PEBCO : New Unit Train Batch Loading System

Paducah, KY -- PEBCO Inc. in collaboration with FGR Automation & Controls has developed a fully Automated Train Batch Weighing and Loading System. This system has been successfully implemented on a variety of materials including coal and coke.

Trains pass through the loadout at a pre-determined steady speed and do not stop as they are being loaded. Each batch is calculated based on the maximum gross weight and the empty tare weight. Individual car data is obtained either from a master database or via a radio frequency badge installed on each car. Actual weight loaded into each car is recorded in a database for the manifest, which is transmitted electronically for billing on completion.

The loading system structure consists of a surge bin directly over the rail loading point. The railcars are flood loaded based upon time, and a net weight is determined. When the unit train approaches the loadout, the track scale automatically weighs each empty railcar. The entire unit train less the locomotives are left on the siding. The locomotives then re-enter the main line and reattach to the last cars. The train is then loaded so that the last tare weight now becomes the first car to be loaded.

The track scale is located Ѕ car length from the loading point. Since the cars are being loaded based upon time, a key parameter is a loading system with fast acting gates and no transient coal stored in the chute. The Uni-Load® chute was chosen for these reasons.

Since the Uni-Load® chute cutoff gate is located at the bottom of the chute, transient coal is eliminated. Transient coal often exceeds 10,000 pounds in convention loading systems.

PEBCO is recognized worldwide as a manufacturer of powder and bulk solids equipment. Products produced range from truck, train, and shiploading equipment to gates, valves, diverters, mass flow feeders, Cascade® chutes, dustless loading spouts, and telescopic chutes. PEBCO acquired Cleveland Armstrong® in 1983 to complement its line of equipment.  PEBCO’s capabilities range from application engineering, CAD design, manufacturing, start-up services, and a complete customer support program.

For further information, please contact:
Mr. Ed Barker
PEBCO, INC.
P. O. Box 7506
Paducah, KY 42002-7506
Phone: (270) 442-1996
Fax: (270) 442-5214
E-mail: sales@pebco.com
Web Address: www.pebco.com

Acquisition : AMCO Purchases Dairy Facility

BURLINGTON, NJ -- Michael Geiger, COO, EVP of American Casein Company (AMCO) and American Custom Drying Company (ACD), announced the recent purchase of a 118,000-sq. ft. dairy facility situated on a 30-acre tract in Arpin, Wisconsin by the companies’ founder and president, Richard L. Shipley.

According to Geiger, “AMCO and ACD desired to broaden their demographics. AMCO will increase production of its existing dairy protein product line as well as diversify into other protein markets such as wheat and soy. ACD will install custom spray drying equipment that, in addition to the existence of a waste treatment facility currently on the site, will greatly enhance the corporate capabilities of both companies.”

In addition Geiger advised, “Prestige Proteins of Delray Beach, Florida through a lease agreement will manufacture casein at the site using USDA nonfat dry milk as well as fluid milk.”

American Casein Company is a privately owned corporation with more than 45 years of experience providing powder protein ingredients to Fortune 500 companies in the food, beverage and nutritional industries. The company has facilities in Burlington, New Jersey and Delmar, Maryland.

American Custom Drying Company is a privately owned corporation with more than 30 years experience in providing custom spray drying and blending services to the chemical and food industries.

American Casein Company
109 Elbow Lane
Burlington, NJ 08016-4123
Telephone: 609-387-3130
Fax: 609-387-7204
Email: Sales@109Elbow.Com
Web site: http://www.americancasein.com

Premier Pneumatics : New Loss-in-Weight Gravimetric Feeder

Salina, KS -- Premier Pneumatics, Inc.'s new ProRate™/Gravimetric Feeder handles plastic pellets and regrind. Consisting of one to eight feeders and a central microprocessor-based controller, the ProRate™/Gravimetric Feeder is designed to continuously meter raw materials accurately into a central station hopper.

Each of the feeders operates in an independent, continuous loss-in-weight scaling mode to insure premier accuracy of each ingredient. The controller continuously monitors the weight signals of each feeder and adjusts the auger speed to match the recipe feed rate for each feeder.

The proprietary controller will control from 1 to 8 feeders simultaneously, providing a capacity range from 1 to 80,000 pounds per hour. Recipe selection, storage and editing is easy - - the operator can enter recipe material rates or blend percentages without calculations. Inventory and usage data can be displayed or sent to a printer.

Whether your material handling application requires a single component or a complete system, Premier stands ready to be your single source for pneumatic conveying. Building on a tradition of excellence, we are committed to delivering superior products and services that fully meet your expectations. Our list of satisfied customers includes large and small companies from a variety of industries and applications.

For more information contact:
Premier Pneumatics. Inc.
606 North Front Street
P.O. Box 17
Salina, Kansas 67402-0017
Telephone: 785-826-9302
Web site:  http://www.premierpneumatics.com/

Freeman : Appoints New Applications Scientist

Welland, UK -- Freeman Technology has appointed James Cooke as Applications Scientist. James will work with customers to develop the range of applications for the company’s highly successful FT4 Powder Rheometer.

His appointment is part of Freeman’s expansion which is being fueled by continuing sales success in both the UK and international markets. The expanded team will further enhance the support provided to customers. In additional recent developments, headquarters buildings have been upgraded to extend the R&D, production and applications laboratory facilities, and provide a superb working environment.

James Cooke joins Freeman Technology from the Welding Institute Technology Centre, Wales where he worked as a Research Engineer on a range of projects in partnership with companies such as Rolls Royce and Corus. He has a background in Materials Science and Engineering and a proven track record in problem solving through innovative design.

Reg Freeman, founder and managing director of Freeman Technology, commented: “The close working relationship that we have with our customers is essential in understanding and helping solve their powder processing issues. James’ problem solving experience and his ability to recognize the limitations of established systems and approaches, then come up with practical solutions, make him an ideal candidate for this new role of Applications Scientist.”

The Freeman FT4 Powder Rheometer allows customers to characterize and investigate the properties of powders. New accessories have recently been developed to automate these characterization procedures and the instrument is being widely used, particularly by pharmaceutical manufacturers. The strength of the Freeman approach lies in the practical and relevant data produced, which allows powder handlers to gain real insight into the causes of processing and product problems and the ways in which they can be solved.

Source: www.freemantech.co.uk

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JR Boone Develops Special Mixer For Adams Foods Process plant design and manufacturing specialist, J R Boone Ltd has recently completed one of its more tricky assignments.

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PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2005 promises to be the year's largest and most comprehensive packaging show in the western hemisphere.

Rubber : First Chronos Mixing Line for Iran Working closely with a Japanese based OEM the Chronos Richardson Batching Systems Group has secured its first order for a Mixing Line for Iran.

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

Mr. Svanberg needs to measure mass flow:

There exists many instruments on the market that use capacitance for measuring mass flow of pneumatically transported powder. The sensor signal depends on the dielectric constant of the transport gas and the particles.

I want to use this technique in an application with peat powder where the moisture content changes. If the moisture changes say 10 %, would I then see a change in massflow from the sensor of the same amount, 10 % or is the signal influenced in another way by moisture changes?

Therno Electron Corporation has an instrument that measures in this way but I can't get in touch with them.  Thankful for an answer.
(Click here to post a reply)

Regards
Marcus Svanberg
Vattenfall Utveckling AB
marcus.svanberg@vattenfall.com

Mr. Mguyen needs help spreading a powder:

Basically, I am designing an equipment that will spread powder-like substance evenly onto a running belt conveyor below. Just like sugar powder spreading on to dounuts while they are going through the sugar spreader.

I have an idea at this point, but not sure if it's going to work. My idea is to have a rotary cylindrical drum mount below a mass flow hopper. The contact surface of this drum will be meshed so that the powder will strain/ride through/on the drum and drop onto the conveyor.

Even though the powder is dry, but the surrounding environment could have moisture contents on certain days. That will create 'sticking' onto the drum. Without testing, this is my uncertainty.

I have been browsing the Internet to seek for idea but having little luck. So please advice if you have an idea for my problem.
(Click here to post a reply)

Thanks in advance,
Scott Nguyen
Bilco Brick
snguyen@bilcobrick.com

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Regional Sales Manager - South Region

We seek a candidate with experience working with a sales representative organization either as a sales manager or factory based inside person looking for better opportunities as a sales manager.

The ideal candidate will have 2-5 years of experience in a sales role with products associated with the powder and bulk solids industries. The candidate will be assertive, energetic and experienced at developing and managing relationships with sales professionals. This position will be located ideally in Houston, however, Atlanta area are also possible.

See website www.monitortech.com for product lines.

Base salary plus incentive compensation, along with a comprehensive benefit package is available for the successful candidate. Prior experience in instrumentation and dual language skills is a plus.

Please respond and email resume and salary history in confidence to jlewis@monitortech.com

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

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Pneumatic Conveying of Solids:  A Theoretical and Practical Approach
by G. E. Klinzing, et al.
Hardcover: 599 pages, 1997

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

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

Calculating Conveyor Horse Power
Guest article by Daniel S. Rowley PE
Rowley Engineering

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This weeks photo is of an Otavi Minen AG plant located in Neuss - Germany, where tailor made products are processed under strict quality control according customer needs.  Otavi supplies a broad range on products for the glass, ceramic and metallurgical industries.

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