New “Powder-Packer” Direct Packing System

Sewell, NJ -- Matcon will launch their all new "Powder-Packer" system at Interpack 2008. The system allows powders to be packed into bags, sacks or drums directly from IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers), without requiring any secondary packing equipment.

The system includes the revolutionary "VariStroke" technology with cone valve discharge and self-learning software, enabling it to handle just about any kind of powder, however free-flowing or cohesive. It also has a sack gripper (or drum support) system, complete with high-speed shut off gate and integral dust extraction.

Everything is directly "in-line" and simple to clean. The system is suitable for "Business to Business" applications where efficiency, simplicity, lean and clean are the driving factors, rather than high throughput.

Operating speeds and accuracies vary depending on the pack size and material characteristics but typically a 25kg sack will be filled between 30 to 90 seconds at accuracy between 50 and 200 grams. "In-line" sieving or sifting can also be incorporated if required.

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

Woodex Bearing Company to Expand Production

Georgetown, ME -- In order to better serve its growing markets, Woodex Bearing Company is investing in a plant expansion and modernization project for production of its MECO custom-engineered shaft seals product line. The project will more than double the plant floor space from 2000 to 5000 square feet and add a state-of-the-art vertical machining center, power supply equipment and energy-efficient compressor.

The company expects that the project will enable it to increase its manufacturing capacity significantly.

First established in 1905, Woodex Bearing Company has been the exclusive manufacturer of MECO custom-engineered shaft seals since 1984. MECO seals are used worldwide in bulk materials processing applications. Industries served include chemical, food, pharmaceutical, mineral, plastics, primary metals and pulp & paper.

While continually advancing its MECO seal product line through R & D, Woodex continues to manufacture its namesake wood bearings. Woodex bearings are fully-split, shimless oil-impregnated maple plane bearings for screw conveyors, roll conveyors and other equipment. The company’s facilities are located on a former poultry farm on scenic Georgetown Island, on the coast of Maine.

For more information contact:
Woodex Bearing Company, Inc.
216 Bay Point Road
Georgetown, ME 04548
Telephone: 800-526-8800 or +1-207-371-2210
Fax: 207-371-2169
Web site: http://www.mecoseal.com/

CEMA : Equipment Sales Down 15% in December

NAPLES, FL. -- The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association reported that its December 2007 Booked Orders Index was 133 down 18 points or a decrease of 12% from November 2007's Index of 151 (1990=100). The December 2007 Index represents a decrease of 15% from the December 2006 Index of 156.

December Booked Orders Indexes were 200 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 108 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Booked Orders was 155 in December. Index in December represents a decrease of 1% from November 2007's Twelve-Month Index of 157.

The CEMA Billed Sales (shipments) Index was 143 in December. Index in December is up 6 points or 4% from November 2007's Index of 137. The December 2007 Index represents an increase of 19 points or 15% from the December 2006 Index of 124.

December Billed Sales Indexes were 196 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 137 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Billed Sales was 149 in December. Index in December represents an increase of 1% from November 2007's Twelve-Month Index of 147.

* 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.

Source: http://www.cemanet.org/ 

QMastor’s Systems selected by Iron Ore Miner

Mayfield West, Australia -- QMastor Limited, the leading supplier of bulk material management information systems and services - announced today that it has secured a contract with Assmang Limited for the provision of its Pit to Port.net and iFuse systems for installation at Assmang’s Khumani iron ore project in South Africa.

The Khumani project involves the development of a greenfields 8.4-million tonnes per year iron ore export mine in the Northern Cape adjacent to Kumba’s Sishen Iron Ore Mine. A second-phase expansion to 16.8-million tonnes per year is already being considered by 2011/12.

The Khumani mine will replace Assmang’s current Beeshoek iron ore mine which is reaching the end of its economic life. The Khumani resources are amongst the best iron ore resources in South Africa in terms of quality and quantity. Based on current reserves a new mine producing 16.8 million tonnes per annum would have a life in excess of about 25 years.

The iron ore will be mined from a series of open pits by conventional drill, blast and loading into trucks for hauling to the primary and secondary crushers. From there, it will be transferred by conveyor to stockpiles ahead of the beneficiation plant. The run-of-mine ore will be stockpiled on blending beds in two categories, 'on grade' and 'off grade'.

On-grade material will then be washed and screened to produce the final products incorporating tertiary crushing of the oversize material from the screening plant. Off-grade material will also be washed and screened and the oversized material crushed in the tertiary crushers and, thereafter, beneficiated through jigs to remove contaminants.

Products will be stockpiled ahead of a rapid load-out station, which will load 342 x 100-ton wagons. The product will be exported via the 860 km Sishen-Saldanha railway line to the port of Saldanha Bay on South Africa’s West Coast.

Steve Maxwell, General Manager of QMastor Limited stated “The selection of Pit to Port by Assmang reflects the growing acknowledgement by the global iron ore industry of the value which QMastor’s systems and services add to their businesses.”

Maxwell continues, “The solution for Assmang Khumani includes inventory management and grade control across the mine site and includes integration with Gemcom’s Surpac resource model, Wonderware’s InTouch historian, Mincom’s CCLAS laboratory information system and a number of Scantech Geoscan online analysers.”

Trent Bagnall, Managing Director of QMastor Limited stated “QMastor welcomes the opportunity to partner with Assmang, African Rainbow Minerals and Assore to add value to their businesses and establish a significant presence in the booming African resources sector.”

For further information contact:
Mr. Steve Maxwell
General Manager
QMastor Limited
Phone: +61 (2) 4908 2222
Email: smaxwell@qmastor.com 
Web: http://www.qmastor.com/

I

Kokeisl System for Discharging SiC The new generation of the Kokeisl system, for weighing and dosing by gravity, has proved it’s reliability.

New Cantilevered Brush Style Belt Cleaner
The Model BRC is an efficient way to remove fines and carry-back material from a conveyor belt.

Rotation Drum Discharging & Feeding System The unit allows the operator to effortlessly load, seal, invert, and discharge a variety of drum sizes.

More headline news...

 Free : Powder and Bulk Dot Com 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. McLaughlin wants to convey sugar to his silos:

We are installing two new 80 ton granulated sugar silos at our site in the UK, that we need to bulk load via tankers from our storage yard. The issue is that the pipeline length from the discharge point to the new silos is to be more than 100 meters!

We have had T&L in and various sugar process manufacturers who advise against this, but we have no choice, any ideas?  (to post reply, click here)

Thank you,
Pat McLaughlin
Mars UK
pat.mcgaughlin@eu.effem.com

Paul needs help accurately bagging/boxing powder:

II am attempting to accurately and automatically weigh 25kg +/- 500g of powder consistently into a plastic bag which is sealed and placed in a box ready to dispatch, the current butterfly valve we use is more like 25kg +/- 2kg and 80% of the time the bags are overfilled so we are giving lots of product away for free.

We also have a star valve with a coarse feed and a fine feed but this is 25kg +/- 1.5 kg which is still out of the spec we want to achieve.

There are a few variables that have a significant bearing on the bag fill weight at present like a +ve air pressure from the laminar air flow cabinet and clean room.  (to post reply, click here)

Thanks,
Paul
foeyp@yahoo.co.uk

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

Project Engineer - Houston, Texas

This is a direct hire position with a leading industrial equipment firm in Houston.  Our client is seeking an individual with 3+ years experience in the dry bulk solids industry to work with clients on capital equipment projects.

Responsibilities include:
Oversight of projects from inception to start-up
Preparation of technical specs
Working with external suppliers
Interaction between client and management on project status
Project meetings and onsite field assessments

This position will require 10%-15% travel in Mexico and Europe.

Requirements:
BSME or related engineering degree
3+ years experience in the bulk solids industry

Resumes should be submitted to:
Mr. Mike Coulter
Director of Recruiting
Allied Resources
Email: mcoulter@alliedresourcesstaffing.com 
Web site: http://www.alliedresourcesstaffing.com/

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

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

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.

The Design of
Loss-in-Weight Feeders
Guest article by Mike Page
of Rospen Industries

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 photo is of a Kovako pneumatic unloader suction arm, offloading bulk materials from a 40,000 dwt ship. The unloaded material is discharged pneumatically through a conveying pipeline all the way to the storage facility.

Photo courtesy of FL Smidth.

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