DRY END PRODUCTION

BE&E SMART Floors

Biomass Engineering & Equipment offers robust, cost-effective wedge floors for reclaim in bunkers, storage buildings, and containers. Called SMART Floors, these machines are powered by a simple hydraulic system that is housed separately from the material for easy access. Each stroker in the system is individually powered so technicians can perform maintenance without halting output.

SMART Floors reclaim material with a push-pull system that shears material from the bottom of the pile to provide a true first-in, first-out material flow. Because the floors do not move the entire pile, the floors discharge material at a steady and accurate rate for better metering than a system with slat-floors.

SMART Floors are available in a SMART Container system—a storage/feeding bin built from a repurposed sea container. SMART Containers install quickly and can be made stationary or mobile.

These containers are advantageous in that they can be made dust tight, typically do not require building permits to operate, and can be easily moved or reconfigured. With these horizontal silos, operations can increase storage modularly by adding units side by side. Placing containers side by side also provides operations the ability to add redundancy and accurately blend material upon discharge. Visit BiomassEngineeringEquipment.com/equipment/ smart-floors/

Brunette SmartVIBE Conveyor

The Brunette SmartVIBE is a unique and simple vibrating conveyor, designed for low cost maintenance and maximum uptime efficiencies. The patented design allows operators to change the conveyor speed by utilizing a variable speed drive (VFD) to control the drive motor RPM which effects the conveyor stroke. An internal counterweight ensures optimal balance, even at different speeds. The SmartVIBE has no external balance beams and no coil springs. It features a springless vibratory mechanism which is fully balanced at each stroke.

The vibrating conveyor drive is designed to be inboard complete with a single electric motor. An eccentric shaft, driven by a belt and a sheave complete with belt guard, is mounted in roller bearing assemblies and connected to the

conveyor with custom elastomer elements that provide trouble free operation in summer and winter.

Parallel torsional shafts are mounted in a heavy duty housing, secured in place with B-Loks and connected to the rocker arm. The rocker arms provide a link between the counterbalance weight and the trough. The counterbalance weight is a unique design feature of the Brunette SmartVIBE. It can be converted to a secondary trough to increase material flow, or to carry fines when a screen is being used.

The conveyor can be constructed in different widths and lengths, with size specific screening options, metal detector, or rare earth magnets. Our newest model, the Brunette SmartVIBE 5826, is 58 in. wide and comes with fines screen and metal trap. Visit brunettemc.com

MoistTech Measurement Sensors

MoistTech Corp. has quickly become the leader in moisture measurement and control, manufacturing a range of online sensors and at-line instruments for moisture measurement and real-time moisture process control. Utilizing Near-Infrared state-of-the-art technology, MoistTech exceeds expectations, increasing profits and productivity.

By measuring moisture continually through the production of wood pellets, proactive avoidance of moisture issues is accomplished. Insensitive to material variations such as particle size and material height/color, the sensors provide continuous, reliable readings with no maintenance, a one-time calibration with a non-contact, non-drift optical design allowing for immediate process adjustments based on real-time measurements.

Moisture management tools such as MoistTech’s IR-3000 Online Sensor allow for moisture content to be continually monitored and adjustments made on the fly.

MoistTech recommends installing sensors in several locations throughout the pellet process. First, installing a sensor prior to the dryer will monitor the moisture levels going in. Too dry of a product will result in over drying causing a dusty, ambient environment but could also result in a fire.

Installing sensors after the dryer, prior to the pelletizer,

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will result in significant cost savings. Product too dry will prevent pellets compacting and not molding together very well. Product too wet could cause the pelletizer to plug up, resulting in shutting down the line and product waste. Visit moisttech.com

Schutte/Graf Mill

The new Graf GEPD 900/138 “Gorilla” is the world’s first biomass pellet mill with direct drive motor.

Designed and engineered in Germany, the Graf 900 features variable die speeds, allowing the operator to control the pellet quality through variable moisture and particulate sizes. The high torque motor is directly connected to the drive motor to deliver the power directly to the pelleting chamber. This mill has no belts or gears, so there are fewer moving parts and consequently less maintenance.

With the integration of the direct drive, Graf Equipment has significantly reduced the footprint of the 900 Series pellet press. The total weight of this mill is nearly 35,000 lbs., with a main shaft weight of 3,200 lbs. The front and rear roller support assembly weighs 1,322 lbs.

While the motor assembly technology is new, the pelleting chamber features Graf Equipment’s tried and true robust and compact design. The inside diameter for the die is 35.4 in., and the die track either 4.25 or 5.4 in. The mill features a temperature sensor at the roll assembly, and is available with optional control systems, feeders, mixers, die and roller lifts.

Features and benefits include: up to 10% less energy consumption—adjustable die speed for better quality—

less required maintenance—higher availability—lower total cost of ownership—smallest footprint in its class—designed specifically for biomass applications—easy access for cleaning and maintenance—ready to start design for a short startup time— much higher torque compared to standard motor mills.

Schutte Hammermill is the exclusive distributor of Graf products in

North America.

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Forbes Is Sole Owner Of Brunette Machinery

Brunette Machinery Co. Inc. announced that Kirk Forbes has concluded the purchase of shares from his business partners and is now the sole owner of Brunette, which is celebrating more than 75 years as a leader in supplying quality equipment to the forestry industry.

This move brings the company back to its family roots. Forbes continues as President and CEO as he leads the company into the next era with the directive to strengthen Brunette’s position as a market leader for machinery in the North American forestry products and biomass industries.

“We are in a great position to capitalize on our growth potential both organically, and through strategic acquisitions and partnerships,” Forbes says.

Brunette is well known for its expertise in debarkers, hogs, and chippers. Recently, Brunette has developed new wood processing machinery such as the Retract-to-Load (RTL) Log Singulator, BioSizer high speed grinder, SmartVIBE conveyor, Whole Log Micro Chipper, and Veneer Chipper.

Malwa Impresses Graanul Invest

Valga Puu, a forestry company of Graanul Invest, has acquired two Malwa harvesters that will enable

better maneuvering in forest thinnings and prevent ground damage. The light weight, nimble harvesters can move extremely small diameter forest material.

The harvesters are equipped with 700 mm tires, which significantly improve the distribution of weight and improve traction. The weight of Malwa’s machine starts from 5,400 kg (11,900 lbs.) and its length is 5–7 meters.

“Valga Puu continues to test the new machines to figure out the limits of their capabilities and the best relation between the management and profitability of the forests,” according to Graanul

Invest. “Even the very first tests have clearly shown that the efficient new harvesters help to take modern forest stewardship to a new level.”

Graanul Invest, headquartered in Estonia, is Europe’s largest producer of industrial wood pellets.

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30 Wood Bioenergy / August 2020