The original
Waukesha Universal 1
Original sanitary PD pump. 9 sizes, Alloy 88 rotors, 316L fluid head.
Explore U1APV · Economical Sanitary Rotary Lobe PD
The economical sanitary rotary lobe pump.
The SPX FLOW / APV R Series is a rotary positive displacement pump built around a one-piece 316 stainless body, resilient molded rubber rotors, and a heavy-duty cast iron gear case. Seven sizes move 2.5 to 240 gpm, the pump is ideal for clean-out-of-place service, disassembles in minutes, and is backed by the APV Rotor Exchange program for cost-effective rotor replacement.
01 — Overview
Elastomer rotors, lower price, genuinely gentle duty.
SPX FLOW R Series Rotary Pumps are known all over the world for their rugged, long-lasting design and efficient performance. Every pump pairs a one-piece 316 stainless steel body with resilient molded rubber rotors that form a continuous flexible seal between suction and discharge, producing positive, continuous, non-agitating flow that's completely controlled across a wide viscosity band.
All product contact parts are 316 stainless steel, with food-grade seal and rotor materials that won't impart odors or affect flavors. Every component is interchangeable and replaceable in the field — the design has been performance-proven for more than 50 years and the rotor line is supported by a generous exchange program that keeps long-term ownership cost down.
01
Simple design
Few parts, ideal for manually cleaned (COP) applications, disassembles in minutes.
02
Strong structure
Heavy duty cast iron gear case, tapered roller bearings, SS pump body.
03
Floating rotors
No shimming required — quick, correct rotor installation every time.
04
Rotor Exchange
Return worn rotors for factory-remolded replacements — savings up to 30%.
02 — Features
Built for gentle duty, economical ownership.
Product Features & Benefits
- Simple design — few parts, quick to learn, easy to maintain.
- Clean-out-of-Place — ideal for manually cleaned sanitary applications.
- Disassembles in minutes — front cover and rotors drop out fast.
- Strong structure — built for rugged, long-lasting service.
- Floating rotors — no shimming required on assembly.
- 50+ years in the field — proven, refined, still the benchmark.
Wetted Construction
- Precision ground SS front cover — tight sealing against the pump body.
- Paper gasket — specially formulated for dimensional accuracy.
- Molded rubber rotors — plastic or stainless steel hub options.
- Lip-style shaft seals — molded in multiple compounds for pressure or vacuum duty.
- One-piece SS pump body — machined and polished for easy cleanup.
- Seal bearing over o-ring — provides easily replaceable seal surface.
- Stainless steel studs — assure quick and correct reassembly.
- 316 SS wetted parts — food-grade materials impart no odor or flavor.
Gear Case & Drive Train
- Heavy duty cast iron gear case — oil reservoir for timing gears and shaft bearings.
- Heat & chemical resistant epoxy paint — high quality external finish.
- Rear cover oil seals — with shaft bearing adjustment nuts.
- Top or bottom drive shaft — left or right position on top feed configurations.
- Tapered roller shaft bearings — heavy duty, standard on all sizes.
- Hardened spur timing gears — precision machined, welded to rotor shaft for accurate timing.
- Pressed-in locating plugs — accurate positioning of pump body to gear case.
- Leak detection atmosphere — between body and gear case protects the product zone.
- Special locating corner — on the stainless steel shaft, ensures proper rotor installation.
- Floating rotor design — no shimming, quick and proper assembly every time.
03 — Theory of Operation
How a rotary lobe pump works.
R Series Rotary Pumps incorporate a long-life, sanitary, stainless steel body with versatile, resilient, molded rotors and a heavy-duty cast iron gear case — all of which are designed to give dependable, economical service over a wide range of products and applications. All product contact parts are 316 stainless steel with food-grade seal and rotor materials which will not impart odors or affect flavors. All parts are interchangeable and replaceable in the field.
The exclusive resilient rotors form a continuous flexible seal between suction and discharge. Because the rotor running surface deflects slightly under load, the pump absorbs minor pressure fluctuations and small particulates rather than transmitting them to the fluid — product flow is positive, continuous, non-agitating, and completely controlled at all times.
Under the front cover the rotors drop out in minutes. A paper gasket formulated for dimensional accuracy seats the precision-ground stainless cover against the one-piece stainless body, stainless studs hold the cover tight, and a special locating corner on each rotor shaft ensures proper rotor installation every time — no shimming, no re-timing in the field.
04 — Options & Accessories
Mounting, covers, rotors, and seals built to match your duty.
SPX FLOW offers an exceptional range of body configurations, front cover styles, rotor profiles, and seal materials. The side inlet/outlet layout is the basic standard design used on all R Series sizes for light-to-medium viscosity products — everything below is specified from there.
Body & Mounting Configurations
Front Cover Options
Rotor Configurations
Seal Materials — Lip Style, Color Coded
Rotor Exchange Program
Send worn hubs back, receive freshly molded rotors.
SPX FLOW offers a generous exchange program for all SPX FLOW-style stainless-steel-hub rotors, regardless of original manufacturer. New rubber is molded around the used hub — a fast, reliable, cost-effective method of replacing stainless-hub rotors that also keeps otherwise discarded material out of the waste stream. Benefits: genuine replacement rotors protect your warranty, fast turnaround direct from stock, savings up to 30% on each reusable rotor, 10% savings on a new rotor if the returned hub is unusable, and 100% factory inspection on every rotor returned.
05 — Specifications
Seven sizes, 2.5 to 240 gpm.
Each size is available in standard and heavy-duty configurations where indicated. Maximum capacity is based on 70°F (21°C) water at 0 psi; maximum power requirement increases with product viscosity.
| Model Size | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 & 3 HD | 4 & 4 HD | 6 & 6 HD | 700 HD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Capacity gpm | 2.5 | 6 | 9 | 55 | 145 | 240 | 200 |
| Max Capacity m³/hr | 0.57 | 1.36 | 2.0 | 8.2 | 20.4 | 34.1 | 45.4 |
| Displacement gal / 100 rev | 0.46 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 6.4 | 17.5 | 29.0 | 58.0 |
| Displacement liter / 100 rev | 1.75 | 3.88 | 5.8 | 24.3 | 66.2 | 111 | 220 |
| Max RPM | 600 | 600 | 600 | 900 | 900 | 900 | 400 |
| Connection inch (mm) | 1.5 (38) | 1.5 (38) | 1.5 (38) | 2 (51) | 2 or 3 (51 / 76) | 3 (76) | 4 (102) |
| Rect. Inlet inch (optional) | — | — | .875 × 2.5 | 1.5 × 4.5 | 1.75 × 9.25 | 3 × 9.25 | 6.625 × 9.25 |
| Max Power BHP (kW) | 0.5 (0.37) | 0.9 (0.67) | 1.5 (1.12) | 7.5 (5.6) | 20 (14.9) | 30 (22.4) | 20 (15) |
| Rotor Lobes | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 & SGL | 5 & SGL |
| Rotor Material | R | R | R | R, SE, M | R, SE, M | R, SE, M | R, SE, M |
R = Rubber · SE = Sealed Epoxy · M = Metal · SGL = Single Lobe. Performance curves are available for every size — request one from Triplex Sales for your specific duty point.
06 — Applications
Where R Series pumps fit best.
Typical product applications across beverage, food, pharmaceutical & toiletries, dairy, and chemical duty — straight from the SPX FLOW brochure.
Beverage
- Fruit Juice
- Cider and Wine
- Yeast
- Liquid Sugar & Glucose
Food
- Fruit Preserves
- Soups and Sauces
- Baby Food
- Chocolate
Pharmaceutical & Toiletries
- Antibiotics
- Toothpaste
- Cough Medicine
- Shampoo
Dairy
- Cream
- Butter
- Cheese Curd & Whey
- Yogurt
- Ice Cream
Chemical
- Paint
- Oil Additives
- Resins
- Photographic Film Coatings
07 — Resources
Documentation and reference material.
Literature & Manuals
Talk to an Engineer
Need a performance curve, dimensional drawing, or a specific duty-point lookup? Triplex Sales has the full SPX FLOW / APV reference library and can pull the right bulletin for your application.
Request Documentation08 — FAQ
Questions we actually get.
What's the flow range of the R Series?
Seven sizes cover 2.5 to 240 gpm (0.57 to 54.5 m³/hr) on 70°F water at 0 psi. Size 0 is the smallest at 2.5 gpm / 600 max rpm; size 6 HD handles 240 gpm / 900 max rpm; the 700 HD is a large-displacement low-speed size at 200 gpm and 400 max rpm. See the specification table above for displacement, connection sizes, rectangular inlets, and power requirements size-by-size.
How is the R Series different from a Waukesha Universal?
The R Series uses resilient molded rubber rotors over a stainless or plastic hub, while Waukesha Universal pumps use solid Alloy 88 stainless rotors. The rubber rotors form a continuous flexible seal, are gentler on product, and tolerate clean-out-of-place service well. Waukesha's alloy rotors handle higher pressures, higher temperatures, and aggressive CIP chemistries that the R Series isn't built for. Pick the R Series for COP sanitary duty where its envelope fits; pick a Waukesha Universal for demanding CIP, high-pressure, or high-temperature service.
How does the Rotor Exchange Program work?
SPX FLOW accepts worn SPX FLOW-style stainless-hub rotors (regardless of original manufacturer), molds fresh rubber around the returned hub, and ships them back factory-inspected. You save up to 30% on each reusable rotor, or 10% off a new rotor if the returned hub isn't reusable. Every returned rotor gets 100% factory inspection. Triplex Sales handles the exchange logistics end-to-end.
What cover options are available?
Five. Standard flat cover for applications up to 100 psi (6.8 bar). Heavy Duty cover with outboard bearing support for over 100 psi. Vented cover (manual or pneumatic) to cap maximum discharge at a set pressure — not available on size 0 or heavy-duty pumps. Degassing/Deaerating cover with relief grooves and manifold for viscous product with trapped gas. Front Outlet cover that replaces the bottom outlet on RI pumps — enables low-height hopper installations and reduces discharge piping.
What rotor configurations are offered?
Standard 5-Lobe with recessed faces on sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 700 — the recommended rotor for most applications. Flush Face 5-Lobe on sizes 2, 3, 4, 6, 700 for abrasive or clinging products and for degassing duty. Single Lobe with recessed faces on sizes 6 and 700 at the same displacement as the 5-lobe — used for delicate product or large particulates; operating limits are 200 rpm and 100 psi (6.8 bar) maximum. Rotor temperature ratings: normal-size up to 150°F (65°C), undersize up to 300°F (149°C).
What seal compounds are available?
Four lip-style seal options, color coded: Nitrile (red), EPDM (orange), FKM (blue), and Neoprene (green). Selection is driven by product chemistry, temperature, and cleaning regime. Triplex Sales will specify the right compound once we know your duty.
What feed-inlet geometry can I specify?
Four. The Side Inlet / Outlet is the basic standard design on every size. The Top Feed uses a round top inlet for gravity-flow from outlet tanks or hoppers and is available in every size. Top Feed — Rectangular Inlet replaces the round connection with a large rectangular one for heavy viscous product and large particulates (sizes 2 RI through 700 RI). Side Feed — Rectangular Inlet is designed to adopt directly to an auger feed hopper, grinder, blender, or specialty hopper (sizes 4 RI through 700 RI).
Ready to spec an R Series?
Let's size your pump together.
Tell us the fluid, flow, pressure, temperature, and cleaning regime. A Triplex Sales application engineer will confirm whether the R Series is the right fit (or whether a Waukesha Universal belongs on your line instead), specify the elastomer and cover options, and quote pricing plus the Rotor Exchange Program terms.
