High-pressure sanitary PD pumping, without making seal service a wrestling match.
The Waukesha Universal 3 brings the Universal rotary lobe platform into higher-pressure sanitary duty, with a front-loading seal, 316L product body, stainless gearcase, and heavy-duty shafting for demanding food, beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, and chemical processes.
A Universal pump built for higher-pressure sanitary service.
The U3 is the newest high-pressure member of the Waukesha positive displacement family, built for processors that need Universal performance, hygienic construction, and easier seal access.
The Universal 3 is a strong fit when pressure, viscosity, or difficult products push a standard sanitary PD pump too hard. It keeps the Universal family's non-galling Alloy 88 rotor advantage while adding a front-loading seal arrangement and robust stainless construction.
Triplex supports U3 selection, pricing, manuals, seal kits, and parts identification — including applications where the right answer depends on pressure, cleaning, product temperature, or seal flush strategy.
Sauces, dressings, dips
Viscous and shear-sensitive food products.
Cooked ground beef
Demanding solids/viscous transfer duties.
Cream, yogurt, curd/whey
Sanitary transfer where pressure matters.
Pastes, syrups, lotions
Controlled transfer of viscous products.
Designed around pressure, uptime, and seal access.
U3 construction focuses on shaft support, seal life, and hygienic product-zone design for demanding sanitary PD service.
Platform features
- Models rated up to 500 PSI (34.5 bar) depending on size and configuration.
- Front-loading seal design improves access for inspection and service.
- No bearings in the product zone to reduce contamination and corrosion concerns.
- 316L stainless steel body with standard stainless gearcase construction.
- Large-diameter 17-4 PH shafts help reduce overhung load, vibration, and seal wear.
- Heavy-duty stainless bearing frame with double tapered roller bearings.
- Wave spring mechanical seal loading supports extended seal life.
- Alloy 88 non-galling rotors allow close clearances without rotor-to-body galling.
- Model & Performance Center
- U1 vs U2 vs U3 comparison
- Sanitary PD pump selection guide
- Waukesha pump parts help
- Sanitary pump seal failure guide
Selection notes
- Confirm actual differential pressure and line losses before selecting a model.
- Review seal type, elastomer, flush plan, and cleaning chemistry for the product.
- Check viscosity and product temperature against speed, horsepower, and clearance needs.
- Use Triplex for final sizing, parts lookup, seal kits, and U3 Pumps for Life documentation.
The circumferential piston principle.
Universal Series pumps use Waukesha's external circumferential piston design: long sealing paths, tight running clearances, and non-galling Alloy 88 rotors to move viscous or shear-sensitive products with steady flow.
Because the rotors do not contact each other, Universal pumps can handle sensitive products with lower shear than many pump styles. The close clearances reduce slip, and the robust shaft/bearing arrangement helps maintain alignment under pressure.
Final sizing still depends on product viscosity, temperature, pressure, line losses, cleaning method, and seal requirements. Triplex can verify the right model, rotor, seal, elastomer, and motor configuration before ordering.
Universal 3 model range.
Core U3 sizes, nominal capacities, port sizes, and maximum pressure ranges from the existing Triplex reference data.
| Model | Displacement / Rev. | Capacity To | Inlet / Outlet | Optional Ports | Pressure To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 006-U3 | 0.0082 gal (0.031 L) | 8 GPM (1.8 m³/hr) | 1.0 in | 1.5 in | 300 PSI (20.7 bar) |
| 015-U3 | 0.0142 gal (0.054 L) | 11 GPM (2.5 m³/hr) | 1.5 in | — | 250 PSI (17.2 bar) |
| 018-U3 | 0.029 gal (0.110 L) | 20 GPM (4.5 m³/hr) | 1.5 in | 2.0 in | 200 PSI (13.8 bar) |
| 030-U3 | 0.060 gal (0.227 L) | 36 GPM (8.2 m³/hr) | 1.5 in | 2.0 in | 250 PSI (17.2 bar) |
| 040-U3 | 0.076 gal (0.288 L) | 46 GPM (10.4 m³/hr) | 2.0 in | — | 150 PSI (10.3 bar) |
| 045-U3 | 0.098 gal (0.371 L) | 58 GPM (13.2 m³/hr) | 2.0 in | — | 450 PSI (31.0 bar) |
| 060-U3 | 0.153 gal (0.579 L) | 90 GPM (20.4 m³/hr) | 2.5 in | 3.0 in | 300 PSI (20.7 bar) |
| 130-U3 | 0.253 gal (0.958 L) | 150 GPM (34.1 m³/hr) | 3.0 in | — | 200 PSI (13.8 bar) |
| 180-U3 | 0.380 gal (1.438 L) | 230 GPM (52.2 m³/hr) | 3.0 in | — | 450 PSI (31.0 bar) |
| 210-U3 | 0.502 gal (1.900 L) | 300 GPM (68.1 m³/hr) | 4.0 in | — | 500 PSI (34.5 bar) |
| 220-U3 | 0.521 gal (1.972 L) | 310 GPM (70.4 m³/hr) | 4.0 in | — | 300 PSI (20.7 bar) |
| 320-U3 | 0.752 gal (2.847 L) | 450 GPM (102 m³/hr) | 6.0 in | — | 300 PSI (20.7 bar) |
Capacities and pressure ratings vary by product, speed, viscosity, temperature, seal selection, and system conditions. Confirm final sizing with Triplex before ordering.
Documentation and field resources.
Brochures, manuals, seal references, and related resources for quoting, maintenance, and parts support.
Questions we actually get.
Other pumps in the rotary lobe family.
Compare the U1, U2, U2 ND, U3, and APV R Series on the main rotary lobe overview.
Use the Triplex WCB Model Center to filter Universal pump curve PDFs, STEP files, SolidWorks files, and shared dimensional drawings by series and model.
Open the WCB Model Center
