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Overfilling silos can be prevented ........	February 28, 2008
Posted by Joe Lewis at 05:26 PM | Comments (0)

The cost of overfilling your silo due to an unknown level sensor failure can be substantial. 

I have blogged about this before but I still see people buying level sensors that have no way of telling you whether they are capable of functioning or not.  Lost material, damaged equipment, cleanup, air quality fines and lost production costs can add up quickly. 

Take a look at this video, it's dramatic and illustrates exactly what overfilling a silo is like.  Then I'll tell you once again how to avoid this.  Click here for the rest of the story!

Joe Lewis
Monitor Technologies

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Biomass Processing Machines Feeding Green Fuel Needs in US and Europe
Posted by Don Dunnington at 02:14 PM | Comments (0)

In "A Fine Grind," an article on biomass processing machines in the January/February 2008 issue of International Forest Industries, Chris Cann writes that one US company "has developed some of the foremost biomass processing machines in the world and is ready to take on the expanding European biomass market."

Using biomass for energy may be new to lots of industries, but it’s business as usual for the forest industry. "More than 60 years of experience in the business of biomass processing" Cann says, "has industry stalwart Jeffrey Specialty Equipment perfectly positioned to take advantage of the current surge in demand for biomass machinery."

Cann observes that the primary Jeffrey machine for processing biomass is the wood hog. "Those close to the industry would also know these units as hammer mills, shredders, and grinders – or just hogs. The company’s sales in the past have been dominated by its series 40 or series 50 ranges, which work at a rate of about 20-50 t/hour of material. But all that has changed quite recently and it is now the bigger models that are the best sellers," with the largest machines able to process 220 t/hour.

As examples of the direction the biomass industry is headed, Cann cites two recent orders filled by Jeffrey. "Jeffrey has delivered machines to two massive wood pellet mills that have just been established in the US, one of which is apparently bigger than anything else previously built worldwide."

He says European market is helping to drive the growth of biomass production in the US. "A large European market has been evolving for some time on the back of regulations aimed at fighting global climate change which have created incentives for power companies to boost their use of renewable resources. Europe already consumes nearly 8 Mt/y of wood pellets to run factories and power plants, and to heat entire neighbourhoods."

Cann interviewed Jeffrey Sales and Marketing Manager Doug Sublett for the article. Cann notes in his article that Jeffrey is well positioned to go global in the biomass market. "Jeffrey is a household name in the size reduction industry in North America where it does 80% of its business. But Sublett recognises the need for expansion and the opportunities available in international markets, particularly Europe…. This was part of the reason behind the company’s acquisition of Rader Companies in September last year for almost $16 million (funded by K-Tron). Rader manufactures and markets pneumatic conveying systems, screening equipment, engineered storage and reclaim systems, and truck dumpers for processing bark and wood chips for the global pulp and paper and forest industries. The company is based in Georgia but it has a headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Jeffrey intends to use that European base to increase its business in Europe and Russia."

Cann goes into great detail about wood hogs and the industries that are using them to process biomass. You can read the entire article on biomass processing machines on the Jeffrey website.

Don Dunnington
Blog Moderator

 

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Interview Tips & Techniques #1: The Importance of Education Verification	February 04, 2008
Posted by Lisa Sprowls at 08:00 PM | Comments (0)

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