Briquetter doubles production capacity
K R Komarek Inc’s high capacity roll press briquetter doubles machine productivity by adding a second pair of briquet forming rolls, plus an improved gravity infeed system for greater control of output consistency despite the higher volume. Designed for briquetting coal, ores, chemicals and minerals for easier handling, shipping or reclamation, the four-roll Model DH500-28X27X2 has a throughput capacity up to 70 tph with briquet sizes typically in the range of 44 x 44 x 28.5mm.
   A higher powered electric motor and a larger gearbox are employed compared to the earlier standard two-roll DH500, with no increase in machine width. Symmetrical roll mounting - in which rolls are suspended between their two shaft-bearing blocks - permits the extended width of dual rolls on each shaft for the highest possible number of briquet cavities and unit production capacity. The design also features external setting of lateral roll shaft alignment, allowing easy adjustment without use of shims and disassembly.
www.komarek.com

Mega mixer
Lindor is said to have made history by building the world's biggest drum mixer with a useful product volume of some 25,000 litres and weighing nearly 20 t. Prior to this, the company supplied mixers in the 10 to 14,000-litre capacity range.
   The so called mega mixer in this instance is intended for a company that produces gelatine for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
www.lindor.nl

Improved colour uniformity in tablets
Colour uniformity in tablets made from direct compression formulations is important to the pharmaceutical Industry and its customers. It can be affected by the degree to which various colouring agents are dispersed in formulations during bulk compounding.
   A typical example quoted by Quadro is a V-Blender used for bulk compounding ingredients with aluminum lake dye. Resulting product might tend to be mottled (unequal distribution of colour on the tablet surface) when compressed. Traditional size reduction techniques such as hammermills tend to be too aggressive, thereby increasing the adhesion between the lake and its carrier.
   Once formed, these units cannot be broken down when the formulation is mixed resulting in more intense coloured ‘peppery’ spots in the final product. The tumbling action of the V-Blender with an intermediate oscillating step does not produce adequate mixing, says Quadro.
   The gentle action of their Comil conical screen cone mill is able to disperse the lake in the final formulation without causing adhesion of the lake and its carrier. The result is said to be improved colour quality in the final compressed product and virtual elimination of either ‘peppery’/white spots.
   There are ten models in the range constructed of stainless steel in capacities ranging from lab scale size up to 45,454 kg per hr.
www.quadro.com

Mixers meet PED Directive
Chemineer says that it has become one of the first designers and manufacturers of mixers and agitators to achieve the stringent requirements of the EU's new Pressure Equipment Directive (PED).
   This EU Directive (97/23/EC) concerns equipment that is subject to a pressure hazard, including mixers and agitators utilised in a wide variety of processing applications. Chemineer has already achieved self-assessment to Category 3 (up to Module H) for PED, giving assurance that equipment is: safe; meets essential safety requirements covering design, manufacture and testing; satisfies appropriate conformity assessment procedures; and carries the CE marking and other information.
   This latest development follows the company's recent recognition by ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) for its bio processing equipment.
www.chemineer.com

Cantilevered mixers
Gardner, a division of the Kemutec Group, has developed a new range of cantilevered mixers in parallel with Kemutec's successful range of KEK cantilevered sifters. The design eliminates one set of bearings and seals at the undriven end using a cantilevered agitator and mixer body arrangement. This provides improved access for cleaning via a full diameter hinged and safety interlocked door at the undriven end of the mixer vessel, significantly improving hygiene and cleanability.
   Units can be supplied with either ribbon, plough, or paddle type mixing agitators. The discharge valve is accessible from three sides and the ease with which the agitator can be changed makes this a highly flexible machine.
www.kemutec.com