Buhler acquires majority stake in GW Barth AG

Uzwil, Switzerland -- The Swiss Buhler Technology Group has retroactively acquired a majority stake in the German company G.W. Barth AG with effect from July 1, 2007. G. W. Barth AG, a system supplier to the confectionery and food industries, pro-vides services, equipment, production installations, and turnkey factories especially for the treatment and processing of cocoa and nuts.

The company thus ideally supplements the Buhler portfolio. G.W. Barth will be integrated as Buhler Barth in the Buhler Chocolate & Cocoa business unit. The current site of G.W. Barth in the German city of Freiberg will be retained and be developed into a joint center of competence.

The shareholders of G.W. Barth AG have sold Buhler 51 percent of their shares to ensure the future prosperity of the company. Under their management, the company has established a leading technology and market position in the past 27 years in the field of cocoa and nut processing. Gunter Daiss will remain a member of the Buhler Barth board with supervisory and controlling functions.

With this acquisition of Barth, the Buhler Chocolate & Cocoa business unit is strengthening its activities in the cocoa and nut business. With its NARS proprietary process (Nibs-Alkalizing-Roasting-Sterilizing), which it launched in 1975, Barth is one of the world’s leading suppliers of roasting process technology and the related systems and equipment. The company’s customers benefit from a completely equipped engineering laboratory for product development in the areas of cocoa and nut processing.

This acquisition allows the know-how of the Buhler Chocolate & Cocoa business unit and of Barth in the treatment of cocoa beans to be bundled. A joint Buhler Barth center of competence will be set up at the current site of G.W. Barth. The research & development, sales, and engineering departments as well as manufacturing will be retained in Freiberg and be further expanded.

G.W. Barth AG was established by Georg Wilhelm Barth in Ludwigsburg in 1890. The company supplies machinery, processing systems, and turnkey factories to the confectionery and food processing industries, especially for the treatment and processing of cocoa and nuts. G.W. Barth has about 70 employees and generated sales (turnover) of over EUR 25 million.

Source: http://www.buhlergroup.com/

Tony Manno Joins Kemutec as Sales Manager

Bristol, PA -- Kemutec Powder Technologies welcomes Tony Manno, Technical Sales Manager to their Bristol, Pennsylvania sales office. His primary responsibility will include the sales of Kemutec’s PPS Air Classification Grinding Mills to the Powder Processing Industries.

Mr. Manno joins us with a wealth of experience in powder handling and processing. He has worked as a design engineer and sales representative with a leading pneumatic conveying equipment supplier. He also possesses a vast amount of technical experience as a project manager working with major pharmaceutical manufacturers in the development of their material handling and processing.

Kemutec Powder Technologies’ success is achieved through the dedication of a highly qualified team of sales engineers that are committed to meeting the specific requirements of our clients through process innovation and product customization. Coupled with our comprehensive Testing Center, which allows for first hand examination and testing of our full range of equipment.

Kemutec Powder Technologies provides economical, efficient and reliable powder processing equipment. Kemutec Powder Technologies is committed to innovative powder processing solutions.

For more information contact:
Kemutec Powder Technologies
130 Wharton Road
Bristol, PA 19007 USA
Telephone: 215-788-8013
Email: sales@keminc.com
Web site: http://www.kemutec.com/

Martin Engineering to offer Silo Cleaning

Neponset, IL -- Martin Engineering, the supplier of systems and services to improve bulk solids handling has joined with long-time representative Airmatic, Inc. to offer silo cleaning services in the Northeastern United States.

Silo cleaning removes buildups and blockages from bins, bunkers, and silos, to improve material flow rates, recover a vessel’s storage capacity, and prevent hot spots from accumulations of coal or other materials. Martin Engineering Silo Cleaning Service utilizes skilled technicians and precisely- controlled equipment to remove accumulated material without risk to a vessel’s walls or bottom, and without hazardous confined space entry.

Under the new partnership arrangement, Airmatic will serve as manager and provider of Martin Engineering’s silo cleaning service in the Northeast.

“With this new partnership arrangement, customers will see immediate benefits, including faster response times and reduced mobilization costs,” said Mark Stern, Sales Manager for Martin Engineering USA. “Airmatic’s strong commitment to the solids-handling industries and their east coast location places them strategically close to key industries and customers for silo cleaning.”

Since becoming Martin Engineering first distributor more than 60 years ago, the Philadelphia-based Airmatic has served industrial needs for improved bulk material handling with the application of air and electric vibrators, air cannons and other flow aid devices and the control of fugitive material from belt conveyors. Airmatic serves as an authorized representative and stocking distributor for Martin Engineering, covering the Northeastern United States, from eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland to New York and the New England states.

William J. Dougherty, Jr., Executive Director of Airmatic said, “This new silo cleaning partnership gives us the opportunity to promote another service to our customers. It fits our customer requirements and meshes well with our product lines.”

For more information, visit the company website at http://www.martin-eng.com/

New SP4000 Palletizer Increases Productivity

Vancouver, WA -- Columbia Machine announces the New SP4000 Palletizer with Bi-Parting Stripper Apron; a small footprint, high-level, high capacity palletizer capable of forming complex patterns with gaps in both directions. The features of the SP4000 combined with Columbia’s state-of-the-art Product Manager controls package offers users an easy-to-operate palletizer that will meet current and future pattern needs.

Features of the SP4000 include a bi-parting stripper apron, articulating row pusher bar, centering side layer guides with Smart Squeeze technology, Columbia’s new pacer/meter belt all in a compact footprint. The bi-parting stripper apron combined with the case stops in the row forming area allows the SP4000 to create gaps front-to-back and side-to-side in a layer.

An articulating row pusher bar maintains a square position against the row of product, ensuring even and consistent contact with the product. Centering side layer guides with Smart Squeeze technology recognize the correct orientation of the product pattern and maintains product and package integrity.

Columbia’s new Dual Direct Drive Pacer/Meter Belt comes standard on the SP4000 and includes a VFD on the pacer belt. The compact footprint and flexible layouts available increases palletizer space efficiency making the SP4000 a high performance solution; ideal for both new and retrofit applications, especially where layout constraints are present.

For more than 40 years, Columbia Machine has manufactured high-level, floor-level, and robotic palletizers and accessories in the USA. They feature flexible, upgradeable designs and rates over 150 cases per minute. All Columbia palletizers are backed by 24-hour customer support and parts service.

For more information contact:
Columbia Machine, Inc.
107 Grand Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98661
Telephone: 800-628-4065
Fax: 360-750-9221
Web site: http://www.columbiamachine.com/

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I am trying to calculate the dimensions of a trommel (rotating screen) for separating friable materials however the Taggart formula I have found only calculates the diameter of the trommel not the length.

The calculation also does not take into account particle to aperture ratio, screen open area, efficiencies etc. like a normal screen calculation.

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Mr. Callinan wants to convey EPS beads:

I am looking to convey raw EPS beads up to a height of 8 meters (~25 feet) and have been quoted a flexible screw conveyor. There have been concerns expressed as to whether the height will be a problem for the unit.

Also as the beads are coated whether this will clag up the conveyor, especially with waxes that are OK whilst the screw is in motion but could solidify while unit is not running. It is envisioned that the unit will run 2-3 hours per day.

If anyone has experience with this type of conveying then any advice would be appreciated.  (to post reply, click here)

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Huntsman International
tim_callinan@huntsman.com

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Solid-Liquid Filtration and Separation Technology
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