ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- Hoover Materials Handling Group, Inc. announced today that the company has sold its blow-molding operations to Mauser GMBH allowing Hoover to focus its resources on its primary businesses.

Under the agreement, Mauser will purchase Hoover's Industrial Packaging Business Unit. This business unit includes Hoover's limited-use Intermediate Bulk Container facilities in Mt. Vernon, OH and Anniston, AL.; in addition to the company's plastic drum plants in Charlotte, NC, and Pine Bluff, AR. Hoover will continue to own and operate its metal IBC plant in Beatrice, Nebraska.

"The sale of our blow-molding operations allows us to focus our efforts on our core business and long-term strategy", said Ernie Mathia, President of Hoover Materials Handling Group, Inc. "Hoover will continue to manufacture the high quality metal and rotationally molded products our customers expect from us including the Liquitote, Tuff Tank II, and APR. Additionally, we plan to grow our presence in other products serving the liquid and dry material handling markets."

About Hoover Materials Handling Group, Inc.

Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Hoover Materials Handling Group Inc. ("Hoover") has more than 50 years of experience as North America's premier manufacturer of Intermediate Bulk Containers, spare parts and accessories. Hoover's IBCs are manufactured in an ISO 9001 facility and meet the highest quality standards in the industry. 

Hoover is comprised of four separate product lines: returnable IBCs (metal and rotationally molded), turn-key dry material handling solutions (Hoover), Enduralâ (vacuum formed packaging) and iTRAM (IBC tracking). For more information, contact Hoover at (800) 844-8683 or visit us online

NAPLES, FL. -- The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association reported that its June 2003 Booked Orders Index was 112 up 8 points or an increase of 8% from May 2003's Index of 104 (1990=100).

The June 2003 Index represents a decrease of 5% from the June 2002 Index of 118. June Booked Orders Indexes were 99 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 112 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Booked Orders was 134 in June. Index represents a decrease of 1% from May 2003's Twelve-Month Index of 135. The CEMA Billed Sales (shipments) Index was 177 in June down 1 point or a decrease of 1% from the May Index of 178. The June 2003 Index represents no change from the June 2002 Index of 177. June Billed Sales Indexes were 113 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 167 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Billed Sales was 169 in June. Index represents no change from May 2003's Twelve-Month Index of 169. 

* Since Bulk Handling Systems booked and billed sales are reported quarterly, they are averaged back to the two preceding months to enable a running monthly index.

Founded in 1933, CEMA is the trade association of leading North American conveyor equipment manufacturers and engineering firms. CEMA also makes available to both member and nonmember companies, safety labels for all types of conveyor equipment as well as useful technical information and manuals.

For further information on CEMA or its member companies, or to order safety labels or technical information, visit our web site at http://www.cemanet.org 

Malvern, UK -- Malvern Instruments' new Zetasizer Nano ZS, which combines particle size, zeta potential and molecular weight measurement of nano-sized particles in a three-in-one measurement system, features the world's first fully disposable cell for zeta potential measurement.

One of the most exacting challenges when measuring zeta potential, is to ensure the complete cleanliness of the measurement cell, since even the smallest amount of contamination can dramatically affect the result. This new and unique cell can be used repeatedly if required, or discarded after a single use and is central to the concept of the ease of use of the Zetasizer Nano ZS. The disposable cell is also suitable for particle size measurement for a range of sample types, and so allows size and zeta potential determination in the same cell.

With similar dimensions to a 12mm square particle sizing cuvette, the new cell features integral gold-plated electrodes at each end of a capillary tube that has been designed as a 'U' shape for convenience and to reduce size. Its patented compact design allows zeta potential measurement of samples with volumes as low as 0.75 ml. It is easy to fill and easy to load into the instrument.

The use of this fully-disposable cell has been made possible by Malvern's unique M3-PALS measurement technology. M3-PALS is a second-generation implementation of phase analysis light scattering (PALS) combined with Malvern's patented mixed mode measurement (M3) technology. This technology eliminates the need for precise cell alignment, allowing a disposable cell to give repeatable accurate results.

Source:  http://www.malvern.co.uk/

Peterborough, Ontario -- ABM Sensor Technology has released a family of the ultrasonic probes for liquids and solids. The probes cover distances from 5" to 90' with 1" NPT, 1.5" NPT and 2" NPT mountings.

New ultrasonic transducers with very high efficiency, narrow beams and wide frequency bandwidth work in any conditions for wide temperature range. They are insensitive to mountings and with help of the transceiver and smart signal processing, they eliminate unwanted echoes from tank walls, standpipes and any other buildups.

The transducers provide a self-cleaning operation. Built in communication with PC allows storage of the current output and temperature in a data logger. The ultrasonic probes can be connected in network using RS485 with ABM's protocol and Modbus RTU. In connection with a PC one can have a full diagnostic. A user can also see on the computer screen the echo profiles and echo stability chart.

ABM Sensor Technology has 20 years experience in the design of sensors for industrial applications. Their experience includes ultrasonic transducers matched to air or water, pulse radars for long distances, point level switches, sludge density and blanket detector, flowmeters and force sensors. ABM designs sensors for continuous operation in situations with or without material contact.

For more information contact:
Mr. Bob Cherek
ABM Sensor Technology
Telephone:  705-740-2010
Fax:  705-740-2563
Email:  general@abmsensor.com
Web site: http://www.abmsensor.com/

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

Mr. Colomer needs help cooling TiO2:

I'm looking for someone with experience in bulk TiO2 cooling. 
(Click here to post a reply)

Please advise,
Isaac Colomer
Metral S.A.
isaac.colomer@metral.com

Bhattu wants help with his baghouse:

We are using Pulsive bags for separation of product powder from gases coming out of fluidized bed reactor. Lately after some changes in the process conditions (which are irreversible) we have been facing frequent failure of filter bags or bag cages.

Recently due to frequent failure of cages, the cages were changed to new reinforced design which had thicker wires, better welding. However using the new design the filter bag DP came up very fast (within few weeks against previous experience of 6 to 8 months under similar operating conditions). 

On inspection the bags were found to be coated with thin loosely adhered layer of powder. This gives us the indication that pulsive is not very effective (although the pulsive operating conditions are normal in terms of pressure, pulsive time and interval). One significant change in the new design has been the new cages which are of slightly smaller diameter against previous design. This has resulted in the bags been rather loose fit on the cages.

Please help to clear my doubt that loose bags will not be flexing with the same efficiency during pulsive operation as a normal tight fit bag on cages. This can lead to inefficient cleaning of bags and resulting in quick rise of filter pressure drop.  Any theory or experience to confirm the above?
(Click here to post a reply)

Thanks in advance for advice, Warm Regards
Bhattu
shubhra@hotmail.com

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

For Sale - Best Offer:  Nisshin Turbo Classifier

Model TC-60- II, for classification of fine atomized aluminum powder and other powders allowing fine cuts below 10 micron.

The Turbo Classifier comes with complete system - dust collector, cyclone, screw feeder, air/gas flow controllers. It has a capacity 1,000 kg per hour and was built in 1992. 

Do you have new, used or refurbished equipment for sale?
List your equipment and/or services in our E-Classifieds.  Its quick, simple and you can pay by credit card!.  You can even include a photograph with your ad!  

We now accept all major credit cards

No New Job Postings 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.

© 1999-2003 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

Our goal is to provide information to improve your business by using the resources available on the Internet.

Thanks,
Joe Taylor, Editor
jtaylor@powderandbulk.com

Powder and Bulk Dot Com Homepage
Buyers Guide & Industry Directory
Help Forum
Job Fair
Ask Joe Column
Banner Advertising
Newsletter Ads

Principles of Powder Technology
by M. J. Rhodes (Editor)
Hardcover: 452 pages

.

Silos: Fundamental of Theory, Behavior & Design
by C. J. Brown, J. Nielsen
Hardcover: 864 pages, February 1998

.

Manual on Test Sieving Methods
(ASTM Manual Series, Manual 32)
by ASTM

.

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

Frequently Asked Questions on Feeder Performance
Guest article by John Winski
Director of Sales, K-Tron Americas

Past Ask Joe! Archived Articles

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.

Why take a chance?  Who wants "bingo card" leads that are 2 months old?  Our sponsors get the leads in real-time and you can too -- by advertising on Powder and Bulk Dot Com.

Advertise with us!
Banner advertising on Powder and Bulk Dot Com is a great way to reach this elite group of materials handling professionals - immediately!

Click here for information on
Banner Advertising

This weeks photo is of a Buhler supplied batching system, in Siberia, making preliminary blend of animal feed additives where vitamins, minerals and other additives are intermixed with a carrier material.  Buhler is a specialist in the design and construction of premix plants, where hygiene and accurate blending are demanded.

Photo courtesy of Bühler AG

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