BST August/September 2018

BULK MATERIALS HANDLING • FEEDING & CONVEYING PPMA SHOW PREVIEW BULK MATERIALS HANDLING • POWDER HANDLING • QUARRYING• • RECYCLING & 2018 WASTE MANAGEMENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER FEBRUARY 2018 2017

NEW SOFT-TOUCH BRILLOPAK ‘GLOVE’ ON SHOW AT PPMA 2018

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HIGHLIGHTS:

4

£600k Investment in Smart Powder Processing

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Next generation magnetc separators

22

Industrial screeners for conveyor systems

The Smart Way to Unload, Convey, Weigh & Mix ®

MODU-KLEEN BIN VENT FILTER

SWITCH RECEIVER

CONVEYING LINE

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BLENDCON SILO BLENDER

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BULKBUSTER BULK BAG UNLOADER

STORAGE SILO

STORAGE SILO

STORAGE SILO

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VIBRA-JET BIN AERATOR

BULK BAG

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GYRO BIN ACTIVATING FEEDER TM

DYNA-SLIDE HIGH PRECISION AIR-ACTIVATED FEEDER

WEIGH HOPPER

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BAGBUSTER BAG BREAKER ®

BELLA TWIN SHAFT FLUIDIZED ZONE MIXER

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BLENDCON AIR BLENDING HEAD

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BellaTM Twin Shaft Fluidized Zone Mixer

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Dense Phase Transporter, J-Series

BulkBusterTM Bulk Bag Unloader

Issue 127

CONTENTS 4

NEWS

10 PPMA SHOW 2018 PREVIEW BST TEAM Sales Director: James Scrivens Production: Sarah Daviner Accounts Manager: Katie Brehm Office Manager: Susan Daley BULK SOLIDS TODAY is published 6 times a year by Abbey Publishing Ltd ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Please contact us at: Tel: 01933 316931 Email: editorial@bulksolidstoday.co.uk

advertising@bulksolidstoday.co.uk Web: www.bulksolidstoday.co.uk Twitter: www.twitter.com/BulkSolidsToday

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FEEDING & CONVEYING

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BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

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CASE STUDY

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BUYERS GUIDE

CIRCULATION To receive a copy free of charge, please send your details to subs@bulksolidstoday.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available via www.bulksolidstoday.co.uk/subscribe No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission from the publishers. The publishers do not accept any responsibility for, or necessarily agree with, any views expressed in articles, letters or supplied advertisements.

SOME MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS HAVE MADE A CONTRIBUTION TOWARD THE COST OF REPRODUCING SOME PHOTOGRAPHS IN BST.

ISSN: 1365/7119 All contents © Abbey Publishing Ltd 2018

www.bulksolidstoday.co.uk Bulk Solids Today

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COMPANY NEWS

HOSOKAWA UNVEIL £600K INVESTMENT IN SMART POWDER PROCESSING Hosokawa Micron has recently invested £600k in two new Control Systems incorporating the latest digital manufacturing technologies within their Contract Manufacturing Facility in Runcorn.

“O

ur challenge to meet future contract processing demands through improved product quality and yields, minimise unplanned plant downtime and maximise plant availability and production flexibility is reflected throughout the processing industries. This investment demonstrates how we achieved our goals and in doing so enabled us to develop a proven route for smarter manufacturing that we can share with others,” explains MD, Iain Crosley.

This first stage investment has generated an all-time high onspecification production rate and 95% ‘right-first-time’ rate at the Runcorn Contract Manufacturing facility and plans are already in place for additional developments to further enhance the service. For Hosokawa the new advances offer the potential for greater throughput to meet growing demands for contract processing services.

Remote monitoring facilitates equipment health monitoring and predictive diagnostics for early warning of equipment problems before they impact plant operations and minimise negative effects on production of equipment failures.

Operating data and diagnostic alerts

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Bulk Solids Today

are available via the Hosokawa Gen4 App, which provides guided trouble shooting and remote support by Hosokawa engineers, anytime of the day – keeping operational delays to a minimum.

“By linking process equipment and controls we can understand, monitor and control our contract manufacturing plant. Sensors capture real-time, essential operating data. This is analysed and interrogated to provide insight into all aspects of the plant’s production performance, identifying under-performing equipment and the status of individual assets. Access to this knowledge aids strategic decision making, scheduling, predictive maintenance and operational availability.

“The rate of change in smarter

manufacturing technologies is escalating. Powder processors cannot afford to be left behind with implementation. Our 50+ years of processing knowledge plus our digital technologies experience and expertise is available to the wider process sector through our new business unit, Hosokawa Gen4. This capability combination is not available elsewhere.” says Iain Crosley.

With additional investment for further development already approved, Hosokawa Micron continues to strive to be at the forefront of the Smart Factory revolution.

Tel: +44 (0) 1928 333139 Email: info@hosokawagen4.com www.hosokawagen4.com

COMPANY NEWS

EMERSON INTRODUCES NEW MOTOR STARTER WITH COMPONENT-LEVEL PROTECTION FOR IMPROVED COST PERFORMANCE PlexPower™ designs are faster to install and easier to maintain and operate than traditional cast motor starters resulting in a 73% lower total cost of ownership

E

merson has introduced a cost-effective, easyto-install and simple-tooperate alternative to traditional cast and bolted motor starters in the form of its new Appleton® PlexPower™ solution.

Designed for hazardous, wet or corrosive locations such as oil refineries and chemical plants, the Appleton PlexPower motor starter provides electrical apparatus protection combined with the convenience and savings of off-the-shelf components.

Appleton PlexPower motor starters deliver savings up to 73% compared to the total cost of ownership of traditional cast and bolted motor starters. Because they are fabricated from lightweight 316L stainless steel instead of heavy-cast aluminum, PlexPower motor starters require fewer people and less labor time to install. Also, there is no need for conduit seals or cable glands like with traditional cast and bolted motor starters. Plus, the starters are not limited only to switch rack mounting. For example, by locating the PlexPower closer to motors and equipment, electricians can shorten cable runs to achieve lower overall labor and materials costs.

Modular design construction using cost effective off-the-shelf breakers, contractors and motor starters also ensures faster commissioning by making replacements readily available from multiple suppliers.

“The Appleton PlexPower delivers on Emerson’s enduring commitment to the electrical professional with a patented design that saves 6

Bulk Solids Today

time and money, while giving electricians working in hazardous locations much needed peace of mind,” said Tim Graff, vice president of engineering for Emerson Automation Solutions. “Because it is easier to install, operate, upgrade and maintain, it is the perfect alternative to traditional cast motor starters.”

Appleton PlexPower motor starters offer fast installation by increasing mounting flexibility with a slimmer footprint and flexible, modular design. They can be configured in single or multiple motor starter designs to reduce space requirements in crowded control rooms while meeting exact specifications. In addition, the starters can be mounted standalone at various locations throughout a facility, giving additional convenience while saving valuable space and cabling costs.

Accessibility to enclosures is one of the biggest challenges for end users installing, operating, and maintaining hazardous area motor starters. To access internal components in traditional cast and bolted enclosures, up to 70 bolts must be loosened and then tightened again, leading to extended production downtime and potentially greater risk to arc flash accidents.

Plus, improperly torqued or missing bolts can be dangerous and cause accidents or safety risks. To combat this time-consuming and potentially dangerous situation, the PlexPower is designed for easier accessibility

to be quickly opened with a few quarter-turn latches rather than multiple bolts. Only standard tools are needed to open and close the enclosure, which means production lines can be up and running in less time and greater profitability.

The Appleton PlexPower Motor Starter modular design improves worker safety by limiting workers’ exposure to high levels of incident energy when installed close to the application. Component level protection means every component has its own module with its own flame path. The result is fewer workplace accidents, a diminished risk of damaging the flame path, and greater flexibility and convenience for the end-user.

Appleton PlexPower Motor Starters are available with up to a NEMA 1 size starter and have NEC and CEC Certification for Class I, Division 2 or Class I, Zone 1 and Type 4X applications.

For more information, visit: http://www.emerson.com/ en-us/news/automation/ 1808-appleton-plexpowermotor-starter

COMPANY NEWS

VORTEX ANNOUNCES NEW REPRESENTATIVE AGENT IN SAUDI ARABIA

V

ortex Global Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Eurotech International FZ, LLC as its new representative agent for Saudi Arabia.

Eurotech International FZ, LLC is a network of mechanical engineering product manufacturers and service providers, located in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Eurotech services the cement, steel, mining, paper, chemical, and food industries through their manufacturing and engineering expertise.

For the past year, Eurotech has been committed to serving quality products and services. By partnering with only ISO-certified original equipment manufacturers Contract Processing Ad (134x178)_Layout 1 (OEMs), Eurotech assures thorough

internal and external quality checks to reinforce their motto: “Deliver excellence to all clients.”

Eurotech’s product portfolio includes conveyor rollers, conveyor belts, head cleaning systems and other conveyor belt accessories, conveyor and elevator chains, gearboxes, industrial brake systems, drive components, rotary airlocks, industrial fans and ventilation systems, high-temperature castings, air pollution control systems and other baghouse accessories, hydraulic systems, centrifuges, and more. Eurotech also partners with other engineering firms to provide system design consultation. Such consultation is often sought when designing overland conveyors, 20/07/2018 14:52 Page 1 pipe conveyors, ship loading

and unloading operations, yard machines, in-pit systems, and other systems for bulk material handling.

With the addition of Vortex Global Limited’s vast product portfolio, Eurtotech can now offer slide gates, diverter valves, loading solutions, and engineered solutions for the dry solids handling industries.

For Saudi Arabia customers, Mr. Shibu Hameed, sales director at Eurotech International FZ, LLC, will be the main point of contact. He can be contacted directly via email at shibu@eurotechfz.com. www.eurotechfz.com www.vortexglobal.com

Experience the

difference… …in contract processing services from product development to full scale up production As experts in size reduction, classification and multi-processing techniques we offer a swift route to market of even difficult to handle products.

Customers gain real advantages from our powder processing experience.

• Comprehensive, in-house analytical and test facility support • Separate chemical and food processing suites • High volume or small batch production • We work with you to determine accurate product specifications • Product/process risk assessments completed • Optimum design of production processes to meet product requirements Single stage processing, systematic multi-stage processing or multi-stage processing using a single, specialist machine, our engineers are there to work with you for the optimum solution.

Tel: +44 (0) 1928 755100 • E.mail: info@hmluk.hosokawa.com • www.hosokawa.co.uk

Bulk Solids Today

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COMPANY NEWS

DOUBLING UP

B

ased in Cheshire, H2Ecommerce (H2E) undertake pallet storage warehousing along with a range of retail fulfilment and logistics services on behalf of a string of clients spread across industries as diverse as printing and pet supplies.

The company operates from a modern 27,0000 sq ft facility in Crewe which comprises 17,000 sq ft of dedicated storage space along with 10,000 sq ft of office accommodation.

Following a recent review of intralogistics processes, H2E has maximised the utilisation of the store and doubled the pallet capacity at their Crewe site by introducing very narrow aisle racking served by Flexi articulated warehouse truck technology from Narrow Aisle Ltd. “The decision to reconfigure the layout of the store and adopt very narrow aisle methodology was driven by our need for extra cubic capacity following a period of sustained sales growth,” explains H2E’s E-Fulfilment Manager, Kevin Over.

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Bulk Solids Today

The introduction of a very narrow aisle storage layout and Flexi articulated truck technology has allowed H2Ecommerce to increase the capacity of its site in Crewe by 100 per cent The aisles within H2E’s Crewe store are now just 2.0 metres wide with each pallet rack filled to roof level, which means that the warehouse now has a pallet capacity of 2200 – a 100 per cent increase of 1100 spaces on the previous maximum.

The new racking layout has also enabled H2E to maximise the full height of the building for pallet storage, as Kevin Over explains: “Our revised storage system has a top racking beam height of 7.2m which means we are now using all the 9.5m height available within the building.

He continues: “Going higher and reducing aisle widths to 2.0m has resulted in a significant increase in the overall density of the storage space available and our stockholding capacity has doubled.”

The Flexi AC1000 model articulated truck in operation at the H2E site can lift all H2E customer loads to the top beam within the very narrow aisles at the site and has been supplied with a high

definition LCD CCTV system to ensure that H2E’s operators have a clear view of the load and the racking when retrieving and putting away pallets at the highest level.

In addition, the truck’s HiVIS lift mast and specially developed integrated tilting and side shifting fork carriage eliminate mast deflection at the highest lift heights - making pallet movement fast and hugely efficient.

Like all models in the Flexi range, the AC1000 is able to operate safely both inside and outside the warehouse. This feature eliminates double handling and means that a single Flexi will do the work of two trucks: it unloads or loads vehicles like a counterbalanced truck and operates within the aisleways like a VNA truck.

This capability has allowed H2E to reduce the materials handling equipment in operation at the Crewe store from three units to two, as Kevin Over explains: “The Flexi AC1000 has allowed us to replace a reach

COMPANY NEWS truck which had limited use as it was unable to work outside or within the new narrow aisle configuration.

To further enhance ISO container stuffing and destuffing efficiency at H2E, Narrow Aisle supplied 2-metre long fork attachments, which can be easily manually extended when required for offloading palletised products from a shipping container and retracted just as simply when the truck is required within the warehouse.

In a typical day some 500 orders are picked, packed and dispatched from H2E’s Crewe facility. Incoming pallets are offloaded from a variety of vehicles by the Flexi truck and products are booked in to H2E’s Storefeeder warehouse manager system using handheld scanners and allocated a storage location.

The Flexi AC1000 then delivers the pallets to the racking system where bulk stock is held at higher locations before being dropped – again using the Flexi – to replenish the pick faces as and when required.

On site safety is paramount at H2E and, during the replenishment process, the company employs what it calls a ’two-bay safety rule’ to ensure that order picking staff can carry out their tasks while the Flexi is in operation a safe distance away in the aisle.

“The ‘two-bay rule’ simply means that if the Flexi truck and order pickers are working in the same aisle they must always be separated by a minimum of ‘two bays’, or four pallet space, at all times. We therefore ensure correct segregation of pedestrians and materials handling equipment with no loss of productivity,” explains Kevin Over.

To further enhance truck operator safety and the wellbeing of other warehouse staff, the Flexi 1000 features both an audible reversing warning and a visual reversing warning that projects a beam of blue light on to the floor 3 metres behind the vehicle to alert staff to the truck’s presence.

Kevin Over says: “The Flexi truck has allowed us to double our warehouse capacity by increasing the density of the available storage space. Furthermore, the addition of retractable forks, which we deploy when offloading sea-freight containers, allied to the fact that the Flexi can be used to undertake the jobs carried out by counterbalance and reach trucks, has increased safety and allowed us to significantly improve throughput speeds.

“All operators found the converting from old reach truck technology to the Flexi AC1000 simple and they have easily adapted to the requirements of working in a narrow aisle warehouse.”

John Maguire, commercial director of Narrow Aisle Ltd, commented: “The introduction of Flexi articulated truck technology has allowed H2Ecommerce to maximise the capacity and efficiency of it’s fulfilment centre.

“By redesigning and reconfiguring its existing intralogistics infrastructure and using new technology and handling techniques, the company has created a highly cost effective operation that delivers attractive financial returns in double quick time.” www.flexi.co.uk

High Efficiency Drying or Cooling of Bulk Solids The Bella dryer/cooler offers thermal efficiencies to 80 percent or better because air flows around material while it is suspended in the weightless zone.

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Bulk Solids Today

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COMPANY NEWS

HOPPECKE WINS MAJOR BATTERY AND CHARGER ORDER FROM BRIGGS Energy management specialist Hoppecke Industrial Batteries has won a major contract valued at £1million from leading forklift truck distributor Briggs Equipment to supply batteries and chargers for the company’s short-term hire (STH) fleet.

B

riggs Equipment is the exclusive UK distributor for the Hyster and Yale ranges of forklift trucks and a variety of other materials handling equipment. Hoppecke – the leader in industrial battery systems and the largest battery manufacturer in European ownership – has been awarded the status of approved supplier to deliver and service hundreds of trak|air batteries and high-frequency trak|power premium chargers.

In all, Briggs is taking 600 batteries and chargers from Hoppecke with the aim of renting units to cope with seasonal or emergency peaks in demand and changing work patterns.

Briggs Equipment has been expanding its STH fleet – around 5,000 machines are in operation at

any one time – with a particular focus on next-day delivery so that where customers have an urgent requirement, such as a critical deadline or a truck unexpectedly being out of commission, they can be back up to their full quota within 24 hours.

Having previously invested around £70m in the development of its dedicated hire fleet, Briggs has this year injected a further £10.8m to address growing demand for the short-term rental of equipment.

This trend has been most obvious at airports, in the construction industry and in event management, including small shows, exhibitions and concerts. Briggs also believes that

uncertainty around Brexit is causing some companies to choose to rent equipment as and when they need it.

Another influential factor is more stringent safety laws, which leads to additional trucks being required as equipment is allocated to specific tasks. At the same time, Briggs attributes investment in its electric forklift fleet to the fact that businesses are becoming more environmentally conscious, particularly those involved in indoor operations and warehousing. www.hoppecke.co.uk

OPERATIONAL REVIEW DELIVERS SIGNIFICANT PACKAGING SAVING FOR WALKER

F

ollowing a comprehensive review of internal processes at its 250,000 sq. ft. multi-user storage hub in Berkshire, logistics services and online fulfilment specialist, Walker Logistics, has cut the amount of packaging used across its business by some 5 per cent.

In addition, the introduction of new packaging materials and packing methods has allowed the company to speed up its pick, pack and dispatch operations and achieve a saving of 2.5 hours in the time it takes to process 1000 orders.

The time savings delivered mean that Walker has not only been able to pass on cost efficiencies to its clients but, in some cases, has allowed the cut-off time by which online orders can be received and processed for next-day delivery to be extended.

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Bulk Solids Today

“Effective use of packaging is one of the keys to keeping supply chain costs down,” says William Walker, sales director of Walker Logistics.

He continues: ““We analysed every aspect of our operation to ensure that orders are safely packed in the most timeefficient and environmentally responsible manner possible.

“Where it has not been possible to reduce the amount of packaging, we have sought to introduce more environmentallyfriendly forms of material.

“For example, wherever possible we will remove the use of infill materials and replace it with recycled and shredded cardboard which is produced on-site.

A commitment to operate in the

most environmentally-friendly way possible is one of the cornerstones of Walker Logistics’ business philosophy and the company was recognised for its environmental commitment in 2017 when it was announced as the winner of the Environment Award at the UK Warehousing Association’s Awards for Warehousing.

William Walker adds: “Third party logistics companies have a responsibility to their clients and, indeed, to the planet, to take a pro-active approach and strive to drive cost efficiencies and cut waste from business processes wherever possible.” www.walkerlogistics.com

PPMA SHOW 2018 PREVIEW

NEW SOFT-TOUCH BRILLOPAK ‘GLOVE’ CRADLES HEAVY FOODS AND FRAGILE ECO-MATERIALS

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t PPMA 2018 (stand C50), Brillopak will unveil how it has revolutionised the longstanding challenge of automating the gentle placement of heavier food items, including pre-packed potatoes, vegetables, fruit and larger VFFS wrapped meat joints, in addition to netted and boxed products.

Using a soft, food-grade material, the Glove end effector can be fitted to any dexterous single-pick case loading robot. Unlike grippers, which can pierce packaging, bruise fresh produce or affect vacuum seals causing faster spoilage and discolouration, Brillopak designed the Glove to delicately pick up and release items with precision and control. By cradling products that cannot be lifted by suction due to weight, for example melons, or certain types of packaging materials, including nets, the Glove scoops up items individually and gently lowers each product into retail crates. Brillopak believes it to be the first single pick end effector of its kind in Europe.

Aside from handling root vegetables like potatoes, carrots and parsnips in VFFS plastic packaging, the Glove is ideal for tops fruits like apples and pears where bags may sag and drop causing production to stall while operative clear the line. It also solves the challenge of packing larger fruits such as melons and pomelos, joints of high value meat, netted nuts, shellfish and citrus fruits, and even seasonal items such as cheeseboards and hampers.

With Mintel’s most recent Global Packaging Trends Report (2018) indicating that most retailers and brands will get on board with eco-friendly packaging materials, the Glove also helps packers to consider the importance of having a multifunctional end-effector that can handle a range of packaging formats. Among them, netted bags, card, recyclable wood casings, like those used by some soft cheese brands, and even fragile biodegradable formats. Brillopak director David Jahn explains: “As the war on plastic continues, we are anticipating lots of revolutionary approaches where conventional grippers, collation tables and even vacuum may not be the most efficient automated product handling technique.”

Following a set presentation format, which changes constantly depending on the retailer being supplied and product SKUs, the Unipick Glove effortlessly handles in excess of 85 packs per minute. Designed initially for a leading UK supermarket that wanted the flexibility to load different sized potato packs into crates without impacting line speed, the ‘Glove’ overcomes the issue of complex reprogramming, as it’s

much easier to change the coordinates for a single pack placement than an intricate collation pattern.

By using a four-axis Delta robot, with a reach of 1130mm (30% more than similar sized robots), Brillopak’s Unipick system fitted with the Glove end effector can tilt the load.

“It means that packs can top loaded into a container in a different angle to how they are picked up, resulting in better presentation.

It also places packs gently in tight spaces or containers with inverted lips,” explains David.

Packers can even extend their portfolio to loading punnets individually into trays, switching over to specialist vacuum end effectors in a matter of minutes. “Flawless loading with minimal line interruptions is best achieved with a single product pick – it’s the safest way to load a wide range of retail crates accurately and why we developed the Unipick system,” adds David. The choice of using a three or four arm Delta robot with the Glove is determined by the application and product weight.

Learn about the benefits of single picking, other end effector innovations and see Brillopak’s brand new punnet packer – the fastest ever built – at PPMA 2018, stand C50. www.brillopak.co.uk Bulk Solids Today

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PPMA SHOW 2018 PREVIEW

NEXT GENERATION MAGNETIC SEPARATORS FOR FOODSTUFFS AND POWDERS

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t PPMA 2018 (Stand F62) Goudsmit Magnetics of Waalre (NL) introduces a new generation of magnetic separators.

These are used to remove metal particles (>30 μm) from foodstuffs like coffee, cocoa, malt, rice, sugar and flour, but also from other powder and bulk materials. The Easy Clean flow drawer magnet stands out from the competition due to its user friendly cleaning, improved flow and the high Gauss values of the bars. In contrast to previous designs, in which such magnets were fitted with two layers of thin (Ø25 mm) bars, the new design contains a single row of Ø50 mm thick bars. New measurement techniques, including simulations of magnetic fields and tests in the company’s own test centre, have shown that this results in a higher separation yield.

This is because the thicker bars remain in contact with the magnetic particles longer. An additional benefit is the reduced height of the magnet as a whole, which means it requires less installation height. Moreover, a single row of bars results in improved product flow; which is particularly beneficial 12

Bulk Solids Today

when it comes to poorly flowing powders.

CLEANING The pneumatic magnetic bars simplify the cleaning process. The bars are slid out along a guide and, once outside the housing, the magnets are exposed by blowing them out of the bars. A plate then retains the captured metal particles, after which they fall into a collection tray.

With its enormous magnetic holding power of 12,000 Gauss at the rods, the Easy Clean flow magnet is also perfectly suited for the separation of small stainless steel particles. The tests and measurements mentioned above also showed that magnetic holding power alone is not enough to separate stainless steel particles. It is also of critical importance that these particles come into contact with the bars as they flow past. To accomplish this, the company can fit deflectors in the magnet, providing good control over the direction of product flows containing weak magnetic (stainless steel) particles. This ensures that the product always contacts the bars. www.goudsmitmagnets.com

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PPMA SHOW 2018 PREVIEW

ENDOLINE RE-ENGINEERS FLAGSHIP RANDOM SEALER TO MEET MANUFACTURER CASE CHALLENGES

I

n response to manufacturer calls for flexible, future proof, end-of-line machinery, Endoline will unveil, at the forthcoming PPMA Show (Stand C52), its re-engineered 704 Fully Automatic Random Case Sealer, which can now manage an unprecedented range of case styles and sizes, meeting all current health and safety regulations.

Since its creation in the early 90’s, the 704 Fully Automatic Random Case Sealer has become a flagship system amongst Endoline’s range of end-ofline machines. In situ within food factories globally for almost 30 years, the machine is testament to Endoline’s ability to build high quality, long lasting, systems.

However, following unprecedented demand for random case sealers to manage a greater variety of case materials and sizes, Endoline has reengineered the 704 to meet exact specifications.

Through technical enhancements Endoline have expanded the case size range by almost 60% at its greatest increase, without compromising on speed.

In addition to a greater range of case sizes, manufacturers are now packing with a wider variety of case materials to suit retail specifications, from poorly scored, lightweight cases, to heavy, twin wall cases.

To meet this challenge, Endoline have integrated a dual action hook into the re-engineered 704 to provide greater control, ensuring that the inner flaps of the case are effectively pushed into place before sealing, which overcomes tearing or the risk of the case opening at a later stage. For lighter weight cases, which are susceptible to tearing or crushing when running through a system at speed, the 704 now features side bars and a fully driven infeed with blade stop. This is automatically activated after a case passes the barcode reader to police the throughput of cases, ensuring there is a suitable gap between each, and safeguarding the consistent flow of cases into the machine.

The new infeed control also allows for greater speed control of the 704, which can now typically seal up to 14 random sized cases per minute.

“Manufacturers are increasingly pushing to automate their end-of-line production facilities, and they are facing mounting pressure from retailers to pack products into different packaging formats, and styles, to keep up with specific customer demands.” Comments Andrew Yates, Sales Director at Endoline Machinery. “Consequently, 14

Bulk Solids Today

we have witnessed greater demand for systems which offer flexibility, as companies look to future proof their automation investment.

To this end, random, high speed, end-of-line systems have become more sought after, and we have engineered our successful 704 to meet all of these current, high standards.”

Integrated with Endoline’s new Industry 4.0 compatible, icon based, HMI interface, the 704 is built to a smaller footprint than previous models, maximising factory floor space and features additional safety equipment to meet all current health and safety standards.

To view the 704 Fully Automatic Random Case Sealer, and other machines from Endoline’s system range, visit Stand C52 at the forthcoming PPMA Show.

For further information on any of Endoline’s extensive range of machines, please contact Endoline on Tel: + 44 (0) 1767 316422, Fax: 01767 318033, email: sales@endoline-automation.com or visit the website at www.endoline-automation.com

PPMA SHOW 2018 PREVIEW

NEW HYGIENIC INSPECTION PIPELINE FOR LIQUID FOOD LINES TACKLES BUG OUTBREAKS At PPMA 2018, stand B01, Fortress Technology will unveil how its new Pipeline Ultra+ metal detector, featuring reduced flat surfaces, tackles cross contamination and the spread of bacteria to achieve optimal food safety.

T

he Pipeline Ultra+ system, available across the company’s Stealth, Phantom and Interceptor range, has been specifically designed to offer food manufacturers a more reliable way to catch all metal contaminants when inspecting products in liquid form compared to trap magnet systems. This alternative, although less widely used, will typically only attract magnetic ferrous metals, but not stainless steel, which is more prevalent in food preparation environments.

Consumer safety is cause for concern following recent findings from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland that allergen incidents have recently doubled and pathogen related food safety incidents are on the rise. In 2016/17, microbiological contamination accounted for 14% of the 2,265 incidents reported the second largest hazard category after ‘non-determined’. Of these pathogenic incidents, 45% related to Salmonella.

Given that bacteria multiples by doubling every 20 to 30 minutes depending on the conditions, and prefers high protein foods prevalent in liquid form, the new Pipeline Ultra+ system will appeal to food factories handling meat, poultry and dairy including yoghurts, viscous pet food, sausage meat, syrups, condiments, soup, beverages, ice-cream, fruit juices etc. To beat the spread of foodborne bugs and prevent bacteria accumulating in industrial food processing environments, the new pipeline system features smoother surfaces, resulting in fewer places where bacteria can hide and water droplets can build up. Furthermore, the pneumatic and electrical control panel is set flush against the machine plate, all pipes and connectors have been enclosed in a cabinet, and the system uses 30% fewer fasteners – another breeding ground for bacteria – than previous pipeline designs.

“Product spillage when inspecting liquid ingredients in food factories is fairly commonplace, so being able to withstand daily high pressured washdowns after every product changeover is paramount,” emphasises Fortress Technology’s European Managing Director Phil Brown.

“By upgrading the structure and using plate metal plates,

we’ve reduced the surface area external to the pipeline metal detector by over 60%. Also, by routing the connectors through an encased unit, there are fewer areas where bacteria can hide and thrive during repeated washdowns.”

Average clean times should now take a matter of minutes, suggests Phil. “If sanitation employees have open areas and smooth surfaces to work with, they can more efficiently access and clean equipment to reduce machine downtime or speed up the changeover process from one product to another.”

IP69K rated and USDA certified, the Pipeline Ultra+ has a slim design and compact footprint measuring approximately 1 metre for the largest 100mm diameter pipe, including reject. Its modular design means the Pipeline Ultra+ can be ceiling mounted or freestanding, enabling food factories to change configuration if needed, without significant investment. In keeping with the Fortress Never Obsolete promise, customers can also upgrade their Pipeline Ultra+ from an automatic reject valve to a customised reject system to include full failsafe features that meet with all current codes of practice in circulation, including retailer guidelines.

Applying digital signal processing technology, and featuring Contact Data software for remote interrogation the pipeline system can detect and reject product contaminated by metal particles, of all types, down 0.7 mm ferrous, 0.7 mm non-ferrous and 1.4 mm stainless steel. www.fortresstechnology.com Bulk Solids Today

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PPMA SHOW 2018 PREVIEW

ECLIPSE MAGNETICS EXHIBITING MAGNETIC SEPARATION & DETECTION SYSTEMS AT BIGGEST EVER PPMA SHOW Eclipse Magnetics will be attending the Process and Packaging Machinery Association Show 2018 from 25th – 27th September at the NEC in Birmingham.

On display will be a selection of products from their comprehensive range of high performance magnetic separation and detection systems at stand E54.

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et to be the biggest PPMA Show yet, the exhibition is the perfect platform in which to showcase Eclipse Magnetics’ range of contamination detection and removal systems, suitable for use at all HACCP stages of powder, granule, liquid, and paste production. As a company at the very forefront of magnet design and innovation, the range also includes separation systems for extracting primary tramp metals such as nuts, bolts, screws and secondary ferrous contamination such as fine particles from equipment wear in process.

Martyn Cotterill, General Sales Manager for Eclipse Magnetics said: “One of the greatest challenges to processing industries is ensuring the maximum integrity of the finished product. Contamination risks exist at most stages of production, therefore, failure to ensure that this does not occur can be catastrophic to a brand, as well as a risk of causing personal harm. Robust HACCP systems and high performance foreign body removal equipment are vital to prevent this. Our high performance separation systems have a worldwide proven reputation in the food industry, enabling you to protect your brand and your customer.”

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Bulk Solids Today

Magnetic separation systems are used in almost every processing industry to remove ferrous and para-magnetic contamination from process lines, preventing product contamination and damage to machinery. Eclipse produce high-quality, highpower magnetic separators for most applications, including bulk, grain, dry powders, damp powders, liquids and syrups and a comprehensive range of metal detectors and vibratory sieves.

To assist customers in complying with customer and independent audits, Eclipse Magnetics also has a dedicated site inspection service to provide documentation for external audits, and vast experience in industries such as food, pharmaceutical and chemical processing. To find out more, visit stand E54 at the Process and Packaging Machinery Association Show 2018 from 25th – 27th September at the NEC in Birmingham. www.eclipsemagnetics.com

PPMA SHOW 2018 PREVIEW

PUTTING TIJ TO THE TEST Rotech Machines, stand A37, PPMA, 25-27 September 2018, NEC Birmingham

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t PPMA, Rotech Machines is inviting visitors to put thermal inkjet (TIJ) to the test on any coding task. Unveiling an extended range of TIJ printers, the end-to-end coding systems specialist will demonstrate how this clean, cost-effective coding technology can challenge continuous inkjet (CIJ) and thermal transfer (TT) in a plethora of applications.

“When it comes to buying a new coder, many companies automatically go to CIJ or TT, because it is what they are used to, without considering TIJ. We want to show visitors that, in the vast majority of applications, TIJ not only matches but outsmarts these more established technologies in terms of cost of ownership, ease of use and performance,” says Richard Pether, director at Rotech.

In particular, Rotech will bust the TIJ myths and highlight its ability to tackle three applications that have traditionally been dominated by CIJ and TT: creating light coloured codes on dark substrates; printing at high speed on flexible films; and over-printing codes onto labels.

MAKING LIGHT WORK OF DARK SUBSTRATES The development of white and yellow inks has broadened the application field for TIJ by enabling it to produce light codes on dark surfaces.

“Yellow and white inks have always been the achilles heel of TIJ technology,” says Richard. “The issue with light inks is that they are pigmented inks and, as such, couldn’t be handled by TIJ printers as the large particles caused the nozzles to clog. The new white inks developed by HP partners are potential game-changers, as they open up TIJ to a completely new area of the marketplace.”

Historically, producers and packers wanting a non-contact method to code onto dark surfaces were faced with the choice of buying a laser coder or buying a CIJ machine designed specifically for printing pigmented inks. This limited line flexibility – if users wanted to code onto lighter coloured substrates they had to buy a second, conventional CIJ unit. By contrast, because TIJ is a cartridge-based system, the same unit is capable of running any ink, light or dark. Users just need to insert the new cartridge and a colour change is effected in seconds.

The new inks have the potential to benefit any

operation printing on dark surfaces; Rotech predicts that they will prove particularly popular with brand owners of luxury food, cosmetics, personal care and household items, who want to maintain a premium feel through discrete coding. TIJ is a high-resolution printing technology, meaning that it can create cleaner, higher definition codes than those delivered by CIJ printers.

GO RIBBON-FREE FOR FLEXIBLES AND LABELS Whilst thermal transfer has long been accepted as the technology of choice for coding web-based materials, in fact, TIJ offers a faster, lower cost, maintenance-free alternative for simple coding jobs. A major ongoing cost of TT is the ribbon; when printing simple expiry dates or batch codes, only a fraction of the available print area is utilised, increasing the cost per print. TIJ does not require ribbons, significantly reducing cost of ownership. TIJ is also faster – there is virtually no limitation on the speed at which it can operate, and the units themselves are more compact than TT machines, making them easier to mount onto a flow-wrapper or bagger.

Overprinting onto labels is another application that has historically been the preserve of TT but could be performed more cost-effectively by a TIJ printer. Selfadhesive label applicators incorporating TT heads are a common sight on many lines. The main issue with this set-up is that TT printers are large and bulky and require two separate boxes. Comprising a single, selfcontained unit with compact dimensions, TT printers are lighter, occupy far less line space and can be neatly and easily integrated with any labelling system.

TAKE THE TIJ TEST Rotech invites visitors to come to its booth and see for themselves how its X1 Jet, iJet and X2 JET series of TIJ coders performs on these and other packaging applications. Available with both HP and Funai cartridge technologies, the series has been extended to take in a total of 11 different models, each tailored to different applications and user requirements. Rotech is confident than when they see these machines in action, even die-hard CIJ and TT users will be won over by this clean, user-friendly, maintenance-free coding proposition. Email: sales@ rotechmachines.com www.rotechmachines.com Bulk Solids Today

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PPMA SHOW 2018 PREVIEW

JARSHIRE LTD AND DOTEC BV – STAND F34

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arshire, a leading agency for systems and components for the Converting, Paper, Packaging, Printing, Plastics, Composites and Tissue Industries will be coexhibiting with specialist handling equipment manufacturer, Dotec BV. From their extensive range of products that ensure operator safety and efficiency, Dotec will demonstrate the latest LiftAssist ® reel handling equipment known for its ergonomic ease of use, requiring no bending and no stretching.

Dotec offers the widest range available on the market, including rotary and single action handlers, handlers for rolls and Flexo print sleeves and cylinders, all with tailor-made options increasing their flexibility.

Also from Dotec, a box and bag handler for smooth lifting, featuring an adjustable ErgoHandle®. With a capacity of 10 – 200 kg the box handler is suitable for multiple processes such as pick and place, lifting, turning and emptying. All units may be fitted with a gripper or vacuum cups.

OTHER EQUIPMENT OF INTEREST: Renova’s Moviroll roll/reel pusher enables large and small cylindrical rolls to be manoeuvred effortlessly on a flat surface. Two models, with two handle configurations, as well as battery-operated versions, make Moviroll ideal for simple yet safe handling of paper, tissue and converting rolls.

From Svecom, lightweight airshafts that increase process speeds resulting from quicker reel changes. The shaft will centre cores; run concentric and faster than competitive products; carry more reel weight; has greater gripping power and will cope with reused or worn cores.

Jarshire’s Reelsaver restores old or badlydistorted reel stock cores with a flick of a switch, reducing waste and achieving significant cost savings. Pneumatically-operated, it is designed for 18

Bulk Solids Today

cores of 70/76mm with sleeve inserts available for other sizes. www.jarshire.co.uk

PPMA SHOW 2018 PREVIEW

ONE FLOW WRAPPER WITH MULTIPLE SEALING MODES COMBATS FOOD WASTE

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airy and meat packers welcome an industry first! On PPMA stand D10, Ilapak will launch the Delta 6000 3-Side Seal C (convertible) flow wrapper which is able to produce the two most commonly used, yet very different, pack formats – pillow bags and three side seal reclosable bags – on the same machine.

The system has been designed with unique dual sealing configurations to provide unrivalled pack presentation, 100% seal integrity and most importantly innovative reclosable pack features to help keep perishable fridge-foods fresher for longer.

Factories can save floor space and reduce their capital spend by investing in a single horizontal form-fill-seal system for multiple pack styles.

Without a reclosable zipper or grip seal, packs of dairy and cooked meat products spoil quickly and are often thrown before completely consumed. The Delta 3SS C has been designed to help manufacturers produce multiple packs styles which keep food fresh for longer to prevent unnecessary food waste.

According to ILAPAK Sales and Marketing Director Tony McDonald, it’s the first flow wrapper to be designed with two different longitudinal sealing heads to create both pillow and reclosable style packs without compromising pack function or presentation. “It’s common for cheese and meat factories to use both pillow packs and new reclosable bags when packing foods,” 1.

2.

comments Tony. “Historically, if a single flowwrapper was to create both pack styles it would use the same sealing element configuration, but this would often lead to wrinkles in the material due to excessive heat damage and compromise both the pack aesthetics and shelf-life of the product. Ilapak’s new Delta 6000 3SS C incorporates a sealing system dedicated to each pack style to improve pack quality and offer manufacturers a stable and efficient packing process,” adds Tony.

With the UK cheese market worth an estimated £2.8bn a year1 and the UK convenience food & grocery market forecast to reach £47.1bn by 20222, it’s imperative that foods with a high-spoil risk, such as sliced cheese and sliced meats, are packed in reclosable packs. The Delta 6000 3SS C is ideal for cheese and meat factories that require agile modular machines which can quickly flex with the latest pack trends, run compostable recyclable films and create reclosable pack styles to prevent food waste.

Capable of 130ppm, operatives can complete a fully automatic changeover between pack styles via the touchscreen within minutes. The stand-up bags produced on the 3SS setting can easily be fitted with innovative reclosable features, opening up new presentation possibilities for cheese and meat portions as the snacks trend in this segment continues to grow. www.ilapak.co.uk

https://uk.kantar.com/consumer/shoppers/2016/british-cheese-data/ Institute of Grocery Distribution Research https://www.igd.com/about-us/media/press-releases/press-release/t/igd-uk-food-and-grocery-forecast-to-grow-by15-by-2022/i/16927 Bulk Solids Today

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FEEDING & CONVEYING

‘M’ SERIES METERING SCREW FEEDERS

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etering Screw Feeders are specially designed to continuously dose materials, from harsh granules to fine powders, at a constant volume to high accuracies. The feeder is made up of a feeder body, complete with rotating agitator and various control functions which provide constant or intermittent feeding to suit the nature of the products being handled. The agitator manipulates the product to a uniform density and breaks any bridges that may form in the feeder body. The product is administered into an auger screw, which can be rotated at variable speeds, ensuring accurate metering at a constant volume of 1% to 2% typically.

Trantec’s metering screw feeders are in operation worldwide, delivering high accuracy powder dosing in all areas of bulk solids. For over twenty years Trantec has served an assortment of industries including: • Food, Drinks & Confectionary • Seasoning & Flavouring • Pharmaceutical • Plastics • Environmental • Non-woven • Chemical • Animal & Pet Foods We understand one Screw Feeder cannot always meet all customer requirements. Utilising the latest powder dosing technology Trantec’s Metering Screw Feeders can be quickly configured to meet the demands of almost any application.

Whilst modular in design, they are based on Trantec’s core powder metering technology without compromise

to quality or build.

Our latest machine is our M-Series Metering Screw Feeder, modular in design adding quick and easy configuration add-on components. Although our Metering Feeders are available as standard, costeffective base models, a variety of additional features and upgrades can be installed upon request, including: • Feed Rates from 20 Grams to 20 Tonnes per hour.

• An option of motors including servo drives for optimum control.

• Specially designed Dry Running food grade Shaft Seals.

• Quick-release / Easy-clean Features.

• Ranging Storage Capacities.

• Integrated Weighing Base.

• Gravimetric, Loss-in-weight and Gain-in-weight controls.

• Independently Driven Product Agitator.

• A selection of stainless Polishes and Finishes including mirror finish.

Selection of the correct Metering Screw Feeder configuration is essential for achieving optimum performance and accuracy. Trantec offer a free, comprehensive product testing service to all our clients. Upon completion of testing, we will provide you with a report, detailing our findings and our recommendations for trouble-free feeding.

Alternatively, customers can witness material trials first-hand or request a video with your report.

For more information Tel: 01282 777566 or send an email to sales@trantec.info.

CUSTOM DESIGNED PNEUMATIC CONVEYING SYSTEMS

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ry, granular materials can be moved gently, reliably and with significant reduction in product degradation and/or system wear with a Dynamic Air pneumatic conveying system. Each Dynamic Air pneumatic conveying system is custom-designed to achieve the optimum performance characteristics at the highest efficiencies. Dynamic Air has developed 16 different pneumatic conveying concepts, 20

Bulk Solids Today

utilizing both pressure and vacuum, for handling a wide variety of dry bulk solids to provide a conveying solution that fits the process perfectly.

Dynamic Air pneumatic conveying systems can improve efficiency, reliability and overall quality of the material conveying process. www.dynamicair.com/ systems.html Phone: 44 1908 622344 E-mail: sales@dynamicair.co.uk

FEEDING & CONVEYING

K-VISION CONTROLLER NOW SUPPORTS TWO INDEPENDENT LINES OF FEEDERS

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operion K-Tron, Niederlenz, Switzerland, has added new features to its proven K-Vision™ software. The K-Vision controller is a graphical operator interface for controlling multiple devices such as feeders or feeder refill (vacuum receivers) in a process.

With the release of K-Vision Software version 2.0, the K-Vision is now able to handle a total of 24 devices (e.g. KCM feeder controls or MPC refill controls) in one or two lines. This is a major upgrade over the previous version which managed a maximum of 16 feeder controllers in a single line. K-Vision uses a 12.1-inch color LCD display together with a touchscreen as the primary operator input mechanism. It offers a quad screen display mode for viewing multiple pages on one feeder or a single page on multiple feeders. Support for over a dozen languages – including Chinese and Japanese – is included, and additional languages can be added on request.

Designed for simple operation and fast and easy start-up, K-Vision offers graphic visualization of process information, utilizing flexible, easy to use trend graphs.

This feeder interface offers event logging and supports all of the different feeding control types for both continuous and batch operation. Easy to maintain, K-Vision software updates are possible by updating files on a compact flash card or by using a USB flash drive.

K-Vision offers a variety of remote access options.

A second K-Vision can be connected via Ethernet as a remote interface for visualization and control of feeder and line parameters. K-Vision also comes with a VNC server, allowing any VNC client – on a PC, tablet or smartphone – connected to the same network to be used as a secondary user interface. In addition to the current connectivity options, including VNC, Ethernet/ IP, Profinet, Modbus TCP as well as others, K-Vision now also has email capability. No optional hardware or software is necessary – it is a standard feature. The K-Vision HMI can easily be set up to email a notification to one or more persons when key events occur, such as: the compounding line stopped, the compounding line started, a feeder is running out of product, a pneumatic receiver is not receiving pellets, notification of a specific alarm, etc. K-Vision can also be programmed to send log files by e-mail, such as feeder event logs, parameter changes, alarm logs, etc.

“Our focus in expanding the functionality of the K-Vision software is on making it easy to use and maximizing flexibility. We want users to be able to access a broad range of information about the process quickly and easily, thus simplifying operational and

supervisory tasks in the feeding process and significantly improving efficiency.“ according to Jason Daniel, General Manager of the Business Unit Coperion K-Tron Equipment & Systems.

For more information visit www.coperion.com or email info@coperion.com.

Bulk Solids Today

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BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

INDUSTRIAL SCREENERS FOR CONVEYOR SYSTEMS Kemira Chemicals installs vibratory sieve to screen incoming raw chemical materials unloaded from dry bulk tanker

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emira Chemicals (UK) Ltd. (Kemira), part of the Kemira Oyj chemical industry group, is a producer of advanced chemicals for pulp and paper, water treatment, oil and gas and other industrial chemical applications. At its production site in Ellesmere Port, UK, Kemira produces a variety of coagulants for the treatment of waste water.

These advanced chemicals are used in municipal and industrial water treatment processes to remove foreign particles and organic matter. As with all Kemira products, quality is paramount, and this is reflected by the raw materials and processing equipment used in production.

Also, due to the high demand of these products, Kemira must employ high-capacity, efficient equipment, to ensure optimum output and minimal downtime. When

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Bulk Solids Today

seeking a solution to screening incoming raw chemical materials, Kemira contacted Russell Finex for a solution.

Kemira had previously experienced difficulties with contamination entering its chemical production

BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

process. Bulk loads of raw materials such as aluminium hydrate could contain stones, wood and agglomerated material.

These would be conveyed directly into glass-lined chemical reactors and the contaminants could cause damage to the interior of these reactors, as well as agitators, downstream pumps, valves and pipework.

David Sparks, Plant Manager at Kemira Chemicals (UK) Ltd. Ellesmere Port, said, “We were experiencing significant issues with damage to our reactors and other equipment, due to contamination in some of our hydrate powders. As well as the high costs of replacing or repairing the equipment, this also meant costly production downtime.”

Following consultation with Russell Finex, it was decided a Russell Compact Sieve® would be the ideal solution to removing contamination from the incoming powders. This high-capacity industrial powder screener can be easily installed in existing conveying and loading areas, providing a compact solution to screening incoming materials. The unit was installed as part of the conveyor system from the dry bulk tanker to the reactor and is used to screen up to 48 tonnes of incoming aluminium hydrate per day and protect downstream equipment from foreign contamination.

Sparks continued, “We are delighted with how the Russell Finex sieve has performed since it was installed. It has been invaluable in checking incoming materials, meaning we’ve experienced virtually no problems with contamination and damage to our equipment. The unit is used all day, every day and has exceeded our expectations regarding durability.”

The Russell Compact Sieve® range of vibratory sieves is used across a variety of industries to remove oversized contamination and is ideal for high-capacity screening of powders and liquid slurries. These industrial

sieves fit neatly into existing production lines, providing considerable screening capacity without requiring excessive headroom. An innovative design means these screeners are less than half the height of a traditional vibratory screener, and a wide range of sizes and configurations means the machine can be tailored to suit the exact needs of chemical, mineral or other applications.

Established in 1934, Russell Finex has over 80 years of experience in providing high-quality chemical sieving and filtration equipment. www.russellfinex.com

Other Valves Fight Friction, We Designed it Out Unlike other valves that seal with friction, Posi-flate’s unique butterfly valve uses an inflatable seat to seal with air pressure. Thus it requires less torque and a smaller actuator, resulting in lower cost.

Plus, the seat automatically compensates for wear, providing longer life. Some users have reported over six million cycles and the valves are still going strong.

• • • • • •

Less friction Low torque Low maintenance Lower actuator costs Longer valve life More reliable Tel: +44 (0) 1908 622366

www.posiflate.com

Bulk Solids Today

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BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

M&N TRANSPORT SAYS ‘AMAZING’ MICHELIN EFFITRAILER™ PROGRAMME IS ONE FOR THE LONG HAUL Wiltshire-based M&N Transport has taken on Michelin’s EFFITRAILER™ telematics system following a successful three-month trial on 10 assets.

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he bulk haulier, which specialises in grain and aggregates, is rolling out the system across 40 trailers – six of these are new builds and 34 are in the process of having it retrofitted.

Company director Mike Burton says: “The potential savings in terms of our control over breakdowns are huge. We recently had an incident with a trailer where the hub overheated, and the damage was extensive. With EFFITRAILER™, we would have been alerted as soon as the hub exceeded normal operating temperatures and the driver would have been alerted to pull over, saving us from a £2,000 repair bill.

“Looking at the full package, EFFITRAILER™ gives us an amazing amount of information – much more than we got from our previous system which means we can be more proactive when it comes to picking up potential issues before they result in downtime and possible damage.

“We can really use the data we’re now getting to look at all aspects of how our trailers are being used to help with driver training as well as any possible maintenance issues.”

M&N Transport will benefit from the system’son-board datalink, tyre pressure monitoring system, electronic

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Bulk Solids Today

braking system data analysis and constant geolocation.

Michelin’s telematics programme also details each trailer’s mileage, the length of any periods of abnormal downtime or ‘wait-time’, the ‘unhooked’ or ‘towed’ status of the asset, and whether the trailer is overloaded.

The Westbury firm has achieved FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) Silver status which is given to operators which are providing exemplary levels of best practice in safety, efficiency, and environmental protection.

Burton adds: “The silver accreditation is a real testament to all of our staff. And going forward, using EFFITRAILER™ will only help us to make our vehicles more efficient and environmentally friendly to maintain and improve the service we provide.”

For further information on the Michelin commercial vehicle tyre range visit http://trucks.michelin.co.uk/

BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

OVER 2000 YEARS IN THE MAKING…HERE’S OUR 21ST CENTURY CONTRIBUTION

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he Archimedes screw has been around for a few years now and represents a deceptively simple way to move materials. Liquids to solids and everything in between, a rotating helix can propel the product and deliver the accuracy demanded by many bulk solids handling machinery.

For the last 20 years Trantec Solids Handling has been producing just such machines, taking the humble “auger” and putting it to work moving powders, granules, flakes and pellets with consistency and precision in their Metering Screw Feeders.

Todays powder handling applications are demanding even greater efficiency and accuracy. Food and pharmaceutical machinery has its own requirements for hygienic design and the cost of many process ingredients means over feeding or wasted product must be minimised.

Machine reliability also takes centre stage with active components such as auger screws needing to have a full and long productive life.

Original Trantec machines used augers manufactured by others. Whilst these screws were fully functional, Trantec craved a more accurate and consistent product which had tight tolerances and maximum life. In the early years of the new millennium Trantec had developed a new range of Metering Feeders which included many quick release easy clean features. This new range demanded augers of high build quality at sensible prices and the decision was taken to begin development of Trantec’s own Auger manufacture.

In more recent times Trantec have focussed their auger manufacture at the “High Tech” end and embraced the latest computer-controlled machine tools combined with modern design and manufacturing software. This investment has given Trantec unique knowledge of auger production methods and has put Trantec at the cutting edge of world-wide Auger manufacture for the process industry. Trantec’s policy of continuous development pushes the boundaries of current engineering manufacture and produces Augers of better quality and finish than ever before whilst driving down costs at the same time. Better quality product at a lower price is everyone’s target of course and Trantec believe they have done just that.

Five years ago Trantec brought their Auger Screw manufacturing capabilities to the market place and now manufacture augers for use in any machinery. Trantec’s customer base includes many global players in the food,

pharmaceutical and chemical industries providing new augers, replacement augers or exotic development augers for the latest solids handling machinery.

Trantec continue to grow and develop new auger making facilities and methods, challenging their customers to set ever more complex helix configurations for them to make. A real commitment to continuous development will keep Trantec ahead in this 2000 year old product development. www.trantec.info

LOADEX 100

ON-BOARD EXCAVATOR WEIGHING SYSTEM

The benchmark for accuracy in difficult conditions and terrains

T: +44(0)1453 733300 | info@rdstec.com | www.rdstec.com

Bulk Solids Today

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BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

SOLUTIONS ‘BEYOND TRUCKS’ AT SUCCESSFUL HYSTER® RHINE TOUR

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he Hyster ® Rhine Tour, which showcased Hyster ® equipment and related solutions in real inland terminal applications along the River Rhine, has concluded. The Rhine Tour welcomed hundreds of guests over four events in four countries.

The Hyster ® Rhine Tour illustrated how diverse the challenges and opportunities for inland terminals can be. As well as demonstrating a wide range of innovative equipment for handling from ship to store, the events focused on a variety of custom options, accessories, attachments and services, including solutions from Hyster ® partners.

“Inland terminals are all very different, so it’s vital to not only select the right materials handling equipment, but also the most suitable options beyond the trucks themselves,” says Mark Nailer, Industry Manager for Hyster Europe. “Many of the diverse options showcased at the events can be applied across various types of trucks in many different industries to help maximise efficiency and maintain a low cost of operation.”

Demonstrations at the Hyster ® Rhine Tour showed how cameras, such as those from partner Orlaco, can help optimise visibility on any kind of truck. Whether used on a ReachStacker in a port, or a Reach Truck in a warehouse, cameras can support awareness, efficiency and damage reduction – in turn minimising costs.

Another option presented for increased awareness, included the Radar Eye active detection system, which uses an alarm to alert drivers to obstacles.

“Pedestrian awareness lights can also assist the driver when cornering or travelling in busy environments,” explains Mark, “Plus, the speed limit system we presented can help protect operators, and their colleagues, with an optional roof detector to manage different speeds indoors and outdoors.”

Many terminals will have a requirement to handle flammable cargo, such as chemicals, beverages and waste. Operations handling these types of loads will usually include ‘Zone 2’ areas with potentially explosive atmospheres, as well as nearby ‘safe’ areas, where combustible gases and vapours may still pose a risk of ignition. Explosion protection conversions and solutions, such as those from Hyster ® partner Pyroban, are available to help manage explosion risk in any application.

As the risk of vehicle fires is also an important consideration, the Hyster ® Rhine Tour also showed DAFO fire suppression systems, which automatically and quickly extinguish vehicle fires, helping reduce both the 26

Bulk Solids Today

consequences of a fire and the impact on investment.

For applications, such as inland terminals, which may need to handle many different types of loads, the right choice of attachment is essential for efficiency. The Rhine Tour demonstrated how attachments, including the Meyer Double Pallet Handler and Bolzoni Container Rotator, help Hyster ® lift trucks meet varied and changing needs. Hyster ® ReachStackers also benefit from a quick disconnect feature, making it easy to swap between handling containers and other types of loads.

“At the Rhine Tour, we were keen to present a wide range of new solutions and innovations beyond materials handling equipment,” says Mark. “That’s why the events incorporated complementary equipment, such as Houcon ramps for simple container stuffing, and the unique Cakeboxx two-piece “deck and lid” shipping container.”

Reducing tyre wear is key for maintaining a low cost of ownership in gritty container and cargo handling environments, such as those handling construction materials. At the Rhine Tour, Continental Tyres were seen on Hyster ® ReachStackers and Empty Container Handlers, demonstrating one of the options for robust, factory installed tyres that can help reduce tyre maintenance.

The Hyster ® stabiliser can further reduce tyre wear.

Shown on a Hyster ® ReachStacker at the Rhine Tour, this patented design improves side stability by placing 25% of the load weight on to the front axle and places less weight on the rear axle, which in turn improves tyre life.

“It is as important to equip trucks with the right ‘ingredients’ inside, as on the exterior,” says Mark. “We exclusively recommend Shell oils and lubricants for Hyster ® trucks and were pleased to recently announce that Hyster ® Big Trucks now have extended hydraulic oil change intervals with Shell LubeAnalyst, helping to enhance uptime and reduce total cost of ownership.”

BULK MATERIALS HANDLING In any industry application, management of hydraulic oils plays an important role in decreasing fuel consumption and supporting the reliability of attachments used.

In a busy inland terminal, handling loads efficiently and completing tasks within operating hours is key.

The Hyster ® Tracker telematics system is one way that terminals, and other industry operations, can gain insights into truck performance and utilisation to help optimise space, fleet usage and uptime, and manage maintenance requirements and costs.

Another important consideration for expanding applications is financing the right selection of materials handling equipment. Hyster ® Financial Services operates in more than 30 countries supported by key financial partners. At the Rhine Tour, businesses had the opportunity to discuss their finance needs, as well as the most beneficial acquisition route for financing their equipment, with Hyster ® Financial Services partner DLL. Furthermore, cost-effective logistics solutions and a choice of flexible transportation methods are both of great importance when managing supply chain costs.

“During the Rhine Tour, we experienced first-hand the real-life challenges of loading and unloading a barge!” says Mark. “However, we were ably supported throughout by our partner CEVA Logistics in transporting our large machinery to different countries through various modes of transport.”

“No matter what the size of the truck or the application, we are always considering which choices and options could best meet the specific operational challenges,” says Mark. “So, at the Rhine Tour we showed everything from an S1.6IL pedestrian stacker truck – which can be equipped with a Thin Plate Pure Lead NexSys battery from our partner Enersys – to a Hyster ® RS46 ReachStacker.”

One Hyster ® ReachStacker on show featured an optional soft landing and soft touch system which has been intelligently designed to minimise the risk of peak noise in an inland terminal, which may be in a confined area. Visitors also saw spreader options from ELME with varied features to suit different applications, such as lifting eyes for ReachStacker spreaders, and a spreader with intermodal handling legs that enable the operator to pick up a complete trailer.

“An important part of the Hyster ® Rhine Tour was demonstrating why partnership with expert solution providers and advice from experienced Hyster ® dealers is vital,” says Mark. “Only with this complete approach can applications in inland terminals, or any other industry, meet their diverse challenges, control operational costs and improve efficiencies.”

For more information about the extensive range of Hyster ® equipment for ports, terminals and other demanding applications showcased at the Rhine Tour and other solutions for tough handling challenges, visit www.hyster.eu

DON’T MISS OUT REGISTER TODAY To receive regular copies of BST please register at www.bulksolidstoday.co.uk

Tuf-Lok ring grip pipe and tube couplings are rugged, heavy duty, self-aligning and self-grounded couplings with a high end pull. They can be used for almost any application where pipe or tube ends need to be connected. The Tuf-Lok self-aligning couplings install quickly and easily with little effort.

Features • Self-aligning • Self-grounding • High pressure rated • Full vacuum rated • Stainless or mild steel • Usable on thin or thick wall pipe or tube • Low cost • Reusable • Absorbs vibration • Externally leakproof

Tuf-Lok (UK) Tel: +44 (0) 1706 822512 Email: sales@tuflok.co.uk • www.tuflok.com

Bulk Solids Today

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CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY: VORTEX GLOBAL PROVIDES PROCESS SOLUTION FOR CHEMICAL COMPANY

B

ased in Cheshire, UK, Tata Chemicals Europe is one of Europe’s leading producers of sodium carbonate, salt and sodium bicarbonate, among other products.

Tata Chemicals is the only manufacturer of soda ash and sodium bicarbonate in the UK. Their high-quality soda ash is used in the manufacture of glass,

detergents and chemicals, and in several other industry applications. Their many grades of sodium bicarbonate have applications ranging from haemodialysis and pharmaceuticals, to food and animal feed, flue gas treatments, detergents and personal care products.

Tata Chemicals’ Lostock site, located in Northwich, Cheshire, has multiple manufacturing processes, including bulk storage, bulk material discharge, and transfer of anhydrous sodium carbonate. This is a material with a fine particle size, with a certain percentage less than 63 micron. In the problem area of the process, materials are transported via a bucket elevator and diverted into either of two chain link conveyors.

The client needed to replace four flapper-type diverter valves which had been in service for a considerable period of time. Because of material build up, the existing diverters were not sealing properly and were becoming difficult to maintain. Thus, the diverters had reached the end of their service life.

Vortex Seal Tite Diverters were identified as the ideal replacement.

VORTEX SEAL TITE DIVERTER: FEATURES • Removable access panel allows access to the diverter’s interior for inspection, cleaning and/or maintenance. These processes can

28

Bulk Solids Today

CASE STUDY

be performed while the diverter remains in situ.

• Actuates into a recessed area so that material flow channels away from the leading edge of the blade.

This design hinders material packing against the diverter body, prevents material leakage to the closed leg, and protects the blade’s seals from the material flow stream.

• Live-loaded, wearcompensating seal under the blade shaft to minimise material migration to the opposite leg. The shaft seal is constructed from hard polymer and is “live-loaded” with sponge rubber backing.

As the polymer experiences frictional wear from many actuations over time, the sponge rubber backing continuously forces the shaft seal upward against the blade shaft. This design allows the blade shaft to maintain its seal of materials over time without frequent maintenance intervention.

• Designed to handle material temperatures up to 180° F (82° C).

The Vortex Seal Tite Diverter is well-designed for handling fine materials in gravity flow applications, and provides positive material shut-off with dust-tight sealing capabilities.

The client especially enjoys the Seal Tite Diverter’s removable access panel. Not only does it allow access for inspection and maintenance, but all of the diverter’s internal parts can be removed and replaced via the access panel. This allows the diverter to be maintained in situ, which minimises plant downtime.

For ease of replacement, these Vortex Seal Tite Diverters were manufactured to have the same dimensions as the client’s existing diverters.

Initially, only one diverter valve was replaced.

After successful trials, an additional three Vortex Seal Tite Diverters were sourced.

For more case study information, please visit www.vortexglobal.com/case-studies.

For more information on the Vortex Seal Tite Diverter or to watch a demo video, please visit www.vortexglobal.com/seal-tite-diverter.

Tel: +44 (0) 1325 728577 Bulk Solids Today

29

BUYERS GUIDE Aero Mechanical Conveyors

Conveyors & Elevators

Mixers & Blenders

“Often copied NEVER matched�

Suppliers of the Original EnteconŽ Aero Mechanical Conveyors Other Products: • Sack Openers • FIBC Fill / Discharge Tip or Automatic • Pneumatic Conveyors

Sales office for UK & ROI: SGH Equipment - EnteconÂŽ Agent

Tel / Fax: 01270 651611

E: sales@sghequipment.co.uk • www.sghequipment.co.uk

Bulk Storage & Handling

MANUFACTURERS OF SILOS, TANKS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS Redbrook, Barnsley S75 1HR Tel: 01226 730037 Fax: 01226 730066 Email: info@eb-equipment.com Web: www.eb-equipment.com

Bulk handling with complete confidence Designers and UK manufacturers of: • Bucket elevators • Chain & flight conveyors • Screw conveyors & bin dischargers • Belt conveyors

www.perryengineering.com Tel: 01404 891400 Fax: 01404 891402

Powder Handling Systems

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Tuf-Lok (UK) +44 (0) 1706 822512 www.tuflok.com

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FIBC / Big Bag Filling

FIBC Dischargers

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Bulk Solids Today

Remote Silo Monitoring

BUYERS GUIDE Sieves & Sifters Cont’d

Sack Filling

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Manufacturers of semi/fully automatic weighing and filling machines into valve/open mouth sacks.

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T: +44 (0)1487 711114

E: enquiries@atsackfillers.co.uk www.atsackfillers.co.uk manufactured in the UK

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Tel: +44 (0)1782 597540 Fax: +44 (0)1782 597549 sales@kasoneurope.co.uk

www.kasoneurope.co.uk

Dynamic Air

Screw Feeders, Mixers & IBC Systems

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Screw Feeders, Mixers & IBC Systems

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Ajax Equipment Ltd

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www.ajax.co.uk email: solids@ajax.co.uk

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Posi-flate Milton Keynes England +44 (0) 1908 622366

www.posiflate.com

Intermodal dry bulk logistics for polymers, chemicals & minerals Cost effective Environmental savings Reduced C02 emissions

www.InterBulkGroup.com

InterBulk GROUP

Bulk Solids Today

31

BULKEX 2

0

1

8

Shaping the future Exhibition • Technical Conference • Awards Dinner Nottingham 17-18 October

High profile speaker programme

• Raise your profile and take advantage of exhibition space and a range of sponsorship opportunities.

• Presentations and insights with a technical focus from eminent speakers on topical issues and key infrastructure projects.

• Celebrate the achievements in materials handling at the evening awards ceremony and network with industry colleagues.

To exhibit or sponsor 01787 226995 bulkex.co.uk

Delegates register free at

bulkex.co.uk