Akona to Showcase Complete Powder Handling at PPMA 2026

Akona serves food and beverage, pet food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and chemical end markets with a broad suite of equipment and aftermarket parts and service for material processing (mixers, dryers, screeners, sifters, etc.) and material handling (conveyors, loaders, dischargers, controls, etc.) applications. The company unifies the brands of Cablevey, Kason, Marion and Spiroflow, together bringing over 200 years of collective experience in solving the most demanding material handling and material processing challenges. Akona is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, with engineering, sales, and service centres of excellence across the USA and Europe.

Akona Process Solutions has appointed Patrick Pitz as regional sales manager for Benelux, France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey. Akona Process Solutions, a leading provider of material processing and handling solutions, has appointed Patrick Pitz as regional sales manager for Benelux, France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey, further strengthening its support for customers across Europe. Strategic Leadership for Market Expansion Patrick brings more than 25 years’ experience in business development, European sales and key account management across the industrial and construction sectors. Throughout his career, he has held a number of international commercial leadership roles, specialising in market expansion, strategic marketing and technical project management. Having worked with global organisations including Power Adhesives, Thyssenkrupp and Equant, Patrick has successfully developed international customer portfolios, strengthened key account relationships and led both commercial and technical teams to drive sustainable business growth. Fluent in French, German,…

Akona Process Solutions has debuted its Rotary Batch Mixer, a shaft-free solution designed for high-consistency dry blending. It prioritizes material integrity and rapid sanitation for demanding bulk processing environments. Gravity-Driven Mixing for Fragile Materials The new machine utilises a gravity-driven rotary tumbling process rather than internal paddles, ribbons or agitators. This low-shear mixing method minimises particle damage, segregation and heat generation, while achieving uniform blends in short cycle times, including applications involving minor or trace ingredients. Shaft-Free Design Simplifies Maintenance Unlike conventional mixers that rely on internal shafts and seals, the Rotary Batch Mixer features a shaft-free internal geometry with no submerged seals or agitator components. This design significantly reduces maintenance requirements and allows for faster, more effective cleaning between batches, supporting higher uptime and improved batch-to-batch repeatability. Engineering Focus on Reducing Variability According to Matt Banowetz, VP Engineering and Product Development at Akona Process Solutions: “From an engineering standpoint, the Rotary Batch Mixer was…

As the global health and wellness market expands, manufacturers are increasingly adopting rotary batch mixing technology to ensure high product quality, consistency, and strict compliance with safety standards. Gentle Handling of Sensitive Ingredients The gravity-driven tumbling action of rotary batch mixers is engineered to blend delicate powders without causing degradation or segregation. This mechanism is vital for maintaining the integrity of: * Vitamin and mineral blends * Protein powders * Herbal and botanical formulations Hygiene and Efficient Process Control These mixers feature a shaft-free internal design that minimizes crevices, allowing for complete discharge and rapid cleaning. Such features significantly reduce cross-contamination risks and accelerate changeover times. Integration and Compliance Capabilities Modern rotary batch systems support Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) through seamless integration with automated controls and data capture. This ensures repeatable accuracy for high-value nutraceutical products.

8 Feathers Distillery has streamlined its waste management by using a Kason centrifugal sifter to process 7,500 pounds of stillage weekly, eliminating municipal surcharges and repurposing solids as livestock feed. The Challenge of Stillage Management The distillery faced significant hurdles due to a fine milling process that clogged conventional filters. Managing 3,000 pounds of grain weekly resulted in over 7,500 pounds of stillage, requiring efficient solid-liquid separation to meet municipal wastewater standards and avoid excessive disposal fees. Selecting Centrifugal Sifting Technology After evaluating filter presses and rotary screeners, the company selected a Kason centrifugal sifter for its high throughput and compact 21-inch by 75-inch footprint. The unit’s cantilevered shaft design allows for tool-free cleaning and rapid maintenance, which is critical for food and beverage operations. Mechanical Separation and pH Balancing The sifter utilizes an internal auger and rotating paddles to press the mixture against a horizontal screen cylinder. This process yields two distinct streams: * Liquid filtrate, which is treated with ash to neutralize pH before sewer discharge. *…

One of Japan’s most respected coffee producers turned to Cablevey Conveyors to overcome a long-standing challenge in its production process: material breakage during conveying In the competitive world of coffee manufacturing, the difference between good and exceptional often lies in how carefully raw materials are handled. For producers working with delicate green coffee beans, even small amounts of breakage can lead to reduced yield, inconsistent roasting, and diminished product quality. Recognizing this, one of Japan’s most respected coffee producers turned to Cablevey Conveyors to overcome a long-standing challenge in its production process – material breakage during conveying. Protecting a premium product Since its founding in 1953, Nippon Coffee Trading Co. has earned an enviable reputation for producing some of the highest-quality coffee in Asia. With annual sales reaching $86.7 million in 2015, the company’s growth has been driven by its uncompromising standards and commitment to quality at every stage of production, from sourcing to roasting to packaging. However, as production volumes increased, the company began to…