AxFlow Systems
Modular CIP is more sustainable, efficient and versatile.
Quickly replaceable heat exchangers, skid systems with interchangeable tanks and pumps – the process industry loves scalable process components. With modular technology, production processes can be optimized quickly and easily, while significantly reducing water, energy, and chemical usage.
However, when end users request modular Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) systems, they are often told: CIP systems are an integral part of the process setup and a fixed component of the process infrastructure, so you’re stuck with them. Modifications? Costly and time-consuming. Expansion? Back to the drawing board and redesign from scratch.
AxFlow Systems demonstrates that it can be done better and has developed a modular, configurable, and flexibly deployable CIP system. Their OCTONIQ system solution overcomes the limitations of conventional CIP systems and offers greater flexibility, scalability, and sustainability for inline cleaning – with all the associated economic benefits.
The Complexity of CIP Processes
CIP systems are essential for industries where hygiene and product quality are paramount. When cleaning production lines, numerous process variables must be precisely coordinated.
Cleaning agents must be carefully matched to the product being cleaned. Temperature, flow, and pressure are critical parameters and must be continuously controlled so that spray nozzles clean effectively, tanks do not empty prematurely, and blockages are avoided.
Specific chemicals must also be added in the correct amounts and concentrations during each cleaning cycle. In the pharmaceutical industry, which has the strictest standards, additional sterilization and documentation requirements apply.
When developing OCTONIQ, AxFlow took all these functional requirements into account, paying close attention to crucial design details such as cable routing, for which they collaborated with development partner Gouda Holland (part of the Niedax Group).
Technical Refinement and Hygienic Design
OCTONIQ includes all essential components for effective CIP processes: pumps, chemical injection points, flow meters, pressure meters, temperature sensors, conductivity sensors, and optional turbidity meters. The system features supply and return filters and can clean both the process and itself. All sensors and actuators are connected via M12 connectors with IO-Link technology, ensuring simple wiring and reliable data communication.
The OCTONIQ design is suitable for production environments with the highest hygiene standards, as it is fully hygienic-design (HD) with a completely cleanable open structure.
The control cabinet is separate for optimal ventilation and humidity control. AxFlow also chose the easily accessible and effectively cleanable Streamline HD cable management system from Gouda Holland (Niedax Group). This allows the OCTONIQ system to be placed directly next to production lines without introducing additional food safety risks. For end users, this modular CIP solution provides multiple economic benefits, such as requiring fewer pipelines than conventional fixed installations.
Modular² | AxFlow & Niedax Group
The modularity of Gouda Holland and Niedax systems perfectly aligns with the OCTONIQ philosophy.
Just as the CIP system can be adapted to changing production conditions, the Streamline HD cable holders provide flexible cable routing and expansion, without major construction or hygiene compromises.
Peeters: “In hygienic production environments, the way cables and pipes are routed is critical for both functionality and cleanability. Niedax Group, including Gouda Holland, provides high-quality hygienic solutions designed specifically for food, pharma, and cleanroom applications. These HD systems are easy to clean and maintain. Because cables are mounted without cable ties, installation and maintenance are extremely fast, while maintaining flexibility (for example, for hygienically mounting excess cable lengths). This increases cleanability and ease of installation and reduces recall and downtime risks.”
Added Value
OCTONIQ offers numerous practical benefits: short lead times, predictable costs, and modularity for optimal future-proofing. If a production line is expanded or modified, the CIP system can be easily adapted.
Finally, the system monitors chemical contact time and total cycle duration, avoiding unnecessary downtime.
Peeters: “Niedax Gouda Holland products are a small but crucial part of our modular CIP system, turning Cleaning-in-Place into Cleaning-in-any-Place. This increases cleanability and ease of installation and reduces recall and downtime risks.”
From Trading Company to System Integrator
The AxFlow Group, parent company which includes AxFlow Systems B.V. and AxFlow B.V., supplies fluid-related process components to various industries, including food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.
When customers of the trading company AxFlow B.V. request complete system solutions, AxFlow Systems steps in. In addition to complex fluid systems, the experts at AxFlow Systems develop fully customized turnkey process installations – and since January 1, 2026, also their own innovative and flexibly deployable CIP system.
Bas Peeters, Commercial Engineer at AxFlow Systems: “Traditionally, CIP systems are designed individually for each customer and situation. This bespoke approach drives up engineering costs and increases the risk of errors. Our modular line of CIP systems with associated components makes custom engineering unnecessary, saving clients significant time, money, and hassle.”
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