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From the Editor

New Sponsor

We are pleased to announce that AccuRate has become a sponsor of Powder and Bulk Dot Com. 

Since 1994, AccuRate has been a wholly owned affiliate of 120 year old SCHENCK Process, Darmstadt, Germany. AccuRate and other SCHENCK affiliates in Europe, UK, China, Australia, Singapore, India, South Africa and Brazil provide sales, service and engineering support to customers worldwide.

AccuRate, is an ISO 9001 certified, fully self-contained manufacturer of bulk solids handling products, systems and controls. Today, numerous patents and awards for technology and innovation are associated with AccuRate products like SacMaster Bulk Bag Discharging Systems, MECHATRON Volumetric & Gravimetric Screw Feeders and DISOCONT Modular Gravimetric Control Systems.

You can see AccuRates' banner ad on our "Weigh Feeding Equipment Links" page at:  http://www.powderandbulk.com/conveying/weighfeeding.htm

For more information, contact:
Schenck AccuRate
746 E. Milwaukee Street
P.O. Box 208
Whitewater, WI 53190

Telephone:  800-558-0184 or 262-473-2441
Fax:  262-473-2489
Email: mktg@accuratefeeders.com
Web site:  AccuRate

Want to become a sponsor too?  It's Easy!
Visit our banner ad sign-up page at:
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Industry Batch Conference

When:  April 13-16
Where:  Woodcliff Lake Hilton, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

CHANDLER, AZ (Feb. 3, 2003) - This year's World Batch Forum (WBF) North American Conference, to be held April 13-16, will include nearly two dozen presentations from batch professionals around the world as well as an assortment of tutorials, panel discussions and networking opportunities, WBF officials announced today.

For the second consecutive year, the conference will take place at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. The four-day event is the sole major industry gathering dedicated solely to the interest of batch manufacturing professionals. Every year it draws participants from throughout the world.

Those wishing to attend this year's WBF Conference can view details about the event at the organization's website, www.wbf.org . Online registration and a downloadable brochure in .pdf (Adobe Acrobat) format also are available. Attendees also can download the registration form, fill it out offline and fax it to WBF at 480-893-7775.

"This year's programs includes a wide array of presentations and papers on subjects of critical importance to production personnel directly involved in design of batch systems and their operation," said Harry Gianakis, a DuPont engineer and WBF chairman. "Among the subjects we'll cover are compliance with FDA regulations for validation, WBF's new XML-based markup languages for implementing the S88 and S95 standards and enabling world class results in small- and medium-sized plants."

In addition, the conference will feature a supplier panel session in which system and software vendors submit to questions and comments from attendees; tutorials on WBF's XML languages, a formal networking event and a demonstration room that includes offerings from the industry's leading suppliers.

As an added attraction, the WBF North American Conference will again host the annual Process Automation Hall of Fame Dinner at which several leading industry figures will be inducted to the hall. This year's WBF conference is particularly significant as it kicks off the organization's 10th-anniversary year, said Gianakis.

"In 1994, a small group of batch manufacturing systems vendors and end-users formed WBF to further the development of batch manufacturing techniques and technologies and as a non-commercial 'space' in which we could share our knowledge and get to know our peers throughout the world," he said. "In the ensuing years, we've done a lot to achieve those goals, including the organization of these annual conferences. We look at this year's gathering as a launching pad for the next 10 years of growth, development and service," he added.

About World Batch Forum

The World Batch Forum, established in 1994, is a non-profit, professional organization promoting the exchange of information on the management, operation and automation of batch process manufacturing. Members include end-users, vendors, consultants and academics. In addition to hosting an annual conference with formal presentation and technical papers, the WBF provides organization, management, and structure to facilitate networking among its members and sharing of knowledge and information related to all aspects of batch processing. WBF supplements the functions of ISA, AIChE, ISPE, CMA, and other related professional organizations by integrating a variety of management and technical disciplines needed to advance batch processing knowledge and technology. Visit our Worldwide Web site at www.wbf.org .

The Reading Room

Ask Joe! Column

Operating Considerations for Belt Conveyors
Guest article by Dr Harold Wright, Alan Jackson and Ray Hodgkinson
You can read Dr. Wright's article at:
http://www.powderandbulk.com/pb_services/askjoe.htm

Past Ask Joe! Archived Articles
http://www.powderandbulk.com/pb_services/ask_joe_archive/toc.htm

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 at:  Joe@SolidsHandlingTech.com

Compound Particles

Summit, NJ -- Mechano Fusion (surface fusion) is an innovative technology that generates a mechano-chemical reaction to create new particulate materials. Because an infinite amount of particle combinations are possible, Mechano Fusion is ideal for realizing new particle designs and processes and well suited for use in a wide variety of applications.

The Mechano Fusion system can achieve high powder particle functionality in the following materials: organic and inorganic substances; metal; ceramics and raw materials. Among the powder/particle modifications achievable with Mechano Fusion are improved particle composition and surface quality, control of particle shape (spherical or flat), enhanced powder fusion and more precise dispersion and integral mixing at the particulate level.

The simple mechanical technique utilized by Mechano Fusion offers an endless range of material combination applications compared to wet techniques or other dry methods.

For example, when compared to conventional dry mixers, Mechano Fusion not only produces compound particles, also achieves more complete mix distribution and controls particle shape.

Hosokawa Micron has developed an improved Mechano Fusion system with the addition of a powder re-circulation process. This new device, the Mechano Fusion AMS, broadens the range of powders and particles that can be processed with Mechano Fusion. This opens up an endless array of possible combinations. Features include:

• Produces composite particles, controls particle shape (spherical or flat) and precise mixing
• Eliminates the need for premixing without compromising product quality
• Scale up processing using Mechano Fusion on conventional mixers
• Easy feeding and discharging of materials with complete product evacuation
• Product temperature is controlled using a water-cooled jacket 

For more information contact:
Hosokawa Micron
10 Chatham Rd.
Summit, NJ 07901
Telephone: 908-273-6360 or toll free:1-800-526-4491
Fax:  908-273-7432
Email:  info@hmps.hosokawa.com
Web site: http://www.hmicronpowder.com/

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Self Purging System

Radar Accessories Optimize Level Measurement on Solids

Peterborough, Canada, January 30, 2003 – Siemens Milltronics has introduced two new accessories for use with its award-winning SITRANS LR 400 radar instrument. A new aiming device and special purging system enhance the instrument’s capabilities.

Easy Aimer LR:  The Easy Aimer LR is a mounting mechanism that swivels to ensure the radar instrument is at the optimum angle for best performance when measuring materials like plastic powders or other bulk solids that have a high angle of repose (greater than 10° of slope). It features robust stainless steel construction and easy installation. The ball swivel design allows easy adjustment of the aiming position. It can be swiveled through 360° and angled between 0° and 30° off vertical, then locked into place with the clamping screws.

On materials with a high angle of repose, non-contacting instruments may receive weak material echo signals or strong indirect echo signals that lead to false readings. Aiming toward the material’s angle of repose increases the material echo amplitude to obtain the most reliable measurement. In addition, aiming the antenna toward the material outlet point allows the radar instrument to measure lower levels in a vessel.

Purging System (Self-Cleaning Antenna System):  For applications or process conditions that result in moist product build-up, Siemens Milltronics has introduced a special purging system for use with the SITRANS LR 400. It provides an inlet on the flange for the purge medium which may be a gas or liquid, typically air or water.

The purge medium is channeled through the process connection and exits inside the horn antenna with a turbulent cleaning action. If a gas is used for the medium, it may be left running continuously, as it will have no influence on the microwave propagation. If liquid is used, then a manual or automatic valve is required for periodic cleaning, as the signal will be temporarily lost during the cleaning period. For non-hazardous applications, it can be ordered as an option with the instrument. For retrofit situations, custom configurations are available through the Siemens Milltronics Configuration Centre.

Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments Inc. is a Siemens company that designs and manufactures sophisticated measurement instruments used by the water and wastewater, aggregate, cement, mining, chemical, petrochemical, oil and gas, milling, food and other process industries. Principal product lines include level measurement, dry solids flow measurement, and process protection devices.

For more information visit:  http://www.sea.siemens.com/ia

Help Forum

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

Mr. Mathews want to pneumatically convey ice:

I have a potential project in which a customer is interested in using pneumatic conveying to convey crushed ICE over about 30mtrs. I don't have a lot of details at this stage but I suspect it is to move the ice to a packing location for packing fish etc.

Has anyone had any experience with moving ICE in this fashion?  I figure I will probably need to use recirculated air, and refrigerate the air. Any other suggestions?  (Click here to post a reply)

Thanks in advance,
Russell Mathews
conveyors@process-systems.com.au

Zane needs help with a screening calculation:

If a 4' diameter x 12' long rotary screen (trommel) with a 3/8" square openings running at 25 RPM will process 25 cubic yards/hr of feed mixture, how do you calculate what a 6' x 20' long rotary screen running at 25 RPM would process?

I suspect it is not a straight line function since the surface velocity of the 6' diameter screen is 50% faster than the 4' diameter screen.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.
(Click here to post a reply)

Thanks,
Zane
zane@wserv.com

Share your expertise with others in our Help Forum.

E-Classified Ads

Beckman-Coulter Particle
Characterizer For Sale. 

Beckman-Coulter LS-200 Particle characterizer, Model# Z26068, Dry Powder Module Serial # AA050013 & Vacuum Pump Control # AA050013.

Great 3-part system all ready to go. Hook up to any computer, barely used. Explore standard distribution graphs, % , volume make-up, micron size, etc.

For more information visit Powder and Bulk Dot Com's, E-Classified Ads at:

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

Photos Wanted

This week's homepage photo is of The Marumerizer™ (spheronizer) from LCI Corporation is being used to produce smooth, uniform spheres in a wide range of applications, such as: controlled release pharmaceuticals, enzymes catalysts and food products.

Photo courtesy of Lynda Smith of LCI Corporation

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

Jobs

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.

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About Us

© 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