Sanitary Flexible Impeller Pumps

● 3-A SANITARY DESIGN● EHEDG CERTIFIED PATH● FDA-COMPLIANT MATERIALS● ASME-BPE● 316L ELECTROPOLISHED FINISH● FREE PUMP SIZING IN 24 H ● 3-A SANITARY DESIGN● EHEDG CERTIFIED PATH● FDA-COMPLIANT MATERIALS● ASME-BPE● 316L ELECTROPOLISHED FINISH● FREE PUMP SIZING IN 24 H
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Positive Displacement · Self-Priming

Sanitary Flexible Impeller Pumps

A rubber impeller with bendable vanes makes this one of the simplest gentle pumps you can put on a line. It primes itself, pulls from well below the inlet, runs either direction, and moves soft solids without chewing them up. A practical choice for transfer, decanting and emptying tanks in food, dairy and beverage work.

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≤ 88GPM (20 m³/h)
≤ 58psi (4 bar)
20 ftdry suction lift (6 m)
176 °Fmax temp (80 °C)
316L3-A · EHEDG
Browse by configuration StandardSelf-primingGentle solidsReversiblePortableElastomer options

Simple, gentle, and it primes itself

Inside the casing sits a rubber impeller whose vanes flex as they sweep past a shaped cam. The vanes spring open on the suction side to draw product in, then fold over near the outlet to push it out. That flexing is what lets the pump prime dry, lift from a few meters below the inlet, and carry soft solids through without crushing them. Flow is steady and close to pulse-free, and reversing the motor reverses the pump. It earns its keep on lighter transfer and emptying jobs, not high pressure. Send us the fluid and the task and we will tell you the right size and impeller compound. Want the mechanics first? See how a flexible impeller pump works.

Showing 6 representative models Sort by
StandardDONJOY RX flexible impeller pump standard model

RX — Standard

Max flow
88 GPM (20 m³/h)
Max pressure
58 psi (4 bar)
Max temp
176 °F (80 °C)
Body
316L (1.4404)
Impeller
Food-grade elastomer
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Self-primingDONJOY RX self-priming flexible impeller pump

RX — Self-Priming

Dry lift
up to 20 ft (6 m)
Duty
Empty tanks · sumps · drums
Prime
Primes from dry
Max flow
88 GPM (20 m³/h)
Body
316L EP
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Gentle solidsDONJOY RX flexible impeller pump for soft solids

RX — Gentle / Solids

Vanes
Flex around soft solids
Shear
Low
Carries
Berries · curds · pieces
Flow
Near pulse-free
Body
316L EP
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ReversibleDONJOY reversible flexible impeller pump

RX — Reversible

Direction
Forward or reverse
Use
Drain lines back to tank
Drive
VFD-friendly
Max pressure
58 psi (4 bar)
Body
316L EP
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PortableDONJOY portable flexible impeller pump on cart

RX — Portable

Format
Cart or trolley
Use
Batching · decanting
Move
Between tanks & rooms
Max flow
88 GPM (20 m³/h)
Body
316L EP
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Elastomer optionsDONJOY flexible impeller pump elastomer options NBR EPDM FKM

RX — Impeller Compounds

EPDM
Dairy · water · CIP
NBR
Fats & oils
FKM
Aggressive media
Spare
Quick-change impeller
Body
316L EP
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These specs track the DONJOY RX flexible impeller range we reference: up to 88 GPM (20 m³/h) and 58 psi (4 bar), 80 °C (176 °F), with a dry self-priming lift of about 6 m (20 ft). Bodies are 316L (1.4404); the impeller is a food-grade elastomer (EPDM, NBR or FKM) chosen for your fluid. Connections, finish, cart and impeller compound are picked to suit the job, and the supply source is matched to your specification.

Hygienic standards

Built to the standards your auditor checks

The wetted metal is 316L (1.4404), electropolished and drainable, and the impeller is a food-grade elastomer that meets FDA material rules. The build follows 3-A and EHEDG hygienic-design principles, so the pump cleans up well and stands up to an audit. We confirm the exact certification path against your market.

3-A SanitaryEHEDG designFDA materialsASME-BPE316L · Ra ≤ 0.8 µm
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Case studies & guides

Where a flexible impeller pump fits, and how to keep it running.

Case study

Emptying a Wine Tank Down to the Last Liter

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Case study

Portable Cart for Small-Batch Juice Transfer

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Guide

Picking the Right Impeller: EPDM, NBR or FKM

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Guide

Flexible Impeller vs Lobe: When to Use Which

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Flexible impeller pump FAQs

What buyers and plant engineers ask us before they spec one.

What is a flexible impeller pump?
It is a positive-displacement pump that does its work with one rubber impeller. The impeller has several vanes that bend as they turn inside an off-center casing. That simple bending motion moves the liquid, primes the pump dry and lets it run either direction. People also call it a flexible vane pump.
How does a flexible impeller pump work?
As the impeller turns, a raised cam in the casing squeezes the vanes flat on one side. On the suction side the vanes spring back open, and the space they create pulls liquid in. The vanes carry that liquid around to the outlet, where the cam bends them over again and pushes it out. One fixed slug of liquid moves per vane, so flow tracks the speed.
What is a flexible impeller pump used for?
Think light, gentle, on-and-off jobs: moving milk, juice, wine or beer, decanting between tanks, drawing a vessel down to the last liter, or filling small batches from a cart. The vanes flex around soft pieces, so it also suits delicate product that a rougher pump would damage.
Can a flexible impeller pump run dry?
Only for a few seconds while it pulls prime. The liquid is what cools and lubricates the rubber vanes, so with no liquid they heat up and tear within a minute or two. If the pump might sit running on an empty line, add a dry-run guard or a level switch to shut it down.
Can it handle soft solids and shear-sensitive product?
That is one of its strengths. The vanes give as a soft solid passes, so berries, curds and small pieces go through whole, and the low, steady action does not beat up emulsions or cultures. It is not the pump for hard or abrasive grit, which cuts the rubber.
How well does it self-prime, and how far can it lift?
Priming is the headline feature. A sanitary flexible impeller pump lifts from roughly 6 m (20 ft) below the inlet and primes from completely dry, which is why it is a favorite for emptying tanks, sumps and drums where the supply sits lower than the pump.
Can a flexible impeller pump run in reverse?
It can. Reverse the motor and the flow reverses, which is handy for clearing a line back into the tank or recovering product after a run. Worth noting: running reversed wears the vanes a little faster, so keep it occasional rather than constant.
How long does the impeller last, and when should I change it?
The impeller is a wear part, so plan to swap it now and then rather than expecting it to last forever. Life depends on the fluid, temperature, hours and how often it primes dry. Watch for a drop in flow or prime as the cue, and keep a spare on the shelf — it changes out in minutes.
Which impeller compound should I choose?
Match the rubber to the fluid. EPDM is the default for water, milk and CIP chemicals; nitrile (NBR) holds up to fats and oils; FKM (Viton) covers harsher or solvent-bearing media. Tell us the product and the cleaning regime and we will name the compound.
What flow and pressure can it reach?
The hygienic range we reference tops out around 88 GPM (20 m³/h) and 58 psi (4 bar), at up to 80 °C (176 °F). It is built for low-pressure transfer, not for pushing through long high-resistance lines — if you need more head, a different pump type fits better.
Is there an alternative to a flexible impeller pump?
For continuous, higher-pressure or hotter duty, look at a rotary lobe pump or a sine pump — both are gentle positive-displacement pumps with longer service life and no wear-prone vanes. The flexible impeller wins on price, simplicity and dry priming, so it stays the better pick for light, intermittent work.
Is it hygienic and easy to clean?
The body is 316L with smooth, drainable passages, and the cover comes off without tools so you can inspect or change the impeller fast. It cleans in place for routine duty; for a deeper clean the open design makes manual cleaning straightforward too.
How do I get one sized and quoted?
Tell us the fluid, the flow you need, how far you are lifting it and the temperature. We will come back with a sized pump, the right impeller compound and a budget price, usually within a business day — and we will say so plainly if another pump type would serve you better.

About sanitary flexible impeller pumps

The flexible impeller pump trades brute capability for plain usefulness. One molded rubber impeller does everything — it primes, it pumps, it handles a bit of solid content — with no gears, no timing and almost nothing to set up. It counts as a positive-displacement pump, since each vane carries a fixed slug of liquid, so the flow holds steady and you can throttle it with speed.

Where it shines, and where it doesn’t

Its sweet spot is light transfer that needs strong suction: pulling a tank down to empty, decanting wine or juice, moving product around on a cart. It primes from dry, lifts well, reverses on command and treats soft product kindly. The trade-off is the impeller itself, which wears and dislikes both dry running and abrasives. For hot, high-pressure or round-the-clock duty, a sturdier pump pays off.

Getting the selection right

Two choices matter most: the size, set by your flow and lift, and the impeller compound, set by your fluid and cleaning chemistry. Protect it with a level switch or dry-run guard if the supply can run out. When the job turns continuous or the pressure climbs, step up to a rotary lobe pump; for very gentle, near pulse-free transfer of fragile product, look at a sine pump. Unsure which way to go? Describe the job and we will point you to the pump that actually fits.

Wondering if a flexible impeller pump suits the job?

Describe the fluid and the duty — we’ll size it and say so straight

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