Mining Equipment : Techint Acquires Takraf GmbH

Milan, Italy -- The Techint Group announced the acquisition from the German industrial holding VTC of Takraf GmbH, a company based in Leipzig, Germany, leader in the production of mining and bulk handling equipment.

The acquisition is conducted through Tenova, a Techint fully owned organization, specialized in technologies and equipment for the steel and bulk handling industries. The operation is subject to the approval of the Antitrust authorities.

Takraf, with about 550 employees and an estimated turnover for 2007 above 200 million Euro, is a company that can boast a strong international presence and high skills in the engineering and supply of open pit mining and bulk material handling equipment.

Based in Leipzig and Lauchhammer in Germany, where it operates also a modern factory, the company has subsidiaries in India, Brazil, Chile, Australia, South Africa, Bulgaria, United States and Canada. Takraf operates worldwide serving the mining companies, especially iron ore, copper ore and coal extraction companies, port terminals and final users of the bulk materials.

Tenova provides technologies, products and services for the metallurgical, iron and steel, and bulk handling industries with a turnover in excess of 1 billion Euro. With the acquisition of Takraf, Tenova becomes the fourth world supplier of mining and bulk handling equipment.

“The operation will allow Tenova, thanks to the broad portfolio of products, to compete with the major players in a rapidly growing sector”, declared Gianluigi Nova, CEO of Tenova. “Tenova confirms to be a strong reality in the Techint Group. This acquisition strengthens even more its leadership position as supplier of advanced technologies for the mining and steel industries”.

“The transition of Takraf into a worldwide renowned Group will sustain its leadership position in the industry“ says Mr. Richard G. Ramsauer, managing director of VTC. “Tenova is the most suitable reality where Takraf can unleash its potentials and target further growth and success.”

Web site: http://www.techintgroup.com/

Bulkflow to exhibit at Process Expo 2007

Alberta, Canada -- BulkFlow Technologies Ltd. will showcase for the first time at Process Expo 2007 its Bulkflow Heat Exchanger technology for indirect heating and cooling of free flowing powder and bulk solids at Booth #S-6449 in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 15 to 17, 2007 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Process Expo 2007 is co-located at the convention center with Pack Expo.

The specialists in heating and cooling powder and bulk solids, Bulkflow Technologies has numerous applications in salt, sugar and other segments of the food industry. The technology is being used by several producers and marketers of salt products in North America to uniformly cool salt leaving a drying operation or to more uniformly warm salt for stronger pellets.

It is also been established as a proven and effective method of cooling sugar crystals before storage and packaging, with several installations worldwide. In the sugar industry, it can be installed as a primary or secondary cooler. Both the salt and sugar applications are readily adaptable to plant retrofits.

Other food industry applications include heating or cooling starch, dextrose, rice, vitamins, cocoa products, corn flour, corn meal or corn germ, coffee, oats or groats, pet and animal food, soybeans, oilseed and wheat or corn germ just to name a few.

A highlight of the Bulkflow Technologies Booth #S-6449 at Process Expo 2007 will be a working model of the heat exchanger. Especially adapted for Process Expo 2007, the free demonstration will show the principles of the technology and explain how the technology works. Handout material on the numerous benefits the technology offers will also be available.

About the Bulkflow Heat Exchanger

The Bulkflow Heat Exchanger is a sophisticated combination of the two sciences of indirect heat transfer and mass flow of bulk solids. The high efficiency technology offers numerous benefits over traditional fluid bed or rotary drum cooling methods and makes the Bulkflow equipment “environmentally friendly.”

A unique piece of equipment, the Bulkflow Heat Exchanger consists of a series of several closely spaced hollow, fully welded heat exchanger plates. Food product moves slowly by gravity between the plates in mass flow. Cooling or heating media circulates internally between the plates’ dimples and counter-current to product flow for higher thermal efficiency.

A mass flow discharge feeder controls the product flow rate and regulates throughput. Equipment is enclosed in a totally sealed unit to provide better control of food grade products and to eliminate any concern for dirt or contamination.

Unlike many other types of bulk solid coolers, the Bulkflow system does not
require large volumes of air to operate and instead lets gravity do the work to greatly reduce power consumption. Each application is tailored to meet individual food manufacturing requirements.

Other benefits of the technology include zero air emissions, high thermal efficiency, low energy consumption, modular construction for easy expansion, a compact design that fits into tight spaces and lower installed capital cost. A gentle improved product flow prevents product attrition, the potential for caking in storage and improved packaging. Safe and compact, the Bulkflow Heat Exchanger easily integrates with existing equipment.

Bulkflow has more than 250 successful applications in more than 30 countries worldwide. Besides food products, other applications include chemicals, fertilizers, plastics and resins, polymers, detergents, catalysts, minerals, grains and biosolids.

For more information contact:
Bulkflow Technologies
Telephone: +(403) 254-3500
Fax: +(403) 254-3501
Web site:  http://www.solexthermal.com/

Pack Expo and Process Expo 2007 website
http://my.packexpo.com/

Industri Kapital Acquires Schenck Process

Whitewater, WI -- Schenck AccuRate’s parent company Schenck Process is to embark on further expansion with the support of Industri Kapital following two years of successful growth under the stewardship of HgCapital. Industri Kapital, headquartered in London, has signed an agreement to acquire the company from HgCapital.

Since Schenck AccuRate’s parent Schenck Process was acquired by HgCapital in 2005, it has built an even stronger and strategically well-positioned business, growing the workforce to around 1,800 employees; increasing revenue to $470 million per year; and expanding its international footprint organically and by acquisition. It was during HgCapital’s tenure that Schenck Process acquired Stock Equipment, a strategically important move into the coal power equipment sector that resulted in a further diversification of the group.

Detlef Dinsel, Partner Industri Kapital commented: “Schenck Process is the well-established, clear global market leader in the industrial process engineering solutions sector and enjoys a strong financial track record. Together with the management team, our intention is to continue to build on the company’s strong market position. We intend to continue its acquisition strategy as well as growing market share and expanding into new markets.”

Dr. Jochen Weyrauch, President & CEO Schenck Process commented: “We welcome the investment by Industri Kapital with whom we share similar visions and business philosophies. We would like to thank HgCapital for a fruitful and constructive partnership over the past two years; it has provided valuable support during a crucial phase in the development of the company. Schenck Process has grown strongly through its ability to serve customers better than its competitors and the management team and employees can be justifiably proud of this success”.

Martin Block, Head of HgCapital Germany, said: “We have been delighted with our investment in Schenck Process. It has been a pleasure to work alongside and support such a dynamic management team and this shows what can be achieved by a partnership approach. We are proud to have supported the company as it has grown and developed over the past two years and I have every confidence that it will continue in a similar manner. We wish Industri Kapital and the management team every success for the future.”

For additional information on Schenck AccuRate contact us at (800) 558-0184, by fax at (262) 473-2489 or visit http://www.accuratefeeders.com/

MECO Seals on exhibit at POWTEX Osaka

GEORGETOWN, ME -- MECO custom-engineered shaft seals for dry bulk process equipment will be exhibited at Powtex Osaka 2007, the seventh Powder Technology Exhibition in Osaka, Japan. The Expo runs from 16-19 October, 2007 at the Intex Osaka International Exhibition Center. MECO seals will be exhibited by their exclusive distributor for Japan, Techno-Support, Ltd. The exhibition is organized by the Association of Powder Process Industry and Engineering (APPIE), Japan.

MECO seals are used in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical, plastics and minerals processing industries. MECO offers its custom shaft seals for slow-turning bulk processing equipment, including mixers, blenders, reactors, conveyors, dryers, bucket elevators, grinders, crushers and agitators. Recognizing that no standard seals will work properly in every application. MECO engineers specify the optimal, patented seal design and construction materials for each seal according to precise shaft diameter, speed, clearance, process chemistry, temperature, pressure, etc.

Factors such as thermal growth of the shaft and process pressure variations are calculated into the designs. A wide range of shaft diameters can be retrofitted. Seals use different gas barrier fluids, at very low flow rates (5 +/-5 litres per hour). Custom engineering and attention to detail make MECO seals more successful than conventional types of seals or packings.

Originally developed for screw conveyors, MECO seals solve problems caused by shaft run-out or misalignment by accommodating 6 mm diametric run-out or more in the design of its seals. MECO seals are most often used to retrofit equipment where a packing gland has failed repeatedly due to shaft run-out. MECO seals are available fully-split so that installation and rebuilding are quick and easy. In sanitary applications, seals can be removed for daily cleaning where required. MECO seals are ideal for applications requiring vacuum containment, often increasing machine efficiency dramatically.

Seal materials are chosen from a variety of specialty and hardened alloys, bearing-grade plastics and specialty elastomers. FDA materials are available. Engineers select the optimal, patented seal design to suit each application. Factors such as thermal growth of the shaft and process pressure variations are calculated into the designs. A wide range of shaft diameters can be retrofitted. Seals use different gas barrier fluids, at very low flow rates (5 +/-5 litres per hour). Custom engineering and attention to detail make MECO seals more successful than conventional types of seals or packings.

Woodex has been the exclusive manufacturer and marketing agent for MECO custom-engineered shaft seals since 1984. MECO engineers continually work to „push the envelope‰ of sealing technology and provide telephone consultation and trouble-shooting for sealing problems of all sorts. Woodex emphasizes top-quality design and manufacturing and first-rate customer service. An extensive distributor network provides hands-on support with measuring, installation and servicing of MECO seals.

For more information visit:
http://www.mecoseal.com/

POWTEX Osaka web site:
http://www.cnt-inc.co.jp/powtex/osaka/english/

I

New : "Big Blaster" Hurricane Air Cannon Martin Engineering, has taken another step forward with the introduction of the Big Blaster® Hurricane Air Cannon.

Convey-N-Weigh Batcher
Self-contained module is capable of precision batches of any sizes large or small with accuracy to 100 grams.

Manual Dump Weigh Batching System A new manual dump to rigid bin Weigh Batching System eliminates dust during manual dumping from bags, boxes and drums

More headline news...

 Powder and Bulk Dot Com Video Center

Share your videos with everyone.  We have over 180+ industry-related videos that have been watched over 60,000+ times.  You can watch, upload and share industry videos on our Video Center, free!

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

Mr. Moon needs help conveying materials:

We produce 50 to 60 tpd of an acid sodium sesquisulfate product that is approximately 60% solids. We would like to convey this material approximately 0.25 miles and use in another location.

Would you please have one of you technical representatives contact us to discuss options. (to post reply, click here)

Sincerely,
Phillip Moon
Georgia Pacific
phillip.moon@gapac.com

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

No new postings in the Job Fair this week.

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.

© 1999-2007 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

School has started again here in Florida, just another sign that summer is coming to a close.  Hope you had a great one, read on!

With over 6,000+ 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

Powder Technology:  Fundamentals of Particles, Powder Beds, and Particle Generation
by Hiroaki Masuda, et al.
Hardcover, 394 pages, 2006

.

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

.

Particle Breakage, Volume 12
by Agba D. Salman, etal
1258 pages, 2007

.

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

Preventing Conveyor Belts from Derailing!
Guest article by Ing. Harry P.M. Clerx
Centre for Concepts in Mechatronics

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 the Thayer Scale weigh belt feeder - insertion weigh belt module. This unique feeder has been designed to easily fit into an existing belt or vibratory conveyor line.

Photo courtesy of Thayer Scale

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