Flexicon's system discharges into silos

Bulk bag to silo discharge system
UK. Flexicon has specifically engineered a bulk bag discharger with integral pneumatic conveying system to enable the storage of bulk materials in silos positioned alongside production lines, where direct access for large volume bulk delivery by rail or bulk truck might be impractical.
   The sealed nature of the system prevents material release into the working environment to help maintain a cleaner and safer operational plant.
   During operation, a cantilever I-beam with electric hoist and trolley automatically lifts and positions each bulk bag directly over a collection hopper. High integrity sealing, between the clean side of the bag spout and clean side of the equipment is provided by a Spout-Lock® clamp ring to eliminate dust escape .
   The transfer station also features Flexicon's Tele-Tube®, a telescoping tube that maintains constant downward pressure on the clamp ring and bag spout, elongating the bag as it empties.
   Product flow is helped by Flow-Flexer® bag activators that raise and lower the bottom sides of the bag in timed intervals to ensure complete discharge into a surge hopper. A rotary airlock feeds material into a positive pressure pneumatic conveying line for onward transfer to silos at high rates.
   A further refinement is the Bag-Vac® dust collector that creates a negative pressure to collapse empty bags prior to retying and disconnection, eliminating potential dust releases when empty bags are flattened.
   Flexicon is able to provide full test facilities to trial customer's particular materials.
www.flexicon.co.uk
  | 22:54 22/01/2012

NBE's bag dump station

Sanitary specific bag dump station
USA. National Bulk Equipment Inc (NBE) offers a sanitary specific bag dump station designed and built to be compliance-ready at start up. It is designed to provide optimal compliance contribution (OCC) during operation and cleaning in the most stringent sanitary applications.
   Construction meets FDA, cGMP definition for product safety and cleanability according to 21CFR110.40. The single sheet, hopper and hood design is formed of 304-2b stainless steel and joint flanges, where material build-up can occur, are eliminated.
   Features include: quick disconnection for utilities, tool-less grate and filter removal and single step re-assembly to speed inspection and return to service; 32 Ra finish on all internal and external welds to resist material accumulation and improve product release; and food grade, MERV 11 efficiency (ASHRAE 52.2) filtration system to protect personnel and facilities from migrant dust release. A 42-inch operator access area promotes proper operator interaction posture.
   NBE says that the sanitary design provides a higher OCC than re-purposed, general industry bag dump station designs. This is achieved by reducing the process material's exposure to contaminants, meeting or reducing cleaning time targets, facilitating validation and inspection, and ensuring compatibility with sanitary facility design principles.
www.nbe-inc.com
   |   17:33 16/01/2012

New Bulk Bag Conditioner at Flexicon’s test lab

Conditioner added to facility
UK. Flexicon Europe has maintained a dedicated test laboratory in Kent for many years to demonstrate its bulk handling systems and show how the distribution of free-flowing and difficult materials can be improved to downstream processes or intermediate storage hoppers.
   An hydraulic Bulk Bag Conditioner has now been added to its expanded test facility. 
  Equipment is designed to overcome problems associated with bagged materials such as hygroscopic chemicals, certain types of spice blends, heat sensitive products and many products that compact and solidify during storage and shipment. This is at the point where pneumatically-actuated flow promotion accessories integral to bulk bag dischargers are inefficient or completely ineffective.
   Two hydraulic rams with specially contoured end plates gently press opposing sides of the bulk bag, encouraging material into a more free-flowing material state. For more stubborn materials, equipment can be fitted with an hydraulically actuated, variable height turntable that allows in-frame bag rotation and conditioning at different heights. Turntable height and number of 90-degree rotations can be adjusted by the user. Once the Bulk Bag Conditioner has done its job, material is then free to transfer into bulk bag unloaders with discharge through bag spouts.
   With a height of 2210mm, width of 3378mm and depth of 1981mm the conditioner can accommodate most popular sized bulk bags. It is fully enclosed on all four sides for operator safety and includes full-height doors that interlock, preventing actuation when doors are open.
   Visitors to the test lab are now able to see the Conditioner working alongside other Flexicon bulk handling systems including flexible screw and pneumatic conveyors, bulk discharger units and bag fillers.
www.flexicon.co.uk
   |   09:51 30/08/2011

Flexicon's bag dump station enables operators to easily and safely discard and compress used bags

Efficient bag compaction
UK. Flexicon Europe, a leader in the supply of bulk handling systems for processing powders, flakes and granular materials, has developed a bag compactor as an integral part of its range of bag dump stations. 
  It enables operators to easily and safely discard and compress up to 80 used bags into a compact neat bundle for subsequent disposal.
   The bag dump station provides a simple and effective method of manually introducing bagged materials for hopper replenishment or direct feed into a processing line via flexible screw or pneumatic conveyors. As each bag is split and manually emptied into the bag dump station, fans automatically draw dust away from the operator onto two cartridge filters, protecting workers and preventing plant contamination.
   Emptied bags are contained within the confines of the machine instead of being discarded into adjacent wire cages. Since the compactor becomes an integral part of the bag dump station, any residual dust is also contained within the machine structure preventing escape during the compaction process.
   The new bag compactor can be mounted to either the left or right of the bag dump station and is accessed via a small horizontal letterbox-style flapper in the side panel of the dump station. Bags are compressed by a pneumatically powered ram and., depending on size and thickness, it is estimated that between 50 and 80 bags can be compacted into a removable polybag lined bin.
   A full indicator light signals to the operator when it is time to remove the bin so that the polybag can be tied ready for collection and replaced. Final bale size is no larger than 440 x 440 x 600mm high.
   The compactor is fabricated in stainless steel, as is the Bag Dump Station, and is suitable for operation in the food, dairy or pharmaceutical industries. Other materials are available such as steel with a durable finish for more general industrial applications. There are also a number of safety features including interlocks on the flapper to prevent manual bag induction or opening of the main door during the compaction process.
   The combined bag compactor and bag dump station are part of a comprehensive range of bulk handling systems and equipment available from Flexicon Europe.
www.flexicon.co.uk
   |   07:55 30/06/2011

FT4 Powder Rheometer (with aeration unit) from Freeman Technology

Distributors in Asia appointed
UK. Powder characterisation specialist Freeman Technology is significantly expanding its activities in Asia, appointing distribution partners in the region to sell and support its FT4 Powder Rheometer.
   DKSH, an established organisation that operates in 35 countries, with a particular focus on Asia, will be Freeman's distribution partner in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan. 
  In India, Freeman's partner will be Aimil Ltd, an analytical instrumentation distributor that serves the Indian market via 10 offices and some 50 channel partners. 
  Demand for Freeman's universal powder tester in these dynamic markets is the reason why additional local support is now required, says Tim Freeman, Freeman Technology's Director of Operations.
   "Freeman Technology has been working in powder characterisation for the past 10 years and today the FT4 Powder Rheometer is used all around the world," he says. "For some years we have had a direct presence in Europe and the US and a distribution partner in Japan. While a dedicated team at our headquarters in the UK provides excellent sales and technical support to customers everywhere, there is now so much interest in Asia that the time is right for us to extend the local services we offer."
   The FT4 Powder Rheometer has carved out a niche market as a universal powder tester, using patented dynamic methodology, fully automated shear cells and several bulk property tests, including density, compressibility and permeability, to quantify powder properties in terms of flow and processability. Powder processes can be optimised by correlating the data with processing performance.
www.freemantech.co.uk
www.dksh.com
www.aimil.com

New Quattro range of Sonic Sootblowers

Sonic Sootblowers
UK. Primasonics International Ltd has announced the launch of the new Quattro range of Sonic Sootblowers. The design has been developed in conjunction with Liverpool University and the University of Salford, resulting in a new cost effective, high performance and green range of acoustic cleaners.
   Sonic Sootblowers are an innovative alternative to traditional steam sootblowers, that can be expensive to purchase, install, operate and maintain, says Primasonics. The aim is to eliminate particulate build-up problems in multi-horn installations associated with power generation, electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), boilers (power generation, industrial and marine) and baghouse applications.
   Units prevent ash build-up and provide 360-degree tube cleaning, with no risk of tube erosion or corrosion. There is also no damage to the integral structure of the boiler or other plant structure and a significant reduction in the risk of soot fires. Other advantages include the prevention of internal damage to ESPs caused by mechanical rapping, significant increase in filter bag life, elimination of hopper blockages and minimal maintenance.
   Fabricated from 316 grade stainless steel and fitted with a new design of wave generator, the Quattro Range ensures maximum cleaning performance over a wide range of plant applications.
www.quattrosonics.com
   |   14:10 28/04/2011
• Sonic sootblowing encompasses sound transmission through particulates and solids and is best described as the creation of rapid pressure fluctuations that are transmitted into a particulate or bonded dry material. Solid particles resonate and dislodge from the surface they are deposited on, or bonded to, without causing structural damage to the plant. Once dislodged, material is then able to fall under gravity or be carried away by a gas or air stream within the process.
   Powerful sound waves are produced when short bursts of standard plant compressed air enter the unit's wave generator, forcing a titanium diaphragm to flex and creating the powerful base sound wave. This tone is then transmitted by a range of different horn sections into selected fundamental frequencies between 75 - 350Hz. All that is required is a periodic sounding, typically 5 to 10 seconds, every 2 - 30 minutes.

Flexicon's unloader cuts process time dramatically

Unloader cuts process time
UK. The latest Bulk Bag unloader from Flexicon Europe is specifically engineered to rapidly release material from single-trip bags to cut down process time. 
  Discharging material flows freely into a hopper attached to an integral flexible screw conveyor for onward transfer at any angle to downstream processing, storage or packaging equipment.
   One of the key advantages is the ability to operate in low headroom areas, only requiring a forklift or plant hoist to lower bags onto a four-bladed bag piercing knife. Bag bottoms are cut from seam to seam, allowing the bag to self-seal against a thick gasket on the rim of the hopper and discharge through a wide diameter hole in the centre of the gasket. 
  Units come in stainless steel, finished to industrial, food, dairy or pharmaceutical standards, or carbon steel. A diverse range of free and non-free flowing bulk materials can be handled, ranging from large pellets to sub-micron powders.
   For applications where there is potential for dust release, Flexicon has introduced a dust plenum. This consists of a hollow hopper rim with interior slots and exterior port vented to a plant dust collection system, offering a secondary dust containment measure.
   An alternative to using the Flexicon screw conveyor is to connect the system to a pneumatic conveying system or supply the unit with appropriate outlet flanges for direct connection to a user’s downstream equipment.
www.flexicon.co.uk
   |   13:38 20/04/2011

Cableflow tubular cable drag conveyor

Drag racing ahead
UK. Spiroflow say that their aim is to offer the best conveying solution for dry bulk solids in powder, granule, flake, pellet or lump form, whether in bulk quantities or as minor ingredients/additives. 
  To move from the 'one size fits all' philosophy they have developed their conveying solutions to meet new challenges through a process of organic growth, strategic acquisitions and joint ventures.
   Following the acquisition of Dynamet Inc of Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA last year, combined with in-house development, they have added two types of tubular drag conveyor to their portfolio of flexible screw, aero-mechanical and pneumatic/vacuum systems.
   Cableflow tubular cable drag conveyors are a development of their tried and tested aero-mechanical system, operating with reduced clearances and at reduced running speeds and designed for applications requiring gentle handling and conveying in multiple planes. Systems have the ability to transfer friable bulk products from single or multiple in-feed points to single or multiple discharge points with little or no damage. Applications include the conveying of coffee beans and moving friable snack food products.
   Cable driven tubular drag conveyors have been supplied for years, using an aero-mechanical conveyor running at slower speed when the application dictates. Now the range has been formalised, with dimensions and design of the product contact parts and drive unit changed to cope with a much broader range of materials.
   The Dynaflow tubular chain drag conveyor is also a mechanical drag conveyor system operating within the confines of a pipe. However, the discs that move material along the pipe are robust heavy duty discs connected by articulated metal links (chains) ensuring that they are suitable for arduous applications. Discs come in a variety of materials including steel and cast iron, enabling them to operate at temperatures up to 250 deg C.
   The range is not only designed to widen the scope of applications in the company’s traditional food, chemical and pharmaceuticals markets, but to enable sectors such as glass, brick, cement, steel-making, foundry, mining, minerals and aggregates to utilise the technology. The range has 40 years of operational experience behind it with the support of Dynamet Inc’s technical team.
www.spiroflow.com
   |   10:11 10/02/2011

Flexicon's self-contained drum dump feeder discharges bulk material and feeds it volumetrically to downstream equipment

Unit reduces agglomeration
UK. Flexicon (Europe) Ltd. has just announced a new TIP-TITE™ drum dump feeder that seals drums against a discharge cone, tipping them, and subsequently feeding bulk material into downstream equipment in a dust-free and controlled manner.
   The drum platform is raised by a single hydraulic cylinder, creating the dust-tight seal between drum rim and underside of discharge cone. A second hydraulic cylinder tips the platform hood assembly and drum, with the ability to stop at dump angles up to 90 degrees helped by a motion dampening feature. 
  From the discharge cone, material flows into the intake adaptor of a cantilevered flexible screw conveyor to volumetrically feed downstream equipment.
  Units are available in both static and mobile configurations, with custom length cantilevered flexible screw conveyors for elevating and metering material. The flexible screw conveyor’s gentle rolling action in an enclosed tube reduces any agglomerates and improves feed rate accuracy.
   The system is ready to plug in and run and is able to accommodate 115 - 210 litre drums. Steel construction is protected by durable finishes, with stainless steel contact surfaces or all stainless steel construction to meet food, dairy, pharmaceutical applications or specific industrial standards.
www.flexicon.co.uk
   |   14:02 01/01/2011

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