Archive September 2011

Nowadays, the dimensions of facilities and machines are becoming greater and more complex. When combustible dusts or gases meet up with oxygen and ignition sources in a facility, the worst case could be an explosion; followed by annihilating energies that are released, with devastating impacts. When taking explosion protection from a professional and legal view into account, the following aspects must be placed in the foreground: In reference to the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health, legislative authorities have specified that facility operators, based on a risk assessment, must create a so-called explosion protection document. If determined within the context of the risk assessment that the facility is explosion-prone, provisions must be derived, which securely prevent explosions or reduce the impacts of an explosion to a minimum. Should the incidence of potentially explosive atmospheres not be adequately and securely ruled out, the protection…

Matcon is delighted to announce the appointment of Verbaten Stortgoedtechniek bv as a new agent for the Netherlands. Established in 1992,Verbaten Stortgoedtechniek bv specialize in providing a system integration service for solids handling solutions, with special focus on the food and plastic compounding industries. Verbaten Stortgoedtechniek bv, managed by René Verbaten, has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the supply of process equipment, including pneumatic conveying, gravimetric dosing, sifting and packing systems, providing the perfect complement to Matcon’s Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) Systems. Verbaten Stortgoedtechniek bv will be representing Matcon at the forthcoming easyFairs SOLIDS Show taking place in Rotterdam on 5th – 6th October 2011. Please visit Verbaten on Stand Numbers B1019 and E1012 to find out how Matcon can revolutionise your powder process and packing operations by applying Lean solutions

REMBE® GMBH SAFETY + CONTROL protects plant engineering and apparatus construction in the global industries of food processing, woodworking, chemicals and pharmaceuticals from dust explosions. In this field, and as an owner-managed company located in Brilon/Germany, REMBE® is always one step ahead and sets technological benchmarks within the industry. The comprehensive array of explosion protection products range from explosion vents over conventional explosion venting, right up to protective flameless venting systems for closed areas. Devices for explosion suppression and explosion isolation are available either as individual components and/or as a system solution. Every day at 1:00 pm, REMBE® has a real blast on the POWTECH’s open-air grounds. During their live explosion demonstrations, REMBE® engineers will show exactly what the explosion protection products are capable of when worst comes to worst. Stop by for a live demonstration at the POWTECH 2011…

Level of sales before crisis has already been achieved Our success is based on innovation and further development of well-known technologies. Therefore we mastered the crisis very well and have already reached the level of sales of the year before crisis in 2008. MOLLET Füllstandtechnik is a producer of high-end devices for measurement and control systems. Customers in the whole world coming from many different industries trust in our safety equipment for silos and bulk material facilities. Mollet meets customers’ highest requirements with the wide range of level control units for all kind of bulk solids. Another product line of Mollet is hose couplings with integrated limit switches or with electronic encoding systems. A stand alone silo-safe-system for fully-automated monitoring of the filling process for silos that have to be filled pneumatically by silo trailers completes the product range. We would appreciate to support you with our enhancing knowledge about products and processes in bulk solids handling. Use…

Cleanability of fluid bed units in all scales Fluid bed and spouted bed units of Glatt are used to produce or improve granules and pellets. Spray granulation, agglomeration, coating and encapsulation are the most common processes. Glatt is supplying production size equipment with automatic cleaning systems since several years. Now it is possible to test the cleanability of the equipment in all scales. At Powtech 2011 Glatt will show a new feature of the largest mobile lab unit – a WIP system. The ProCell LabSystem is now equipped with cleaning nozzles in the filter plate and in the processing chamber, which clean the unit without the need to open it. Two different filter types can be used in the ProCell LabSystem – pleated cartridges and washable filter bags. The cartridges are only precleaned in the unit – the narrow places in the pleats must be cleaned manually. Still the WIP system makes sure the operator does not get in contact with the dry dust. The filter bags can be completely cleaned in the unit.…

Belt Alignment & Rip Detection Switch 4B have launched the new 4B Bulldog belt alignment and rip detection switch. This electro-mechanical system has been designed to detect dangerous misalignment of the conveyor and also detection of belt tear damage. The switch will detect horizontal misalignment of belts when contact is made with the roller; the roller arm will be forced to pivot by the belt activating a switch at 15º to trigger an alarm, and 30º to trigger a shut down procedure of the conveyor. The sensors are usually installed in pairs on opposite sides of the belt. A steel flexible wire is set below the running conveyor belt approx 20-30mm attached by a rare earth magnet at each end. If the belt is ripped or damaged the wire is pulled away releasing the magnet connection which in turn will activate a switch. The Bulldog’s robust design makes it suitable for the use in heavy duty applications such as quarrying and mining. It is easy to install and doesn’t need calibrating. The Bulldog is compatible…

Efaflex clean room doors EFA-SRT-CR are now TÜV-certified As the Lower Bavarian specialist for high-speed industrial doors - EFAFLEX supplies clean room doors to five continents. The clean room door EFA-SRT®-CR (Clean Room) is now TÜV-certified. This test certifies that in accordance with EN ISO 14644-1, this type of door is suitable for use in clean rooms up to ISO category 5 (for particle sizes >= 0.3 µm). Pharmaceutical companies use EFAFLEX clean room doors almost without exception. With the EFA-SRT®-CR, Efaflex is setting very high standards for an effective, economical and GMP-orientated operation of clean rooms. The overall door construction is distinguished by an entirely smooth surface without recesses, protrusions or undercuts. The construction is designed in an easy to assemble way and maintains clip technology. The contact strip cable connection with the control has been replaced with a radio transmission link. This in turn omits the need for an energy chain covering element and the gate therefore…

Celebrations with the Prime Minister and the German Ambassador for Malta Adpro-Instruments Ltd, a member of the UWT Group, has just celebrated its 10th Anniversary. The celebrations were inaugurated by The Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi, in an event also attended by H.E. Dr. H. Ziegler, the German Ambassador for Malta, and various dignitaries, together with all Adpro employees. During the official speeches the support of the Maltese government, especially during the recession was highlighted positively. Uwe Niekrawietz, Adpro’s Managing Director, explained the decisive points that have led to the decision for the location Malta more than 10 years ago. He also stated that Malta has done very well during these 10 years and the future is a bright one for this plant. Following these festivities the open day was on the program. For this the families of all employees together with all local suppliers, service providers and other stakeholders were invited. At the end of the company tour all visitors were offered typical Bavarian Food. Some…

From collection point to malthouse Bühler has decisively enhanced its capabilities in the fields of grain handling, cleaning, drying, and storage through the acquisition of the German plant supplier Schmidt-Seeger and integrated them in its new Grain Logistics business unit. Bühler is now in a position to provide products and complete solutions ranging from grain collection points to food production plants. “We have concerned ourselves in depth with the expected development of the global grain markets up to the year 2050,” explains Marcel Scherrer, head of the new Grain Logistics business unit. “A look at the population growth forecast shows that in 40 years, some 9 billion people will have to be fed. The additional requirements must be covered by higher yields through improved growing methods, prevention of post-harvest losses – which today amount to as much as 20 percent – and the development of new growing regions. Grains are delivered to the collection points just…

IQsafeLink is technically already known as the most simple solution for remote connection to your machine- and process controls worldwide. With the new pricing the choice to start using this (in the Benelux) successful concept has become easy as well. After the election of “Product of the Year 2010” by engineering Holland, the use of IQsafeLink has grown enormously in this country (as well as Belgium). Several machine construction companies are using IQsafeLink - worldwide - to optimise service for their customers. Something now-a-days is an inevitable part of a competitive offer. IQsafeLink is complete and offers: • simple installation • easy to use • safe connection • intelligent solutions • a free helpdesk and … • NOW an even more attractive pricing! Introduction offer: license costs half a year for free with your first IQsafeLink-box! From the 1st of September 2011 IQsafeLink has a new pricing, that will be hard to resist for new…

FlowSlide measures 25 different products with one calibration The Dutch company `Agrifirm` produces large quantities of animal food. The receipts are consisting of different raw material like cereals, maize and different flours. After finishing the mixing procedure the food is conveyed via elevators to the truck loading station. The typical feed rate is between 80 and 160 t/h. The densitity differs from 500 to 1200 kg/m³. In the past Agrifirm has use impact meter to load the trucks with the desired weigth. Due to the different product characteristics the deviation exceeds the allowed range. Agrifirm has installed a 300 m³/h `Maxi FlowSlide` to optimize the batching procedure. The FlowSlide system is nearly independend from density and grain size and is able to provide a tolerance between 300 and 500 kg. The FlowSlide electronics includes a pre selectable counter to stop the batching process after achieving the desired weight. After a testing period of 3 month Agrifirm was sure, that the FlowSlide fullfills their demand and bought the system.