be easily repaired.

It is very important in any fermentation laboratory or plants that they have a dedicated workshop which can support in doing repairs and renovations to existing fermentors. And having an engineering workshop or department such as mechanical and electronic departments can be a real asset

If we looked at an old or dying fermentor we can see that in most cases:
1 The fermentor vessel or stainless steel body is really in good conditions
2 Most of these old fermentors are the 'old generation' fermentors which are mostly analogue driven and not digital or electronically or computer controlled

Still these old fermentors can function and they still fulfill the requirements of a good fermentor as mentioned in earlier blogs here.

Retrofitting or refurbishing is possible at fraction the cost of new fermentors. Valves and sensors could be replaced. Stirrers and motors could be changed. In fact modern computer control loops could be incorporated.

The question is whether there is the earnest desire to refurbish the old fermentors. In my experience these old analogue fermentors are more reliable and trustworthy than the new modern highly electronic controlled fermentors which easily break down! These old fermentors are indeed workhorses of the fermentation industries