HgCapital Acquires the Assets of Schenck Process

Whitewater, WI - On December 30, 2005 HgCapital, a private equity investor acquired the assets of Schenck Process, the parent company of Schenck AccuRate, from the German based Durr Group.

The transaction allows Durr to solely focus on its core business activities in the automotive industry and to complete its financial restructuring. The acquisition by HgCapital also provides Schenck Process the opportunity to operate as a stand-alone business creating greater efficiencies.

HgCapital is one of Europe’s leading private equity investors with a concentration on investments in medium sized companies with sales ranging from 30 million (USD) to 300 million (USD). By acquiring Schenck Process, HgCapital was able to diversify its holdings by adding a process equipment manufacturer to its portfolio of technology, consumer, healthcare, leisure, and renewable energy companies.

Schenck AccuRate and its Germany based parent are worldwide suppliers of bulk solids metering equipment for weighing, feeding, and conveying materials in the cement, gypsum, aggregates, steel, mining, plastics, chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries. With operations in over 40 countries, Schenck Process is a global leader in providing measuring and process technology solutions.

Schenck AccuRate is a global supplier of bulk solids metering equipment and systems including MECHATRON® Volumetric and Gravimetric Screw feeders, DEA and DMO Weighfeeders, Multicor® and DLM Dry Material Flowmeters, SacMaster® Bulk Bag Discharging Systems, BEMP™ Belt Scales and SolidsFlow® Louvered Vibratory Feeders.

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

Industry Experts to Deliver Keynote at WBF 2006

Longwood, FL -- Two outstanding experts, representing leading industry giants - Andy Chatha, President of the ARC Advisory Group and Margaret Walker, Vice President of Engineering Solutions for The Dow Chemical Company - will deliver keynote addresses at WBF's 2006 North American Conference, slated for March 5 - 8 in Atlanta, Georgia. As experienced leaders in the industry, they will present their insights on implementing the Conference theme in respective industry operations: "Manufacturing & AutomationѕJazzing It Up."

Andy Chatha, President of ARC Advisory Group

Andy Chatha will share his far-ranging industry experience by opening the Monday morning general session of the conference. Andy has more than 30 years' experience in enterprise applications and automation as an executive advisor, market analyst, project manager and software engineer. He started his career in 1970 at General Electric Company of UK as a systems engineer for the design and implementation of large computer-based enterprise automation projects.

Today, as President of ARC, he provides leadership to the organization and guides its research and client activities. Over the past 15 years, Andy has provided advice and counsel to many leading manufacturing companies around the world.

Margaret Walker, Vice President of Engineering Solutions, The Dow Chemical Company

Heading up the Tuesday program as keynoter is Margaret R. Walker of The Dow Chemical Company. With more than 30 year's experience at Dow, Margaret is Vice President of Engineering Solutions, Technology Centers, and Dow's Global Manufacturing and Engineering Work Process. She joined Dow in 1974 and held a series of increasingly responsible positions in Operations, gaining extensive experience in process development and scale-up, plant modernization and process improvement projects.

Margaret has served as a plant superintendent for two different plants. And from 1993 to 1995, she was Director of Materials management for Dow's Performance Products Group.  In 1995, Margaret was named Global Business Director for the Contract Manufacturing Services business, and in 2001 was named Director for Dow Process Automation, Work Process, and Learning for Manufacturing Engineering. In 2003 and 2004, Margaret was given additional responsibilities for the Technology Centers and for Dow Design and Construction, and was named to her current position in July 2004.

Together, these exciting and experienced individuals will set the tone for the value-oriented papers and presentations to follow on each day. “We are very pleased to have these outstanding keynote speakers on our program,” says Bill Stewart, Jr., Program Chairman for the 2006 North American Conference and Regional Engineering Leader - West Virginia/Pacific for Dow Chemical. “This year’s program will also deliver practical information on the use of ISA-88 and ISA-95, two very exciting industry topics.”

About the 2006 North American Conference

WBF's North American Conference will be held March 5 - 8 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel near the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, GA. As the recognized leader in supporting the process automation and operations needs of the technical and management professionals in process manufacturing, WBF is offering a highly diversified, multi-level program. There will be dual tracks on Monday afternoon, with one track focusing on "The Automated Plant," and the other track (co-sponsored by MESA International), concentrating on Plant to Enterprise Integration. The MESA-sponsored session will feature an interactive 1.5-hr P2E Security panel discussion, "What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You."

Visit http://www.wbf.org/ for membership information and additional details on the 2006 North American Conference or contact Sylvia Heidemann at 407-774-5764 X107; sylvia@wbf.org

Foods : Metal-Detectable Plastic Conveyor Belting

Pocklington UK -- E-Components & Chains Limited of are pleased to announce the launch of their Detectamet Metal Detectable Plastic Conveyor Belting in the Hygiene Colour Blue. The Detectamet Conveyor Belting is manufactured from a specially formulated material based on high impact, food contact approved plastic. Even the smallest of Particles are detectable and rejectable.

Ongoing developments in food safety regulations require higher standards in the food processing industry. Therefore ECC/Detectamet offers Metal Detectable materials for dry, frozen or wet environments to meet these high standards.

Available Metal Detectable materials:

• BLF blue Polyethylene (for -73 °C to +27 °C) with antibacterial protection
• BHF blue Polypropylene (for +4 °C to +104 °C) with antibacterial protection
• BSF blue Acetal (for –40 °C to +60 °C) with antibacterial protection

In 2001 the process was started with the development of Metal Detectable materials as a standard application for a potato plant. The harsh environment in this industry resulted in detectable and wear resistant solutions. Interest in this material has grown. Amongst others, Vegetable and Bakery industry, are applying this technology either in new or existing installations.

Metal Detectable materials are standard protected with Microban® antibacterial protection. The incorporated Microban ensures improved hygiene, especially between regular cleaning operations and production start-up. Metal Detectable materials with active protection against food poisoning bacteria and fungi are important developments in a total food safety program.

Please consult our Technical Support department for application calculations. ECC/Detectamet Metal Detectable materials comply with FDA regulations and are suitable for direct food contact.

Website: http://www.ecc-ltd.co.uk/

K-Tron to Exhibit at Interphex 2006

PITMAN, NJ -- K-Tron will exhibit the latest version of the company’s micro ingredient feeder MT12 at the Interphex Trade Show in New York City, March 21-23, 2006 (Booth A2036).

Available in both pharmaceutical and industrial models, the MT12 will accurately feed free flowing to difficult to handle powders at rates as low as 20 grams / hour and as high as 2000 grams/ hour, depending on material and installation environment. Both loss-in-weight (model KCL-SFS-MT12) and volumetric (model KCV-MT12) feeder models are available for continuous or batch operation.

Enhancements incorporated in the latest design include:

· New inverted hopper design (negative cone) to aid material flow
· Revised bottom agitator design driven from below the sealed shaft, constantly scraping the bottom of the hopper to minimize residual material.
· New sanitary scale design that includes complete internal cabling and a more robust frame for better stability and accuracy especially at extremely low rates
· Draft shield included with loss-in-weight models, as is customarily the practice when weighing at very low rates.
· Options for automatic refill

The compact feeder is designed for ease of disassembly, allowing fast and easy cleaning. In order to assure the material moves away from the screw seal, the feed screw flight extends 1.5 cm. before the material inlet and the screw design features purged seals. The standard motor is a stepper drive for non-hazardous areas and ATEX zone 22. Optional motors are available for higher area classifications. Typical applications for the micro feeder include feeding jet mills, tablet presses, continuous extrusion processes and any application where expensive micro ingredients require accurate feeding.

In addition to the microfeeder, K-Tron will exhibit a Pharma feeder and a working K-Tron PCS vacuum receiver.

For more information, contact:
K-Tron Process Group
Routes 55 and 553
Pitman, NJ 08071
Phone +1 856-589-0500
Fax +1 856-589-8113
Email to info@ktron.com
Web site http://www.ktron.com/

I

Novaflex Vacuum Hose Now Available With Static Wire The Novaflex Group is proud to announce that their VAC Hose specifically designed for material handling of abrasive media under vacuum is now available with static wire.

FormPak Introduces Automatic Bulk Bag Filler
Patent-pending design offers automatic bag discharge from any holder arm style bulk bag filling system.

Screens : Replace Wood Frames Automatic Tensioning Frames Replacing wood screen frames with all-metal Automatic Tensioning Screen Frames from Rotex, Inc. improves efficiency, speed, repeatability and cleanliness.

More headline news...

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

Mr. Mayhew wants help with agglomeration problem:

We are having difficulty achieving a hard pellet when agglomerating a fertilizer composed of leonardite ( 55% carbon) and gypsum. We are using a 15 ft. tilt pan pelletizer (Feeco) and calcium lignosulfate as the binder.

We have tried numerous clays, zeolite and starch. The pellets do not hold up after running through an auger, and are very dusty.  (to post reply, click here)

Regards,
Lawrence Mayhew
Midwestern Bio-Ag
lmayhew@direcway.com

Mr. Cawood needs help with breaking ratholes:

I am a vacation student working at a coal mine. We are having a problem with ratholes and how to break them safely. Currently we use a water spear attached to a 4m length of aluminum pipe to initiate the collapse of the rathole. Our problem is when the rathole collapses there is a possibility that the operator can be hit with the pipe or wedged against the tunnel wall. We have stationary chutes.

Does anybody have an idea as how to eliminate the spear, and make the system safer? have you solved the problem before?  (to post reply, click here)

Thanks,
Davey Cawood
Xstrata Coal
davey.caood@jcu.edu.au

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

Manufacturers Rep Needed in Chicago Area

Auburn Systems, manufacturer and inventor of triboelectric dust monitoring equipment is seeking representation in the Chicago area. Territory includes most of IL, parts of WI and IN.

You may visit our website at www.auburnsys.com to learn more about our product offerings. If you are interested please contact us for more information.

Mr. Earl Parker, VP of Sales
Auburn Systems, LLC
8 Electronics Ave.
Danvers, MA 01923
Telephone: 978-777-2460 ext. 791
Fax: 978-777-8820
Email: sales@auburnsys.com
Web: http://www.auburnsys.com/

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Interesting news this week, Accurate, one of our sponsors has been sold and you will see some great speakers at this year's WBF Conference in Atlanta.  Check out these and other stories in this week's newsletter.

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Manual on Test Sieving Methods
by ASTM Manual Series
Manual 32 by ASTM

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Agglomeration in Industry : Occurrence and Applications
by Wolfgang Pietsch
Hardcover: 834 pages
January 2005

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Mixing of Solids
(Powder Technology Series, No. 12)by Ralf Weinekotter, Hermann Gericke
Hardcover, 176 pages, February 2000

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How to Get a Pneumatic Conveying Pipeline
to Handle More
Guest article by Jack D. Hilbert, Pneumatic Conveying Consultants

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This week's homepage photo is of the "mass flow" hopper on a coal storage silo, first in / first out. This picture is inside from the skirt area of the silo at the LW Energy plant in Ames IA.

Photo courtesy Bill Neighbors of The Tank Connection.

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