New Sponsor : Material Transfer & Storage

Jacksonville Beach, FL -- We are pleased to announce that Material Transfer & Storage, Inc. has become a sponsor of Powder and Bulk Dot Com.

Material Transfer & Storage, Inc. offers container and drum dumpers, tilters, inverters, and lifts, as well as bulk bag filling and discharge systems. They design and manufacture these material handling systems to meet your specific application and process control requirements.

"Rock Solid" Performance

Made in the United States, by professional engineers and experienced metal fabricators, their material handling units and systems are carefully tested and inspected to ensure dependable, high-quality performance.

See the Material Transfer's banner ad on our "Bulk Bag & FIBC Equipment Links" page at http://www.powderandbulk.com/bagging/bulkbagequipment.htm

For more information contact:
Material Transfer & Storage, Inc.
1214 Lincoln Rd.
Allegan, MI 49010

Telephone: 269-673-2125 or 800-836-7068 toll free
Fax: 269-673-4883
Email: sales@materialtransfer.com
Web site:  http://www.materialtransfer.com/

Want to become a sponsor too? It's Easy!
Visit our banner ad sign-up page at:
http://www.powderandbulk.com/pb_services/bannerads.htm

Custom Curved, Self Supporting Conveyor Covers

Ontario, CA -- Curveline, Inc., which has a patented method for "crimp-curving" of metal building panels, now offers custom fabrication of metal panel conveyor covers in an expanded choice of panels. The Curveline process turns standard metal building panels into highly rigid, self-supporting covers that may be used wherever covered conveyor systems are required for weather protection or air pollution control.

Curveline can create customized covers from a choice of approximately 50 different exposed fastener panels available from leading panel manufacturers around the country. The company recommends a minimum of 24-gauge steel in 7/8" to 1-1/2" panel depths for most curved cover applications, although additional gauges and depths may be used depending on radius and span. Unfinished galvanized steel is the most common substrate, but pre-painted panels in virtually any color may be specified where aesthetics are of concern.

Crimp-curved into 180-degree clear spans, the covers are strong and self-supporting, eliminating the need for structural framing. In addition to 180-degree applications, Curveline can curve panels into any desired radii and angles of curvature using chord width and height dimensions provided by the customer.

Based on a 100-mph wind factor, a single 24-gauge, Grade D (50 ksi) steel panel can be curved to form spans ranging from 6-ft. 1" up to 11-ft. 9", depending on the profile chosen. With an 80-mph wind factor, the clear span range is 7-ft. 6" to 14-ft. 8".

For further information contact:
Curveline, Inc.
1745 E. Monticello Court
Ontario, CA 91761
Telephone: (888) 998-0311 or (909) 947-6022
Email: curveline@curveline.com
Web: http://www.met-tile.com/curveline

CEMA : April Shows Equipment Sales Slowdown

NAPLES, FL. -- The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association reported that its April 2006 Booked Orders Index was 166 up 15 points or an increase of 10% from March 2006's Index of 151 (1990=100). The April 2006 Index represents a decrease of 5% from the April 2005 Index of 174.

April Booked Orders Indexes were 179 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 164 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Booked Orders was 146 in April. Index in April is down 1 point or 1% from March 2006's Twelve-Month Index of 147.

The CEMA Billed Sales (shipments) Index was 140 in April down 20 points or a decrease of 13% from the March Index of 160. The April 2006 Index represents no change from the April 2005 Index of 140.

April Billed Sales Indexes were 188 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 136 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Billed Sales was 141 in April. Index represents no change from March 2006's Twelve-Month Index of 141.

* 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/

New Option Available for Siemens MultiRanger 100

Peterborough, Canada -- Siemens announced today that a new option is available for the MultiRanger 100 ultrasonic controller for level measurement.

Customers now have a choice to order a single relay version, and enjoy the savings that Siemens is passing along. Many users simply use analog 4-20 ma output or digital communication output from the MultiRanger and do not use all the alarm relays that have been a standard feature of the MultiRanger 100 up until now. This means that users now pay only for the features they need.

MultiRanger is ideal for short- to medium-range applications up to 15 meters (50 ft). MultiRanger 100 offers cost-effective level monitoring, while MultiRanger 200 provides high performance measurement of level, flow, differential level, and volume conversion.

The flexibility to choose makes MultiRanger a cost-effective solution. It is configurable at time of order, allowing you to select just the features you want for your application. It is available in either wall or panel mount versions and includes options such as the number of relays, single or dual point functionality, and application specific software functions.

MultiRanger can be programmed with Siemens SIMATIC® Process Device Manager (PDM), the ideal software tool for configuration, parameter setting, record keeping and diagnostics, including trending and echo profiles. Digital communications capability is provided by built-in Modbus®. Other protocols, including PROFIBUS DP, are available through plug-in modules.

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, milling, food and other process industries. Principal product lines include level measurement, dry solids flow measurement, and process protection devices. Products are available worldwide through a network of sales representatives and distributors. The company is based in Peterborough, Ontario, where it employs 300 people.

For more information visit http://www.siemens.com/level

I

New Vac-U-Max Bulk Bag Unloader Vac-U-Max, a leader in pneumatic conveying systems introduces a bulk bag unloader that provides a clean, and efficient way to discharge the entire contents of a FIBC.

Particle Size Analysis in Hazardous Areas
The new Malvern Insitec D is a fully integrated on-line particle size measurement solution designed for use where there is the potential for dust explosions.

New : H2O-4000 Water Belt Cleaning System To provide final cleaning of conveyor belts carrying coal and other bulk materials, Martin Engineering offers the Martin Orion Belt Cleaning Systems® H2O-4000 Water Cleaner.

More headline news...

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

Mr. Campbell needs help with his screw conveyors:

I'm currently looking into fixing or replacing a long standing issue we are having with dolomitic lime conveyance.

We are currently using a simple screw conveyor fed by a hanging bulk bag above, but the screw is at a fairly steep angle (I'll get back to you later on just how steep - roughly 40 degrees I would guess) and we have problems with the lime falling back to the feed area and preventing further feeding.

The quick fix solution implemented long ago was to simply open up the end and have the lime fall back and out of the conveyor onto the floor where it can be cleaned up and disposed of. Obviously this is incredibly wasteful so we are looking for ways to fix this issue.

First off, are there any suggestions as to how we might fix or modify the existing setup to prevent this jamming?

Second, the losses associated with this issue do not seem to be quite large enough to justify the purchasing of thousands of dollars of new equipment, although, if there is no way to fix what we have that is what I will recommend.

Any suggestions as to what new equipment would be beneficial are welcome too. (to post reply, click here)

Thanks,
Steven Campbell
Sun Gro Horticulture
steveca@sungro.com

Ms. Rogers needs help with feeding lime powder:

I'm looking for a system to feed hydrated lime powder (dry) from a weigh hopper directly to a reaction vessel containing a nitric acid based liquor for neutralization purposes.

We will be feeding approximately 400 kg lime over a five hour period. Temperatures in the vessel could reach up to 70 degrees C.

I'm concerned with the presence of condensation and potential blockages of the delivery pipe and/or screw conveyor (or other feed system).

The reaction vessel will be in a separate cell from the lime hopper and it is envisaged that a delivery pipe of some sort will transfer the powders in to the vessel but not sure as to the best option.

Any advice would be much appreciated. (to post reply, click here)

Thank you,
Kirsty Roger
BNG Project Services
kirsty.roger@projectservices.com

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

US Representatives Wanted

MPD Inc. the North American distributor for DS&M feeders and Unipulse LIW instrumentation, is looking for distributors in the following states:

OH, NY, PA, VT, NJ, MA, MD, CT, RI, MN, IA, ND, SD, TX and CA

We are looking for representatives with feeders and material handling equipment knowledge.

To learn about our product lines please visit our website at www.mpdcontrol.com

For additional details please contact Mr. Marin Pop, M.Sc. at 905-671-3423
or by email at mpd@mpdcontrol.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.

© 1999-2006 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

We welcome Material Transfer as a sponsor to our site.  They make all those neat items you need, in and around a plant - box, bag and drum dumpers and filling devices.  Please take a moment to visit their web site.

"I Never Win Anything"

Does that sound like you?  Right now the odds of you winning our iPod Giveaway are 100%.

Only 10 Days Left to Enter

If you create an article and post on the Powder and Bulk Weblog, you are in the "drivers seat", because you will be our only entry to-date.  Like shooting fish in a barrel.

Read Don Dunningtion's article - find out how you can be the winner!

With over 5,800+ 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

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• Archived Newsletters

Computational Granular Dynamics :
Models and Algorithms
by Thorsten Puschel & T. Schwager
Hardcover, 322 pages, 2005

.

Pneumatic Conveying Design Guide
by David, Ph.D. Mills
Hardcover, 650 pages, December 2003

.

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.

Flooding Powders :
When Is Permeability Important?
by David Stuart Dick
Solids Handling Technologies, Inc.

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?

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Advertising information

This week's homepage photo is of Material Transfer & Storage's, Lift & Seal Dumper system pouring a container of free-flowing cereal product. The Lift & Seal™ system prevents contaminants such as dirt or pallet debris from entering into the product stream.

Photo courtesy of Ms. Donna Prescott of Material Transfer & Storage

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