News items August 2010

Manoeuvre parked aircraft by hand! An air motor powers an innovative transport device designed for wheeled equipment Moving heavy rolls of paper, railway wagons, and even parked aircrafts by hand may sound like magic, but it is humanly possible! The unassuming "Easy Roller" works just as its name implies. With this device, you can easily manoeuvre up to 100 tons without exerting great effort. The secret lies within the device"s utilization of the wheeled object"s net mass to its own advantage. Without having to climb into the driver"s cab or even turn on the engine, the mechatronics engineer can effortlessly manoeuvre the articulated lorry over the repair pit. It"s not even necessary to know how to drive one! In one hand, the engineer holds the handle of the "Easy Roller". The air motor, which powers the transport system, is hardly audible. Moreover, it does not produce any exhaust fumes, thus proving to be environmentally sound. Aside from the usual odour

These cabinets allow machine builders to create new or existing systems much easier. These control cabinet for controlling the various filling and dosing processes are available as a component and suitable for controlling; • Vibrating convayors (by Frequency controller) • Feeders (via Motor drives controllers ) • Dosage valves (using Switch Contacts) With the controller you get a two speed filling process. It starts with a coarse filling at high speed and ends with a fine filling at low speed to achieve the desired accuracy. For a simple filling and dosing process, no further controls are required. These control panels are based on the Flintec FT-13 weighing controller. This controller is standard programmed with 7 filling modes. These are easily adjustable by changing parameters and used in filling and emptying processes. The dosing can be done in net or gross mode. Optionally an additional port can be installed for communication over an industrial bus (eg Profibus, Ethernet, etc.) with external systems Components of known brands

Gericke Systems for Powder Handling For more than 115 years (founded 1894), Gericke has been planning and supplying systems for pow-der handling! In the pneumatic conveying technology as well as in the feeding and mixing technology Gericke belongs to the market leaders. At the beginning of every project when designing a feeding and mixing station there is the question whether to create a batch or continuous process. To come to a conclusion, a careful analysis of the products and processes involved is required, considering the further conditions and criteria. Some-times, the advantages might be with a batch solution, but there are other processes where a conti-nuous system might be preferred. Gericke undertakes great efforts in R&D in pneumatic conveying, feeding and mixing technology and offers additionally components for quality control, e.g. equipment for size reductions and sifters. The know-how based, competent treating of a project is what a customer gets when speaking with Gericke. Gericke

Rotary Valve with Contact Detection System Developed to eliminate the problem of “Nuisance Tripping”, Rota Val’s new RotaSafe RM2™ rotor monitor is claimed to represent a reliable and most advanced solution for rotary valve rotor protection. Detection systems are required to stop a rotary valve instantly if it detects rotor to housing contact, avoiding valve damage and consequent product contamination. Even relatively minor internal valve damage almost certainly invalidates ATEX certification requirements by opening a flame path. Significant reduction of this problem can save considerable expense in repair or replacement of affected valves. The Rota Val RotaSafe RM2™ detection circuit is intrinsically safe and therefore suitable for all ATEX Zones. Rota Val’s RotaSafe RM2™ has innovative control electronics, effectively filtering unwanted electrical noise from unavoidable sources that produce false signals. The new system is unique in that it can be adjusted to measure contact resistance at

Experts meet at PTS Paper Symposium in Munich from 7-10 September Berlin, 19.8.2010: This year’s symposium organized by Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS) will take place in Munich from 7-10 September. Strategic topics, e.g. ethics in business life and sustainability of cost savings, are to be discussed during the first day. The further lecture days focus on the chemical technology of paper production, from fillers and fibres up to process characterization. Current results will be presented by recognized experts. LUM GmbH is market leader in innovative instruments for direct and fast stability analysis and particle characterization of dispersions. Since 2003 LUM instruments are successfully used for paper industry applications around the world. The characterization of interactions in fibre suspensions, the determination of the pore structure influence on the coating of light weight coated paper, or the dewatering of fibres belong to many tasks LUM instrument users solve every day. Moreover, the sedimentation behaviour and the particle

The PTS – Powder Transfer System is an exceptionally effective and reliable method of transferring and dispensing both dry and wet powders and granules. Its unique filtration concept with a flat membrane makes it the only vacuum dense-phase system available on the market today, especially designed for reactor charging The PTS challenges convention, using both vacuum and pressure to move powders as if they were liquid, dispensing with the need for gravity charging,making multi floor processes a requirement of the past. The system is a significant enhancement to any process, providing total containment where necessary, but always speeding up production whilst improving safety and hygiene. Batch time can be substantially reduced and existing process steps can be linked to each other. The system can be cleaned and dried in place.

Space-saving design The Compact stop cock for canisters and barrels features an impressive compact design. This makes the stop cock ideal for use in refrigerators and on racks, etc. The short discharge does not protrude out over the lower edge of the container, which makes the stop cock a perfect choice even when space is very limited. The specially optimised design of the discharge forms an even stream of liquid with no splashing or spattering. The stop cock features easy motion and a tight seal. It is screwed on with a connecting union nut. This guarantees a vertical position of the stop cock and makes it possible to adjust the stop cock subsequently. The Compact stop cock fits all containers with R ¾` connecting threads. PP, PE and PTFE are materials that offer outstanding chemical resistance to acids and bases. For more information please see: http://www.buerkle.de/en/shop/_compact-stop-cock.html.

Ultrasonic frequency variation for test sieves from HAVER & BOECKER HAVER & BOECKER offer a comprehensive range of accessories and ancillary equipment for precise and comfortable work in laboratories for particle analysis. The HAVER UFA (Fig.) was especially designed for sieving of powders at critical cuts ≤ 300 µm. The sieve cloth is activated by ultrasonic waves with a continuously varying frequency. These high-frequency oscillations reduce the frictional resistance between particles and sieve cloth. The inclination to blinding is minimized, the sieving capacity is increased and the sieving duration is clearly shortened. Thus, reaching the endpoint of sieving is strongly accelerated by this kind of support and automatic sieving of some bulk solids is only possible at all in this way.

A Simpler design but more performance Loss in Weight Feeders are used for precise dosing of solids and liquids in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries. The feeding accuracy is judged by the reproducibility, linearity, stability and drift. The WMH weigh modules from METTLER TOLEDO can increase the performance of these devices in all criteria. The performance of feeders range from 100g up to 50`000kg per hour. The accuracy ranges from 0.25 to 1%. The maximum achievable accuracy depends on the properties of the material being dispensed. A characteristic of Loss In Weight Feeders is the cyclical change between controlled gravimetric dispensing and uncontrolled volumetric dispensing during refilling. The uncontrolled volumetric dispensing during refilling has to be kept as brief as possible in order to achieve accurate results. An suitable electronic feeder control and a conveyor which fits to the material properties of the dispensed product can improve performance of Loss In Weight Feeders

The quality control of fine powders in a size range from 1 µm to 3 mm can be substantially improved with the new CAMSIZER XT: More precise and faster analysis of particle size and particle shape helps to improve the product quality, reduce rejects and save costs. The design of the Camsizer XT is based on the well-proven optical particle measurement system Camsizer but is optimized for finer samples. Not only the improved optical resolution but also new options for material feeding allow for an extended application range. Fine particles tend to agglomerate which makes it difficult to record the properties of a single particle. Therefore, it is important to have various possibilities of feeding the sample to the analysis area to be able to find for each material the optimum between the desired dispersion of the agglomerates and the undesired destruction of the individual particle. The CAMSIZER XT offers three alternative dispersion methods: Pourable, not agglomerated

Quickly and efficiently designed custom-tailored solutions for any process – this is one of the services K-Tron Process Group is featuring at K-Show 2010 in Hall 10, booth B73. K-Tron will be showing several stations integrated into one complete system. In a modern production line centered around high-precision feeding equipment, operators are not just looking to reduce the number of vendors involved, but are ultimately searching for cost-effective and easy-to-maintain solutions. K-Tron has been meeting this challenge by bringing together the most experienced product engineers to form a new Systems Engineering group. K-Tron Process Group Systems Engineers are experienced in a wide range of systems designs from small, simple projects to large, complex installations. At K-Tron, systems engineers follow each project from the proposal through to overseeing the design and manufacture to commissioning and start-up. In this way our customers have one contact who is

K-Tron Process Group introduces the New K-Tron Premier LSR Controller. The LSR Controller consolidates several applications into one system allowing the LSR to control either a K-Tron Premier self contained loader or a single central receiver for pneumatically conveying a wide variety of bulk materials. The controller is locally mounted with all 24 VDC unit devices pre-wired. An auto-switching power supply accepts 115 or 230 VAC. The front panel of the controller includes a potentiometer to set draw times, on/off switch, and multicolored LEDs indicate power/alarm, loading status and dump status. Available materials of construction for the enclosure are polycarbonate and stainless steel. The LSR Controller allows for nine different operating modes selectable with internal rotary switch and 10-position dip switch. The economical controller provides precise, reliable control filling by time or level and various discharge configurations including gravity or powered

The K-Tron Premier Modular Cartridge Bin Vent provides excellent air filtration of fine airborne particles from within a storage tank and releases clean air to the atmosphere. While material is pneumatically conveyed into a storage tank, fine particles and air are efficiently separated by the unit’s large cartridge filter. This enables clean air to pass from the tank out to the atmosphere. Reverse jet cleaning from a compressed air accumulator pulses the cartridge filter, dislodging any fines and returning them to the storage tank. Standard materials of construction include carbon steel enamel coating or stainless steel material contact areas. Mounting on a standard 20 in diameter tank deck, the small modular unit is inexpensive and easy to install. The unit’s single cartridge filter is constructed of tough, washable polyester. The cartridge filter hangs vertically and has shallow, open pleats for efficient dust release. Quick-release clamps allow easy access

Directives, laws and regulations, national and European norms set out required quality standards for flue ash and regulate their use. The knowledge of technical standards that has been gained here in relation to technical and economic advantages has now become an international standard. Constructions that demonstrate the quality improvements found in concrete with a high proportion of flue ash are the Eurotunnel and the bridge over the Great Belt in the Baltic Sea, one of the largest worldwide. Both are exposed to aggressive salt water. The construction companies have to guarantee the clients a service life of 120 to 100 years. Flue ash stops salt water corroding the steel reinforcement in concrete. A precise mix of flue ash and construction components is required to adhere to the processing norms. For 20 years, AVA has focussed on the production of mixing equipment for diverse tasks in this sector. Our first mixer for flue ash processing has been operating for two decades

AVA is providing an HTC horizontal batch mixer for a fermentation facility in Poland and therefore providing the most important components for the process of transforming organic household refuse into compost. The organic waste is first ground and sieved. It nevertheless contains residue of glass, stones, metals and other materials. For this reason, the customer decided to have a subsequent mixing process for an AVA mixer in "heavy duty" specification, which is characterised by its very robust design which wears little and is very resistant. In addition to the main product, polymer solutions are also mixed in, which have a favourable effect on subsequent fermentation. Due to the high intensity of mixing, a perfectly homogenised end product is achieved, which can be pumped, and can thus be pumped into a silo for subsequent biogas manufacture.

AVA is also known as a supplier of complete process solutions related to the core processes of mixing, drying and reacting. In real terms, this means that AVA offers its customers innovative and flexible solutions and thus distinguishes itself from traditional mechanical engineering companies. An example of this is the implementation of a mixing and cooling facility to cool hot dusts for a customer in Northern Europe. The calcareous dusts are cooled from a temperature of over 300°C to a temperature below 100°C and moistened by adding water. The steams that are formed as a result are deposited into a special vapour washer and condensed. Due to the high amount of energy applied and the material that it is applied to being very hot, a closed process could not be implemented with the systems available on the market. The AVA process technology engineers thus developed a multi-stage washing and cooling process, the components of which are supplied to AVA"s end customers

Fast, safe, simple - easy to clean! With decades of experience in the production of cutting mills we have invested our vast experience in our latest model achieving significantly improved grinding material feeding and ground material recovery. The head of our laboratory is justifiably excited by there improvements. Typical fields of application: Grinding of soft to medium-hard dry materials and fibrous materials or materials containing cellulose including rubber, leather, paper, cardboard, textiles, plastics, wood, metal-free waste, coal, feedstuffs, maize, grain, confectionery, malt, noodles, herbs and spices, dried meat, bone, horn, pills, tablets, foliage, fibres, peat, roots, tobacco, cork. Straw, stalks foils and similar long, thin samples can be fed full-length into the instrument. Method of operation: In the grinding chamber of the PULVERISETTE 15 laboratory cutting mill, four knives rotate against three stationary knives in the cutting action to reduce the sample. The material remains