PTXi Conference : Learn from the Bulk Handling Pro's

Trumbull, CT -- Canon Communications today announced the program of the world’s leading International Powder and Bulk Solids Conference to be held May 5-8, 2008 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

Co-located with the world’s largest process technology expo, PTXi International, this conference will emphasize the latest technologies and new innovations in bulk solids handling, presented by the industry's top speakers, including:

Pneumatic Conveying, Principles and Practice
Mark Jones PhD, Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies, University of Newcastle;
David Mills, PhD, Pneumatic Conveying Consultant
Don McGlinchey PhD, Centre for Industrial Bulk Solids Handling, Glasgow Caledonian University

This one day workshop provides the ideal introduction to pneumatic conveying along with a case study that will discuss the often misunderstood strategies for optimizing and up-rating system performance and methods of solving various operating problems.

Preventing Dust Explosions in Dust Collection Systems
Gary Johnson, Work Exposure Solutions LLC.

Many organic material dusts and some metal dusts are combustible and could fuel a dust explosion under the right conditions. This workshop will describe combustible dust hazards and how to apply prevention and protection techniques to mitigate those hazards around dust control systems.

Fundamentals of Powder Flow Technology
Eric Maynard, Senior Consultant, Jenike & Johanson

Handling or processing powders and bulk solids is fraught with problems, whether you are dealing with chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, foods, metals, or a myriad of other materials. This workshop will provide solid insights into common flow problems that arise when powders and bulk solids are put into silos, bins, and hoppers.

Bins & Hoppers: The Basics
Joseph Marinelli, Solids Handlings Technologies, Inc.

Flow problems in bins and hoppers can be costly in terms of equipment downtime and maintenance, lost production, and poor product quality. Bulk solids handling in bins and hoppers, is not a topic that is typically taught at the university level. This workshop, will provide those unfamiliar with solids flow principles and graduates, the basic information required to identify and solve bin and hopper flow problems.

Visit our web site for a complete details on all 21 educational sessions.

Sign up now

The International Powder and Bulk Solids Conference will give attendees the knowledge and insight previously unavailable to demonstrate new and cost effective ways of managing solids handling problems. Attendees will include: processing engineers, production engineers, plant managers and operations managers who process, handle, package, transport, test and store dry particulates and bulk solids.

More information on or to register for the conference visit:
http://www.powdershow.com/

Bunting Magnetics acquires Magnet Applications Group

Newton, KS -- The Bunting Magnetics Company is pleased to announce the acquisition of Magnet Applications Group Ltd. (MAGL). MAGL was founded in 1955 and currently has manufacturing operations in Berkhamsted, England and Dubois, Pennsylvania USA. MAGL manufactures and distributes a wide variety of technical bonded magnets, precision magnetic assemblies and complementary magnet products.

Robert J. Bunting, President of Bunting Magnetics, said, “This acquisition represents a strategic combination that significantly expands Bunting’s product and market scope. MAGL has outstanding market recognition as a premier manufacturer of bonded NdFeB magnets and technical assemblies. We are pleased that all of MAGL’s experienced management team will continue on with the business and we are confident that our newly combined enterprise will maintain the highest performance level serving our valued customers.”

According to Mike Miller, MAGL’s Vice President of Sales, “There will be no noticeable change to our customers, employees, or suppliers. This association with Bunting Magnetics provides a great opportunity for us, making both companies stronger in the world-wide marketplace”.

Since 1959, Bunting has been successfully serving manufacturers of plastic components, metal products, printing labels, food products, automobiles and electronic equipment. Bunting’s main manufacturing facility is in Newton, Kansas. The company manufactures magnetic separation equipment, and magnetic and non-magnetic conveyors for use in food, plastics, chemical, manufacturing, and recycling industries.

The Newton facility also manufactures magnetic die cutting and printing cylinders for use in flexographic printing presses. Bunting also has a manufacturing and distribution facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The Elk Grove Village location sells a full range of magnets, including magnetic assemblies, cut magnets, flexible magnetic rubber and magnetic tools.

Bunting Magnetics Company is a privately owned company located in Newton, Kansas.

For more information contact:
Mr. Mike Wilks
Bunting Magnetics Company
500 South Spencer Road
Newton, Kansas 67114-0468
Telephone: 800-835-2526 or 316-284-2020
Web site: http://www.buntingmagnetics.com/

PMMI : Survey Predicts Mixed Growth for 2008

Arlington, VA -- Consumer and industrial goods companies plan on spending approximately $6.304 billion for packaging machinery in 2008, a 0.6 percent increase in spending over 2007 levels, according to PMMI's "2008 US Packaging Machinery Purchasing Plans Study".

The research report notes only two of the eight tracked market segments will show growth: foods, up 2 percent to 4 percent; and personal care products, up 0 percent to 2 percent. The remaining six categories show moderate declines, but with slight potential for growth: beverages (-1 percent to -3 percent), pharmaceuticals (0 percent to -2 percent), chemicals (-1 percent to +1 percent), consumer, commercial and industrial durables/hard goods (-1 percent to +1 percent), paper products, textiles and other non-durables (-1 percent to -3 percent).

“PMMI members’ customers reported they are holding steady with their packaging machinery spending plans for 2008, despite weakening economic conditions,” noted Charles D. Yuska, president & CEO of PMMI. “With 85 percent of the respondents expecting to buy roughly the same amount or more than they did in 2007, we expect some market segments to be fine, with other groups feeling a tightening as consumer goods companies wait out the current economic quarter.”

The PMMI 2008 Packaging Machinery Purchasing Plans Study is based on interviews with 511 decision-makers responding for 1,564 plants in the United States.

Replacements & New Product Needs Among Top Reasons to Order

Respondents cited the following as deciding factors in making purchasing decisions:

-Replacing older equipment to improve speed, productivity, efficiency (39.8 percent)
-Adding new packaging machinery to accommodate new products (36.2 percent)
-Adding new packaging lines to increase production (35.3 percent)
-Adding packaging line automation (34.4 percent)
-Replacing older equipment to improve uptime, reliability, maintenance costs (32.6 percent)

“Even with difficult economic conditions triggering fewer decisions to buy, we expect companies will see the strong value in replacing older equipment to ensure they maximize production capacity and ultimately lower costs,” added Yuska. “We are confident that PMMI member companies are positioned well to weather the current economic conditions given the strong value propositions they deliver in the areas of reliability, productivity and solutions focus, all important buying criteria for today’s consumer and industrial goods companies.”

Macroeconomic Picture Colors Study

The primary macroeconomic assumptions that underlie this study’s predictions include:

U.S. 2008 gross domestic product real growth is forecast at 1 to 2 percent, with most gains accruing in the second half of the year.

Capacity utilization rates at U.S. manufacturing plants held fairly steady, spending the bulk of 2007 in the 80 percent range, but began trending slightly lower in the final months of the year. Food manufacturers consistently maintained high utilization rates of 84 percent to 86 percent throughout the year.

Weaker consumer spending: Consumers will likely continue to tighten their wallets in 2008 because of difficult credit conditions, falling home prices and higher food and energy costs.

Export conditions for U.S. businesses are expected to remain strong, giving U.S. manufacturers with a global sales reach the ability to capitalize on the combination of the weak U.S. dollar and solid growth opportunities in emerging foreign markets.

PMMI will issue its first-ever supplement to the U.S. Packaging Machinery Purchasing Plans Study this spring. The supplemental report will re-examine projections in light of rapid economic changes during the first quarter of the year, and interviews scheduled for March and April.

The "2008 U.S. Packaging Machinery Purchasing Plans Study" includes in-depth analysis of each of the eight tracked market segments. The report is free to PMMI members and available to non-PMMI members for $1,500.

To order or learn more contact:
Ms. Paula Feldman
Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute
Telephone: 703-243-8555
Email: pfeldman@pmmi.org
Web site: http://www.pmmi.org/

Columbian TecTank at 2008 PTXi Show in Chicago

Parsons, KS -- For more than 100 years, Columbian TecTank has specialized in the turnkey production of shop-welded and bolted tanks and silos, from design, fabrication and factory coating/thermal curing to field erection and service. Columbian TecTank tanks are used for most varieties of dry bulk storage applications across industries, including the storage of fly ash, cement, lime, food, chemicals and minerals.

Please visit us at the PTXi Show in Chicago, May 6-8, booth #3629.

Our technologically advanced Trico Bond EP epoxy coating is applied and thermally cured inside our factory under strict environmentally controlled conditions to ensure a high quality, long lasting coating that delivers excellent corrosion and abrasion resistance and extends the life of our tanks.

Columbian TecTank’s skilled in-house engineering team customizes tanks and silos with the latest features to meet individual needs and all industry standards. We specialize in the custom installation of customer-supplied component systems at our factory, offering a tremendous cost- and time-savings to our customers.

Columbian TecTank tanks are specially designed for simple, quick and safe installation, ensuring great value and quick turnaround. As pioneer of the drive-through design, we are the industry leader and innovator, offering an experienced team of professionals and a 100+ year history of manufacturing tanks.

All Columbian TecTank tanks are produced at ISO Certified facilities in Kansas and Tennessee, and our tanks are used in dry bulk and liquid applications in more than 123 countries throughout the world.

For more information contact:
Mr. David Wheat
Director of Dry Bulk Sales
Columbian TecTank
Telephone: 620-421-0200
Email: dwheat@columbiantectank.com
Web site: http://www.columbiantectank.com/

I

Meco Custom Shaft Seals to Exhibit at PTXi MECO custom-engineered shaft seals for rotating dry bulk process equipment will be exhibited in booth number 2531 at the PTXi Show.

Dos Santos Int. goes "green" at Diamond Mine
The first "green" conveying project came to fruition at Canada’s first completely underground diamond mine called, Snap Lake.

Malvern Highlights Wet and Dry Particle Analysis Malvern will exhibit Insitec and Parsum particle characterization systems at this year’s PTXi Show.

More headline news...

 Video Center

Share your videos with everyone.  We have over 200+ industry-related videos that have been watched over 90,000+ times.  You can watch, upload and share industry videos on our Video Center, free!  Its a great way to promote your company, product or service.

People post their requests for help and offer their suggestions to others in our open forum.

Mr. Astad asks forum members about dust control bill:

The House Education and Labor committee, http://edworkforce.house.gov/committee/schedule.shtml
will be having a mark-up session 9 April concerning the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act (H.R. 5522) that was proposed by Congressmen Miller and Barrow two months ago.

Since the Imperial Sugar Refinery explosion there has been 29 combustible dust related explosions and fires at manufacturing facilities throughout the United States.

Do forum members believe that such a bill would assist in preventing future dust explosions and fires?

Here is a link to the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire website that illustrates the numerous incidents in the U.S. http://dustexplosions.blogspot.com/
with a Google map illustrating the breadth of the problem.
 (to post reply, click here)

Thanks,
John Astad
messinabout@earthlink.net
VesselTrax

Mr. Alipor wants to power up his drag chain conveyor:

I am seeking information about calculating the required power and capacity of drag chain conveyors.  (to post reply, click here)

Best Regards,
J. Alipor
j_alipor@yahoo.com

Click here to share your expertise with others in our Help Forum.

Southeast Regional Account Manager - Bulk Bags

Leading manufacturer/importer of high quality bulk bags is looking for an experienced bulk bag sales person to cover an extensive region ranging from Texas to Georgia.

This is a full-time employee position. Compensation includes attractive base salary, quarterly bonuses, car allowance, health insurance, and 401k.

Ideal candidate will reside within territory and have a minimum of 3 years experience selling packaging products with an emphasis on bulk bags.

Please email resumes to: bernardicesare@yahoo.com

or mail to:
Cesare Bernardi
PO Box 460249
Escondido,CA 92046

The Job Fair is a free service of Powder and Bulk Dot Com.  You can post job opening for managers, engineers, sales, reps or other talented people you need. ...Or one can post their resume for companies who are looking to add talented people to their staff.

Do you have a position you need to fill?  Visit the Job Fair.

© 1998-2008 Powder and Bulk Dot Com
Home page:  http://www.powderandbulk.com/

Joseph Taylor, Editor
Powder and Bulk Dot Com Newsletter
3948 South Third Street, No. 121
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Phone: 904-280-4656
Fax: 904-273-1399

Email:  jtaylor@powderandbulk.com

Powder and Bulk Dot Com's Newsletter is a 100% opt-in e-mail list of information for the materials handling professional.  Do you have company news, a new product, new service or other information you would like to share with our subscribers?  Please submit articles via e-mail, only to: news@powderandbulk.com

Book'em Dan-O

Time to get ready for the Powders Show (now called the PTXi Show) at Rosemont.  Its our lead article and ask you to visit their web site now to sign up for the exhibition and conference.  Hope to see you there, read on!

With over 6,100+ subscribers, our goal is to provide information to improve your business by using the resources available on the Internet.

Very Truly Yours,
Joe Taylor, Editor
jtaylor@powderandbulk.com

• Homepage

• Buyers Guide
  & Industry Directory

• Video Center

• The News Center

• Help Forum

• Job Fair

• Powder and Bulk Weblog

• Ask Joe! Column

• Banner Advertising

• Newsletter Ads

• Archived Newsletters

Bulk Material Handling
by Conveyor Belt 5
by Allen Reicks, Michael T. Myers
Paperback: 166 pages, 2004

.

Screw Conveyor 101
by Michael P. Forcade
Spiral-bound, 260 pages, 1999

.

Modern Drying Technology:
Volume 1: Computational Tools at Different Scales
by Evangelos Tsotsas, Arun Mujumdar
Hardcover, 359 pages, 2007

.

Find more books for the materials handling professional online, visit our Reading Room.

Storage Silo Selection
Dry Bulk Applications
Guest article by Bill Neighbors
of Tank Connection

We Need Your
Guest Articles!
Do you have an area of expertise in bulk materials, have you solved a difficult materials problem? Share your knowledge with others and promote yourself by contributing an article to the Ask Joe! Column.

For more information, please contact Joe Marinelli.

Past Ask Joe! Archived Articles

More case histories...

How can you reach the world's bulk materials handling and processing top executives, engineers, managers and service personnel?

By placing a banner ad on the industry's most popular web site. Powder and Bulk Dot Com is your strategic link to the precise audience interested in your products and services.  Both nationally and internationally.

Rates are reasonable - and results are more than satisfying!

Want a Rate Card now?

Email:  rates@powderandbulk.com

Click here for more
Advertising information

This week's homepage photo is of Flexicon's flexible screw conveyor system installed at Macleod Pharmaceuticals to convey dry antibiotics. Macleod selected a flexible screw conveyor to fit within the limited space and to prevent contamination.

Photo courtesy of http://www.flexicon.com/

Send us your photos:  We would love to have your photo of a bulk materials process, packaging, conveying or handling "action shot" for our home page.  Send your photograph and description to: news@powderandbulk.com