A technology company has developed a foam control sensor to improve the quality of manufacturing waste before disposal.

Chatham-based Charis Technology developed its foam system to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry but recognised its value in effluent treatment and other industrial processes such as paper manufacture, veterinary products, chemical production and food processing.

Foam occurs naturally during many production processes. It blocks filters and overflows, causing a mess and safety hazard which results in costly downtime.

Dosing with anti-foam reduces the problem, but without a reliable foam sensor many companies resort to constant dosage, which can often add up to over-dose. The Charis Foam System continuously monitors the process to avoid over use of costly anti-foam.

The system was developed by Steve Gallagher, the firm’s sales director, a former engineer at Shell Research - now Kent Science Park - in Sittingbourne.

The product is manufactured at Lordswood Industrial Estate, Chatham, with some machining and circuit board production sub-contracted to local companies. The items are sold throughout Europe, North America and Australia.

“As with many simple ideas, it is relatively easy to tailor the sensor to an individual client’s needs,” said Mr Gallagher. “It can also be incorporated into other manufacturers’ systems, offering an intelligent solution to foam control.”

Charis client Monarch Chemicals, Sheerness, is a chemical distribution and toll manufacturing company. Disposal of residues from its chemical production is subject to Southern Water’s strict regulations.

Projects manager Trevor Goddard said: “While researching a solution to the problem of foam spillages during waste water treatment, I was delighted to discover a local company who seemed to offer the answer. We are confident that the system is monitoring and treating our waste water to our exacting standards 24/7.”