News items March 2022

International technology group ANDRITZ has received another order from the HITACHI ZOSEN Corporation in Japan to supply a 52.7-MW PowerFluid circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler on EPS basis. The boiler will be part of the biomass power plant in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, in Japan. Start-up is planned for 2025. The ANDRITZ PowerFluid boiler will be integrated into a biomass-fired power generation facility that will be fueled by wood pellets, wood chips and palm kernel shells. With its high efficiency and state-ofthe-art technology, it is the perfect solution to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets and contribute towards carbon neutrality in Japan. The biomass power plant will be capable of supplying power for roughly 110,000 Japanese households. The new CFB project is the thirteenth ANDRITZ advanced CFB boiler for the Japanese market and demonstrates the excellent position ANDRITZ has in the biomass power plant market. This order once again confirms ANDRITZ’s strong partnership with the HITACHI ZOSEN Corporation. ANDRITZ is proud to be part of this remarkable project and make another important contribution towards the Japanese power industry’s

YOU APPRECIATE OLD VALUES ...and things that have always worked? We do too. That’s why we understand that it is sometimes difficult to take a first step towards the future. But it is important to set up your production in the best possible way for the future. It is the way to better control, more efficiency, higher quality and higher margins. A step that you should not miss under any circumstances. It is all the more important to take this step with a partner who understands you and your business. At Opdenhoff we have over 50 years of expertise and knowledge in the bulk solids industry. We know all the variables in your production chain and know how to transform them into a profitable future with the help of digitalisation. We digitise your production step by step. With our digital twins and the modular OPD PRO.CARE modules, you can decide for yourself how to digitise your production piece by piece, asset by asset. At the pace you want. At the same time, you

Siloanlagen Achberg has designed a user-friendly and powerful suction probe with gradual regulation of the suction air, to ensure the proper solids to air ratio for pneumatic conveying. To expand the market-renowned suction probe range, Siloanlagen Achberg has designed a user-friendly and powerful suction probe with gradual regulation of the suction air. As is generally known, suction conveying begins when the bulk material enters the material line. Here it is important that the ratio of bulk material and conveying air can be optimally adjusted. ”The single-walled suction probe with the designation SGL.1B was designed precisely for this purpose,” says the manufacturer. Another advantage: the lance is a cost-effective alternative to the double-walled suction probe . The focus is on the sliding sleeve, which is easy to lock in place by means of a locking bolt. With a total of 6 graduations, the conveying air can be optimally adjusted and documented for the respective application. In practice, it has been shown that even larger throughputs of plastic granulate can be realised reliably, especially for small to medium distances. Achberg manufactures

In the field of silo-control and visualization, SSB Wägetechnik offers versatile and individual solutions that allow you to independently manage and control your silo system. With our silo-control system, which can either be integrated into software tools such as SAP and ORACLE or tailored to your own database exchange, the management of your silo plant becomes more targeted, convenient and functional. When using a control system, the production processes from product receipt, order acceptance, silo discharge control, safety scanning, determination of filling variants (e.g. truck, big bag, FFS) and backtracking to the finished container can be precisely monitored and controlled. The WinCC software solution we offer helps you optimize the management of your plant and make it autonomous and user-friendly. To make the control of your silo plant even more functional, we offer control systems with integration of the filling technology, visualization system and databases. In addition to process monitoring, our silo control systems also enable remote monitoring with worldwide access, linking with databases, connection of truck scales, and

From April 1, 2022, the new CADFEM company building on the Schammacher Feld in Grafing replaced the long-standing headquarters at the Marktplatz. Much space has been created - for fresh ideas, for pleasant working and for healthy growth. Everything under one roof Energy efficiency, solid wood construction and clear structures characterize the building. Moreover, the extraordinary floor plan, with its unique corners and edges, adds a great deal of individuality. The building is used by CADFEM International GmbH, CADFEM Medical GmbH and CADFEM Germany GmbH. The new company building of CADFEM Germany GmbH was designed and implemented by nbundm* Architekten CADFEM Germany GmbH The formerly named CADFEM GmbH took the move as an opportunity to change its name. CADFEM in Germany follows the naming convention of all national companies within the CADFEM Group. Pay us a visit Sometimes a handshake is much better than an email. Customers, business partners and friends

WÖHWA’s weigh belt feeders are well suited for products with varying flow characteristics and bulk density. The modular design allows an individual adaptation to on-site conditions while using standard components. More than 50 years ago, WÖHWA developed the first weigh belt feeders for products with varying flow characteristics and bulk density. All components and software for the modular designed weighing system are produced in-house at our factory. The modular design of the WÖHWA blending and reclaim weigh belt feeders allows an individual adaptation to on-site conditions while using standard components. Each blending device can be equipped with either a manual WÖHWA shut-off/sealed gate or an electric slide gate. An electric slide gate allows automatic zero-setting of the belt scale. The robust blending/reclaim weigh belt feeders can be supplied with belt widths from 400 mm (16 inches) to 1,400 mm (56 inches) to meet all application-specific requirements in respect of flow rate, product or flow characteristics. All standard components are cut on our own laser cutting machine and then hot-dip galvanized. The weigh belt feeders can be supplied with troughed or flat

Founded in 1969 by Klaus Martin Opdenhoff in Hennef (an der Sieg). Specialised in weighing & measuring since the beginning. Now also service provider & pioneer for innovative solutions in the bulk materials industry. Every success story has a beginning, Milestones from OPDENHOFF, Our Plant in Hennef , Production from 1980-1985, Plant with OPDwin from 1995

Gericke has developed a complete range of bag emptying stations for different industries, ergonomic, semi-automatic and easy to combine and integrate into your process. Gericke sack tipping and feeding stations are ergonomically designed to provide safe handling for all types of sacks and boxes whilst controlling and reducing dust emissions. Many powders, granules and other solid bulk materials are packaged and delivered in 5 to 25 kg bags, which the operators have to open and empty at different stages of their processes. Obviously, in the case of toxic products, these operations must be carried out without the risk of the product coming into contact with the operator or the environment. But even in the case of non-toxic products, the worker must not be exposed to dust that could, over time, have a negative impact on his health. For this reason, Gericke has developed a complete range of bag emptying stations for different industries. These stations are designed to make it easy and ergonomic for the operator to place the bag in the discharge area. Semi-automatic sack opening systems additionally improve workplace ergonomics

OPD Service 4.0: our service brings all stakeholders together to transform complex requirements into simple solutions. What does OPD Service 4.0 mean? The answer is simple: we combine 50 years of experience in the mixing and bulk solids industry with innovative process thinking and state-of-the-art Smart Services technologies such as Smartglass Service Remotes. The result for you: the perfect service mix of experience, competence & innovation. Process thinking instead of departmental thinking Our service brings all parties together to transform complex requirements into simple solutions. Consulting: processes, elements and architecture Analysing processes, developing possibilities, weighing up ideas and working out the best solution together, this is how we see our task as a companion. We provide manufacturer neutral advice, independent of models, elements and products. Our goal: economically profitable solutions for your production. Basic engineering In this planning phase, we create individual IT Operational Technology concepts, functional descriptions and tender documents

Renewable energy is more relevant than ever. As a partner to several renewable energy companies, Polem has the know-how to store the processed substances These days, almost 29% of our energy is from renewable energy sources. A large part is wind, solar or hydropower, however the percentage of other renewables such as bioenergy is increasing rapidly. For years Polem is partner of several renewable energy companies. If you want to store co-products, glycerine, biodiesel and biomethanol in tanks or biomass, wood pellets or starch in silos, Polem has already developed the proven technology. Polem also has various partnerships with universities and composite knowledge centres for the use of composite as a fully circular raw material in the production of new materials.

WAM GmbH offers loading bellows (telescopic loading spouts, telescopic loading chutes) with a loading capacity of up to 1800m³/h for dust free loading of all kinds of bulk materials Wherever large quantities of bulk solids are moved, the wish list for process engineers is long: conveying, loading, transporting, filtering, mixing should be as fast as possible, ideally highly efficient with maximum safety for the process and employees and without costly or maintenance-intensive technology. Loading systems can meet these requirements almost completely, if they are designed correctly. The key technology, which manufacturers call loading bellows of telescopic loading spouts or chutes, is used at an interface that is particularly sensitive for a successful loading process. Only little time is available for loading into silo vehicles, open trucks, transport wagons or big bags, because downtimes cost money. At the same time, loading should not only be fast, but also clean without material losses due to leakages, poor positioning or the escape of dust, because the costs for this should not be underestimated. It becomes really expensive when the dust

We at OPDENHOFF would like to show you how you can manage your asphalt production even more efficiently and cost-saving. OPDENHOFF digitises the entire asphalt production process for you, from the delivery of your raw materials to the mixing plant, all the way to the construction site. This gives you an insight into your production chain at any time via mobile, tablet or PC. Because we know that the composition of the ingredients determines the quality. That is why we have developed OPD PRO.CARE, a digital tool that allows you to control all mixing processes easily and flexibly. Our goal is to increase the quality and profitability of your mixing plant to a maximum. For this purpose, we integrate your existing 3rd party software and infrastructure (all commonly uses truck scales) into our OPD PRO.CARE system via standard API. Your advantages at a glance: ✓ Optimised management of raw materials & recycling ✓ Higher profitability of the mixing plant ✓ Flexible control (mobile/tablet/PC) ✓ Simple integration of existing systems ✓ Lower CO2 consumption

Fully automatic gas pycnometer measures volume and mass of a bulk solids sample with highest precision for trouble-free production. Precise measurement of the (solid) density of bulk materials and other solids to determine the correct parameters for production or further processing still represents a challenge for personnel and technology. At the same time, the degree of precision in determining this data often affects the profitability of the process, especially with small quantities and expensive materials, since too much rejects already entail high costs when processing starts. German company SIEBTECHNIK TEMA has now addressed this problem with the development of a unique gas pycnometer that fully automatically measures the volume and mass of a solid with highest precision. The innovative ”Bulkinspector” provides the kind of safety in process preparation that is needed for trouble-free production and further processing. In addition to its high precision, the Bulkinspector is primarily characterised by the fact that it measures both the mass and volume of the solid fully automatically.

Proper design is essential to ensure easy and safe cleaning of our products. The sanitization and cleaning of machinery and equipment for food production require increasingly complex and effective procedures. The strict rules to be respected by producers of machinery and equipment in contact with food are aimed to obtain the maximum protection of the consumer. MIX, which has always been close to its customers, is now a member of EHEDG (European hygienic engineering & design group). Our machines are designed to make washing, sanitizing and disinfecting safe and easy. EHEDG’s guidelines demand that machines comply with strict design and engineering standards, resulting in machines that are easy to clean and sanitize. Thanks to the design studied in detail, we can guarantee greater ease and safety in cleaning operations.

KREYENBORG’s new technology gives odor-contaminated post-consumer plastics, such as plastic packaging, a new life. A large amount of plastic waste from consumer-market packaging is generated daily. In order to obtain high-quality plastic recyclates from these material streams, and to be able to make them reusable for high-quality applications, odorous substances that have migrated into the material during the course of the product-life must be removed. Up till now, these odorous substances could be removed only inadequately through recycling processes. But with the introduction of KREYENBORG’s new technology, IR-FRESH®, the scenario has changed. IR-FRESH® odor-minimization KREYENBORG has developed sustained, high-level expertise in plastics recycling, with solutions for decontamination of PCR-PET, crystallization, drying, and heating of bulk materials, using infrared technology. Further development of this technology has brought to the fore its newest member among its products, the IR-FRESH® - a modular system for the safe and efficient reduction of interfering odors in

Free-flowing granules and pellets from liquids and powders using innovative fluid bed and spouted bed technology Glatt will be exhibiting at ChemProTech India, India’s leading trade fair for bulk, fine and specialty chemicals, which will be held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai on April 20 and 21, 2022. Visit us at booth G12 in hall 1. Exchange ideas with our experts. Learn what we can do for your ingredients such as fertilizers, crop protection products, salts, polymers, seeds, phosphonates, enzymes, essential oils, fragrances, surfactants, detergents, cleaning agents, color pigments, ceramics, catalysts, minerals, trace elements, acids and more to optimize desired physical properties and/or protect sensitive, active and volatile substances. With state-of-the-art fluid bed and spouted bed technologies, Glatt offers intelligent particle design to dry, shape and functionalize powders and granules with the desired properties in just one process step, improving their application and handling. Vivid animations, presentations and brochures will be made available

Sinfimasa designs and manufactures tailor-made elevators, such as this case: a robust and wear-resistant elavator for temperatures up to 500ºC Elevator for foundry sand Sinfimasa designs and manufactures tailor-made elevators. Each elevator is individually adapted to the specific project. We want to share publicly how we solve the problems posed by the market. Our customer is an important foundry that needed to recover the sand used in its manufacturing process in order to reuse it for the filling of its moulds. Wear and temperature resistant The difficulties in this project are that this type of sand is very abrasive and that the working temperature at the inlet of the elevator is 200ºC with peaks of up to 500ºC. Therefore, we designed a chain bucket elevator. We used a round steel chain, as the high abrasiveness of the sand would cause unacceptable wear on the bushings. The chain alloy contains a high percentage of manganese, which makes it wear resistant. The buckets are also reinforced with anti-wear steel. Robust construction The coating used for both primer and finish is anti-caloric,

International technology group ANDRITZ has developed Turbex, a highly efficient extraction system to produce functional nutrients from botanicals and natural products. ANDRITZ Turbex helps to produce high quality extracts from botanicals and natural products and turn waste such as orange peel or brewer’s spent grain (BSG) into revenue-generating nutrients. This patented extraction technology works by generating high turbulence, shear, and cavitation, hundreds of times more than conventional extractors. It uses a series of rotors and stators to cause thousands of cavitation events per second, resulting in higher yields in shorter processing times. Assisted by a counter-current process, ANDRITZ Turbex delivers yields up to 50% higher than conventional systems. The low extraction temperature combined with the short processing time improves the product quality as oxidization of valuable polyphenols and antioxidants is avoided. Requiring up to 30% less energy than conventional extraction methods, ANDRITZ Turbex has a faster return on investment and less environmental impact. The fact that it does not necessarily require ethanol

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. Based 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

In the 45th year of existence of UWT GmbH, the 7th international sales office is now founded in Mexico. With its own branch office UWT Level Control de S. de RL de C.V. in Santiago de Querétaro, Country Manager José Cruz is introduced. Opening UWT Mexico, UWT Office Building Santiago de Querétaro, Fernando Soares Pinto welcomes the team, Fernando Soares Pinto shoes the products, Uwe Niekrawietz welcomes Jose Cruz as the leader of UWT Mexico, Ladies support at UWT Mexico, Great teamspirit at the UWT Mexico team, Colleagues from Mexico find out how reliable the UWT Sensors are, Uwe Niekrawietz is introducing the UWT Famliy

A general short course covering some of the most common issues met by process engineers when handling bulk materials including material build-up in hoppers and unreliable discharge of the contents. Taking place in April you will learn about * Basics of hopper and silo design and function * Dealing with potential problems * Discharge aids and interfacing to feeders These courses are being offered in two formats: * Online: delivered over 5 morning sessions, 4 – 8 April * Face to face: If you prefer to attend in person, you can now do so for a two day course at our premises in Chatham, Kent. 26 – 27 April The course content is the same on either course. Attendees on either course are also invited to join the Practical Workshop on 28 April, where some of the theory aspects are demonstrated in our on-site laboratories. Who should attend? All courses are written with the engineer in mind. They are recommended for operators who handle bulk materials daily, for maintenance, Health & Safety officers, plant or equipment designers and manufacturers, or management of such staff. Anyone who handles any form of bulk material could benefit from attending.

The WFP-Koni is the smallest continuous fluid bed processor, for the following processes: drying, spray drying, spray granulation, agglomeration and coating. Bulk solids usually require several process steps before the final product is obtained. Drying is one of the most important basic process engineering operations. Moist products with a water content of up to 85 % can be dried particularly gently thermally and mechanically by convective drying in the fluidised bed, where high specific surfaces and an optimum mixing of product and carrier is reached. Nowadays, many powders are dried from suspensions or solutions with the aim of obtaining a very fine powder to improve bioavailability or solubility. And processes that yield dust-free, free-flowing products with good wettability (instant products) or directly compressible carriers. Different processes In the WFP-Koni different processes can be realised: drying, spray drying, spray granulation, agglomeration and coating. By varying the parameters of spray pressure, liquid quantity, powder recirculation, hot air quantities and hot air temperature, powders from less than

Green pipes are wear resistant pipes where the worn cylinder can be replaced without the need for a new steel shell. Green pipes and pipe bends have a wear-resistant lining that can be removed and recycled at the end of their service life. The wear-resistant lining’s special mounting concept makes it possible to remove the old lining without destroying the steel shell. The existing steel pipes are subsequently relined with new material cylinders. The method used gives the lining the same service life as conventionally lined pipes and pipe bends. Returning the worn pipes and pipe bends to Kalenborn eliminates disposal costs and no expenses are incurred to manufacture new steel pipes. Companies reduce their CO2 load on the environment. With fused cast basalt and ceramics, Kalenborn relies on natural materials that are renewable. After the worn lining has been removed, its materials are recycled and fed back into the process for manufacturing new wear-resistant materials. Green pipes and pipe bends are available as product variants: * ABRESIST fused cast basalt pipes

Trantec’s Nano screw feeder range takes proven feeding technology and applies it to the miniature world of ultra-low dosing of powders, flakes, and granules. For over two decades Trantec Solids Handling has specialised in the design and manufacture of powder metering equipment. This expertise has now been applied to the unique complexities of feeding powders at very low rates. Steady flow at grams per hour A selected few companies offer feeding rates lower than fifty grams per hour. However, some micro-dosing applications target quantities well below this. Therefore, equipment becomes challenging to find, if not unobtainable. Trantec’s Micro and Nano feeder range takes proven feeding technology and applies it to the miniature world of ultra-low dosing of powders, flakes, and granules. Providing a steady flow at exceptionally low rotational speeds, dosing as little as a few milligrams to several grams per hour, with extremely high accuracies. To enhance the micro feeder’s accuracy and controllability, optional gravimetric type weigh and control systems are available, suitable for both gain in weight and loss in weight

All Gericke group companies meet ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and SMETA standards. The Gericke Group has also received the sustainability bronze medal award from EcoVadis. Gericke operates production and engineering facilities at various locations around the world. To prove the consistent quality and the commitment to business ethics and sustainability, various Gericke group companies are certified to meet ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and SMETA standards. The Gericke Group has also received the sustainability bronze medal award from EcoVadis. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System ISO 14001 sets out the criteria for an environmental management system that can also be certified. It maps out a framework that a company or organization must follow to set up an effective environmental management system. Designed for any type of organization, it can provide assurance to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impacts are being measured and improved. EcoVadis Since its founding in 2007, EcoVadis has grown to become the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability

Smooth grinding of soft to middle hard materials with spiral jet mills in toll grinding center Kammern. PMT Powder Maker Group GmbH is specialized in dry grinding and classifying of ultra-fine particles. Grindability depends on material structure and type. Our spiral jetmill grinds soft to middle hard materials (Mohshardness 1-6) in a smooth way. Ductile and elastic materials can be dispersed and deagglomerated if applicable, but not ground. Grindable materials cover industrial minerals (like Zeolite, Clay, Barite, Mica, Kaolin, Talc, Bentonite) and chemical products (like Petrol coke, pigments, melamin, glass) and natural products (like alga, seed, egg shells or cocoa). Grindability details are determined in a grinding trial with which achievable particle sizes, capacities and specific energy consumptions are found.

Bürkle’s new Core Sampler has been specially developed for powders and granulates which easily jam or consolidate during sampling The new sampler from Bürkle has been specially developed for powders and granulates which, due to their particle shape, easily jam or get stuck during sampling. In comparison to standard all-layer samplers for bulk materials, the two-part core sampler has no gaps in which the bulk solid can get stuck while it is being removed. This makes it possible to take a proper sample of powders and granulates through multiple layers, for example metal powder, abrasive media, salt, sugar, semolina, corn spindle granulate, etc. The core sampler is made of V4A stainless steel and is available in three sizes. This means it can be used for a wide range of different containers, for example BigBags or small containers. Due to the high-quality material and the careful processing, it is also ideal for use in various laboratory and industrial applications.

SSB Wägetechnik GmbH offers the fastest palletizing robot in its class with ultra high speed in the field of bag palletizing and carton palletizing. Intelligent robots perform a wide range of tasks in warehouse logistics and have been established there for years. In warehouse management, for example, they take over stacking, filling and depalletizing, are integrated into sorting systems or transport goods on roller conveyors. Palletizing of bags and boxes SSB Wägetechnik GmbH offers the fastest palletizing robot in its class with ultra high speed in the field of bag and carton palletizing. Our Ai1800 robot simplifies your palletizing operations: It palletizes reliably, efficiently, packs safely and compactly for further transport. Advantages of robotAi1800 * The Ai1800 robot achieves a maximum output of 1,200 bags per hour at 25kg/ bag. * In pallet handling, it can serve up to 3 lines and there is no confusion in palletizing. * Integrated software: simple user structure, layer patterns and pallet layout can be created and changed by the user, adaptive, fast and flexible. * Low energy consumption with

Jansen&Heuning have developed a series of spreading boxes for CIREX, to evenly spread ceramic powders on a wax model. The innovative installations contribute to optimizing the production process and improving the quality of the cast, steel and metal components. Steel and metal foundry CIREX bv manufactures complex components for global industry; from knife heads and pump parts to transport wheels and sensor housing. These are often high-tech components that must comply with class D3 tolerances, as laid down in the internationally recognized German standard VDG-P690. CIREX uses the ‘lost wax model’ method to produce the precision castings. Wax Tree One of the many process steps in the ‘lost wax model’ method is that a ‘wax tree’ -which consists of a series of wax molds-is coated with a ceramic layer, to eventually arrive at a cast result. The wax tree is imersed in a slurry, raised and then dusted with a ceramic powder (a type of sand), followed by a drying process. This is a cycle that repeats itself seven to nine times. Finally a refractory, ceramic mantle is formed

Fast and fine: Disk Mill PULVERISETTE 13 classic line. he ideal instrument for fine grinding of up to 150 kg per hour of soft to hard-brittle and temperature-sensitive solids, even in continuous operation. articularly ideal for medium particle sizes in the areas of mining and metallurgy, glass industry, ceramics industry, soil research, rocks and soils. The Disk Mill PULVERISETTE 13 classic line is the ideal instrument for fine grinding of up to 150 kg per hour of soft to hard-brittle and temperature-sensitive solids – even in continuous operation. The maximum feed size per piece is approximately 20 mm edge length, the final fineness is freely adjustable between 12 mm and 0.1 mm. Powerful fine grinding The material to be ground is comminuted by pressure and shearing action between two counteracting grinding disks with coarse interlocking teeth. The ground material automatically falls down through an output gap into the collection drawer. The desired final fineness can be defined from the outside by changing the gap width. Advantages PULVERISETTE 13 classic line: * High throughput up to 150 kg/h * Fine grinding down to 0.1 mm * Grinding disks are available

M.I.P. recently delivered a 65m³ composite food grade silo for the storage of baker’s flour, in accordance with the Atex guidelines. For a client in Belgium, M.I.P. recently delivered a 65m³ composite food grade silo for the storage of baker’s flour. The silo was produced in accordance with the Atex guidelines (explosion panel, Atex filter, Atex vibratory floor....). In order to guarantee perfect weighing, the silo was also fitted with load cells. If you would like more information about our possibilities for your industrial project, please visit our website or call us.

With AirSafe 2 sensors ENVEA has realised continuous dust monitoring to give early warning of potentially hazardous dust concentrations in packaging areas. At a PVC powder manufacturing site, robots are used in the packaging plant to fill 25 kg bags. The company’s ATEX guidelines state that there is an ATEX Zone 22 in the area of 5 metres around the plant. The ignitable mixture of PVC powder is 50 g/m3, which can happen if a bag does not withstand the pressure and breaks when being filled by a robot. However, by the time the system recognises this and internally switches off the filling, several kilos of material have often escaped into the ambient air, resulting in a potentially explosive atmosphere [> 50 g/m3]. Process data * Customer: Manufacturer of PVC powder * Material: PVC powder * Installation: In the packaging plant * Function: Dust monitoring to give early warning of potentially hazardous dust concentrations Solution In the application described, two AirSafe 2 sensors were used for continuous monitoring of the ambient air. In this case, a unit suitable for use in ATEX Zone 22 was used. The two

Lindor rotary drum blenders are increasingly finding their way into the plastics industry. Also in special cases: the mixing drum used as ‘cyclone’ in a pneumatic conveyor system. The ‘gentle touch’ mixing principle is suitable for a wide range of applications such as ‘dusting’ sticky granulates. The gentle touch mixing principle of Lindor rotary drum blenders ensures that the quality of the components remains intact. There is little or no product break-up, dust formation and heating up. Thanks to the usually good running properties of plastics the mixing times can be short. This means that high capacities can be achieved, certainly in the case of a continuous mixing process. For example capacities of 5 to 15 (and even 20) tonnes/hour. An innovative option to simplify the production process for a batch mixer is the use of the mixing drum as a ‘cyclone’ in a pneumatic conveyor system. By creating a vacuum the granules can be aspirated directly from the silo into the mixer. Rotary drum blenders are therefore particularly suitable for many applications in the plastics industry. Homogenisation An important application of Lindor

NETZSCH High-Density Bed Jet Mill ConJet: the combination of a spiral jet mill with an integrated classifier wheel makes it possible to manufacture products reproducibly and with a steep particle size distribution. The ConJet® high-density bed jet mill as a combination of a spiral jet mill with an integrated classifier wheel makes it possible to manufacture products reproducibly and with a steep particle size distribution. The adjustment of the fineness of grind is independent of the product load and is only done via the speed setting of the classifier wheel. As a result, the mill can be operated much more economically and efficiently with higher product loading. Another advantage compared to a conventional jet mill is that no minimum amount of product is required to carry out the grinding process. This means completely ground batches under the same conditions and maximum product yields, as only little residual material remains in the mill after a run. Compact design The compact design ensures very good accessibility for easy and fast cleaning during product changes. Residue-free grinding and low buildup of product inside the machine make the ConJet® the ideal mill also

THIELMANN provides secure, reliable transport and handling solutions for every part of the ion lithium battery life cycle. By volume, the electric vehicle market is expected to grow to 233.9 million units by 2027. The subsequent demand for ion lithium batteries means that various players in the supply chain need solutions to produce, handle, and recycle these volatile components. THIELMANN provides the quality, durability, and safety this booming industry demands. Our high-grade stainless steel equipment is engineered to exacting standards, ensuring full compliance with the relevant certifications and regulations. With THIELMANN, you can be confident your product remains unaltered, intact, and uncontaminated. This safety and compliance guarantee is achieved via a rigorous testing regime. THIELMANN units are meticulously designed and engineered, then subject to various disaster simulations to ensure their resilience. This isn’t only to comply with regulations; it’s to ensure your team, the public, and the planet are kept safe. And, because sustainability is central to the electric

6X: VEGA’s simple radar formula for better processes. The new radar sensor can measure in every conceivable level application. With VEGAPULS 6X, VEGA radar “thinks” in a new way. The result: A new radar sensor that can measure in every conceivable level application. The times when users had to choose the right level measuring instrument from a multitude of different ones are now history. Fit for all applications Traditionally, the search for a suitable radar level sensor begins by asking which frequency would be best for the specific application, or by determining the properties of the medium, the temperature ranges involved and the process fittings required. Until now, choosing an instrument was a laborious task, but VEGA is now transforming the process completely with its new VEGAPULS 6X. “Ultimately, it’s not the sensor that counts, but what the users can achieve with it in their individual processes,” says Florian Burgert, who, as a product manager, has been closely involved in product development from the very beginning. “Just knowing that they’ve chosen the best possible

Microtrac MRB has acquired the Stabino product line from Colloid Metrix, the worldwide standard for the measurement of zeta potential and stability in suspensions and emulsions. Microtrac MRB and Colloid Metrix GmbH announce that effective February 15th, 2022 Microtrac MRB has acquired the Stabino product line from Colloid Metrix. The Stabino has been established as a worldwide standard for the measurement of zeta potential and stability in suspensions and emulsions for many years. “We are excited to continue this great legacy” says Microtrac MRB CEO Markus Pauli. “By integrating the Stabino II as Microtrac Stabino Zeta, this technology will become another essential part of our Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) Portfolio.” Margret Boeck, CEO of Colloid Metrix states, “Microtrac MRB is a great fit for the Stabino product line. We are confident that the worldwide Microtrac sales and service organisations in combination with the comprehensive Microtrac product portfolio will ensure top of the line support for users.”

Glatt expands technology center with new laboratory plant for powder synthesis In January 2022, plant manufacturer and process expert, Glatt Ingenieurtechnik, expanded its powder synthesis capacity at the company’s technology center in Weimar. The newly installed system ensures a homogenous process temperature throughout the entire length of the ProAPP® 80 HT reactor or the targeted adjustment of temperature gradients. This allows different process steps to be combined. This enables new applications to be developed, the production of high-performance materials at even higher temperatures and more efficient process flows. The newly installed ProAPP® 80 HT laboratory plant significantly expands Glatt’s range of pulsating gas stream powder synthesis applications. This is made possible by maintaining a constant process temperature (from room temperature to 1300 °C) within a continuously operated vertical reaction tube. With this technology, high-temperature phases can be generated in the powders, which are subsequently frozen by extremely