The original
Waukesha Universal 1
The can-do PD pump. 9 sizes, 200 PSI, 3-A sanitary, COP cleanable.
Explore U1Waukesha Cherry-Burrell · CIP-Ready Rotary Lobe PD
The definitive CIP-ready sanitary PD pump.
The Waukesha Universal 2 is the industry's benchmark for automated, validated clean-in-place sanitary pumping. Fourteen sizes, flows to 660 GPM, pressures to 500 PSI, Tru-Fit ports, a full seal lineup for every duty, and the same legendary Alloy 88 rotors — engineered for process lines that demand CIP cleanability at full duty.
01 — Overview
Built for processes that can't stop to clean.
The Universal 2 is what you specify when your process requires automated, validated CIP cleaning — dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical, and high-care food production lines where breaking the pump down between batches isn't an option. Every detail of the U2 — seal cavity geometry, port profile, rotor clearance, drain angle — is engineered so a CIP loop can clean and validate the pump without disassembly.
Beyond CIP, the U2 is the U1's big brother in raw capability: more than double the pressure rating, 50% more flow, heavier shafting, and five additional sizes covering the high end of process duty. Like every Waukesha lobe pump, it runs on proprietary non-galling Alloy 88 rotors.
01
CIP-validated geometry
Fully drainable interior, flushed seal cavity, crevice-free ports.
02
500 PSI pressure
Long transfer lines, homogenizer feed, high-pressure process loops.
03
Tru-Fit ports
Factory-machined sanitary connections for reliable 3-A compliance.
04
Four seal platforms
Single mechanical, double mechanical, knife seal, or high-pressure barrier seal per duty.
02 — Features
Every detail engineered for validated cleaning.
The U2 is a generational redesign of the Waukesha lobe pump platform. Compared to the U1, every critical feature — seal, ports, rotor clearance, gearcase, cover — has been upgraded specifically for sanitary CIP service.
Standard Features
- 3-A sanitary CIP design — fully validated for automated clean-in-place.
- Tru-Fit port connections — factory-machined crevice-free sanitary profile.
- Four seal platforms — single mechanical, double mechanical (flushed), knife seal, and high-pressure barrier seal to match duty.
- Alloy 88 rotors — proprietary non-galling construction.
- 500 PSI max differential pressure — more than 2x the Universal 1.
- 14 sizes — 006 through 370 cover pilot scale to bulk production.
- Heavy-duty shafting — resists deflection at full pressure.
- Tapered roller bearings — both shafts, high thrust capacity.
Long-Life & Sanitary Design
- Drainable interior geometry — no fluid hold-up after shutdown.
- Flushed seal cavity — continuous CIP contact on seal faces.
- Optimized rotor clearance — tuned for CIP flow velocity.
- Polished product contact surfaces — 32 Ra standard, 20 Ra available.
- FDA-compliant elastomers — EPDM, FKM, FFKM, or buna.
- Jacketed cover and gearcase available for heat/cool product at the pump.
- Electropolish option for pharma and high-purity duty.
- Reversible rotation — flow in either direction from one pump.
03 — Theory of Operation
How a rotary lobe pump works.
Rotary lobe pumps are positive displacement pumps consisting of two counter-rotating rotors inside a close-tolerance pump body. As the rotors turn, they create successive pockets of fluid trapped between the rotor lobes and the pump casing.
These pockets move fluid smoothly from suction to discharge with almost no pulsation. Because the rotors are driven externally through timing gears, they never touch each other or the pump body — eliminating internal wear and allowing Waukesha's low-shear, gentle product handling.
The tight running clearances between the rotors and the pump body are what make the pump self-priming and volumetrically efficient. Those clearances are machined to millionths of an inch, which is why Alloy 88 rotors are essential — 316 stainless rotors would gall and seize on contact.
In the Universal 2, those same running clearances are tuned slightly more generously than the U1's, because CIP cleaning requires a minimum velocity of cleaning fluid past every product-contact surface. The U2's rotor profile, timing gear clearance, and body geometry are all engineered to hit that velocity target throughout the pump.
04 — Specifications
Fourteen sizes, one platform.
The U2 scales from the 006 (pilot and dosing) up to the 370 (large-volume production and tank transfer). Alloy 88 rotors, Tru-Fit ports, and 3-A CIP geometry are standard across the range.
| Model | Displacement per Revolution | Nominal Capacity to | Maximum Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 006-U2 | 0.0082 gal (0.031 L) | 8 GPM (1.8 m³/hr) | 300 PSI (20.7 bar) |
| 015-U2 | 0.0142 gal (0.054 L) | 11 GPM (2.5 m³/hr) | 250 PSI (17.2 bar) |
| 018-U2 | 0.029 gal (0.110 L) | 20 GPM (4.5 m³/hr) | 200 PSI (13.8 bar) |
| 030-U2 | 0.060 gal (0.227 L) | 36 GPM (8.2 m³/hr) | 250 PSI (17.2 bar) |
| 040-U2 | 0.076 gal (0.288 L) | 45 GPM (10.2 m³/hr) | 150 PSI (10.3 bar) |
| 045-U2 | 0.098 gal (0.371 L) | 58 GPM (13.2 m³/hr) | 450 PSI (31.0 bar)* |
| 060-U2 | 0.153 gal (0.579 L) | 90 GPM (20.4 m³/hr) | 300 PSI (20.7 bar) |
| 130-U2 | 0.253 gal (0.958 L) | 150 GPM (34.1 m³/hr) | 200 PSI (13.8 bar) |
| 180-U2 | 0.380 gal (1.438 L) | 230 GPM (52.2 m³/hr) | 450 PSI (31.0 bar)* |
| 210-U2 | 0.502 gal (1.900 L) | 300 GPM (68.1 m³/hr) | 500 PSI (34.5 bar)* |
| 213-U2 | 0.502 gal (1.900 L) | 300 GPM (68.1 m³/hr) | 500 PSI (34.5 bar) |
| 220-U2 | 0.521 gal (1.972 L) | 310 GPM (70.4 m³/hr) | 300 PSI (20.7 bar) |
| 320-U2 | 0.752 gal (2.847 L) | 450 GPM (102 m³/hr) | 300 PSI (20.7 bar) |
| 370-U2 | 1.099 gal (4.160 L) | 660 GPM (150 m³/hr) | 200 PSI (13.8 bar) |
* Higher-pressure models require specific seal and construction configurations. Nominal capacity and maximum pressure ratings per Waukesha Cherry-Burrell. Actual performance depends on viscosity, product properties, and system conditions — Triplex Sales application engineers will size and specify the correct model for your duty point.
05 — Configuration Options
Built to your CIP regime.
The U2 supports deep configuration of every critical component — ports, rotor style, rotor clearance, elastomer, seal, cover, gearcase — so the pump matches your process and your cleaning chemistry exactly.
06 — Applications
Where Universal 2s earn their keep.
Anywhere product goes from fermenter to filler, homogenizer to heat exchanger, or tank to tote — and the CIP loop has to clean the pump in place.
Dairy & Beverage
- Milk, cream, yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Ice cream mix
- Juice & concentrate
- Beer, wort, wine
- Carbonated syrups
Food
- Sauces & dressings
- Soups & stews
- Peanut butter
- Tomato paste
- Chocolate & fillings
- Fruit preparations
Cosmetic & Personal Care
- Creams & lotions
- Shampoos & body wash
- Toothpaste
- Deodorants
- Hair gels
- Conditioner
Pharma & Biotech
- Fermentation broths
- Active ingredients
- Buffers & media
- Vaccine intermediates
- Purified water loops
- API transfer
07 — Resources
Documentation, videos, and field-proven stories.
Everything our application engineers use to spec, quote, and troubleshoot the Universal 2.
Literature & Manuals
- Universal 2 Brochure
- Universal 2 Instruction Manual
- Ship Sure PD Pumps
- Waukesha Engineering Manual
- Pump Remanufacturing Program
- Integral Speed Reducer
- Universal 2 Seal Reference Chart
- Universal 2 Series Product Highlights
- PD Pumps Spur Gears Product Features
- PD Pumps Specialized Product Features
- High Precision Pump Shaft Bearings
- Preventative Maintenance Checklist for PD Pumps
- Universal 2 Pump Seal Kits Parts List
Video
08 — FAQ
Questions we actually get.
Do I need a Universal 2 or can I use a Universal 1?
If your process requires validated CIP cleaning without disassembly, or differential pressures above 200 PSI, specify a Universal 2. If you disassemble the pump for cleaning anyway and your pressures are modest, the Universal 1 is typically a better value.
What is Tru-Fit and why does it matter for CIP?
Tru-Fit is Waukesha's pre-machined sanitary port profile that eliminates the small gaps and crevices typical of clamp-style connections. For CIP validation, every crevice is a potential site for product residue — Tru-Fit effectively eliminates that category of risk, making CIP cycles shorter and validation easier.
What rotor clearance should I specify?
Standard clearance handles most ambient sanitary duty. Hot-service clearance is specified when CIP or product temperatures exceed about 150°F, because the rotors and body expand differently. Oversized clearance is used for very high-temperature or high-thermal-gradient service. Abrasive clearance is for fluids with solids or particulates.
Single or double mechanical seal?
Most CIP-cleaned sanitary applications use a single mechanical seal with EPDM or FKM elastomers. Specify a double mechanical with flush when the product is abrasive, has a high vapor pressure, or could crystallize at the seal faces. Double seals are also standard for hazardous or high-purity duty.
What pressure can the Universal 2 really handle?
Up to 500 PSI differential in the heavy-duty configuration. This is enough for most long-distance transfer lines, homogenizer feed, and high-pressure CIP loops. Higher pressure requires either a U2 in its heavy configuration or a multi-stage system — we'll tell you which when we size the pump.
Can I retrofit a Universal 2 into a Universal 1 footprint?
Yes — size-for-size, the Universal 2 drops directly into the Universal 1 footprint. Port locations, drive height, and foot pattern all match, so existing piping and baseplates carry over. This is the standard path when upgrading a COP line to validated CIP without repiping the skid.
Is there an ATEX / explosion-proof option?
Yes. The Universal 2 is available with ATEX-certified motors, appropriate seal flush arrangements, and grounding provisions for duty in hazardous atmospheres. Specify zone rating, gas group, and temperature class when you quote.
Ready to spec a Universal 2?
Let's size your pump together.
Give us your duty — fluid, flow, pressure, temperature, and CIP chemistry — and a Triplex Sales application engineer will confirm the correct U2 model, rotor clearance, port style, and seal configuration. Same-day quotes on most duty points.
