Minneapolis, MN -- A key USDA official serving in Iraq has agreed to speak at GEAPS Exchange 2004 in Minneapolis, the conference and trade show’s 75th anniversary.

George Aldaya, director of the Kansas City Commodity office at USDA’s Farm Service Agency, will deliver a presentation about U.S. efforts to stabilize and rebuild Iraq’s agriculture sector. Aldaya has worked in Iraq for the past several months. His duties include assessing the validity of agricultural development projects carried out by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and helping transfer the assets and inventories to local Iraqi groups.

The Exchange will be held Feb. 21-24 at the convention center in downtown Minneapolis.

“This is going to be a highlight of our program due to its timeliness and historical importance, but the Exchange has always offered meaningful educational opportunities to people in this industry,” said Mike Kiel of The Andersons, chairman of GEAPS' Educational Programming Committee.

“It’s been like that for a long time – nearly 75 years -- and we are going to have another great selection of topics in Minneapolis.” Kiel noted that the EPC is putting the finishing touches on 17 other hour-long educational programs, including sessions about operations safety, grain-dust explosions in South America, new tools being developed for grain-quality management, and challenges facing grain shippers on the Mississippi River.

While the session about Iraq will deal with current problems and issues relating to agriculture in the country, the topic carries a strong historical component: Iraq has a long tradition of crop production. Although many people think of the country as primarily desert, it’s also part of the Fertile Crescent – a land rich in soil, water and agricultural potential. Grain has been grown, stored and milled in the region for thousands of years. Iraq’s main crops still include corn, wheat, barley and rice.

Despite the turmoil in Iraq today, crops are being planted and harvested – though at reduced levels. According to USDA, grain production has recently been about half of what it was before the first Gulf War ended. Lack of inputs, a deteriorating irrigation infrastructure, limited investment and drought all have played roles in the decline, USDA said. Aldaya said his mission in Iraq includes working with local officials in Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture, advising them on organization and management, and hiring people to help them when needed.

Aldaya also said it’s his job to become familiar with agriculture in Iraq so that he can recommend the type of advisors that would be helpful. Aldaya was named director of the Kansas City Commodity office in 2000. Previously, he was deputy director for the Office of Operations, which is a part of Departmental Administration at USDA in Washington, D.C.

Source:  http://www.geaps.com/

Mississauga, Ontario - Andy Kovats of Brabender Technologie Inc. demonstrates the new "Easy Change" hopper design introduced at NPE 2003 for the FlexWall Plus feeder. FlexWall Plus features Real Mass Flow performance and compact shape in both Loss-in-Weight and Volumetric models. Screw modules interchange from single screw to twin screw.

Easy Change enables the hopper, screw, tube and ingredient (e.g. pigment) to be removed in seconds and replaced with a different ingredient hopper. Downtime to change ingredients is virtually eliminated.

The hopper is easily handled as shown in the picture, the feeder base with LIW scale, paddles and external motor are left in place. A special self-releasing seal disconnects the feeder outlet spout from the process connection.

Now also available with twin screws and hygienic design. Optimized cleanability minimizes ingredient residues.

For more information contact:
Brabender Technologie Inc.
6500 Kestrel Road
Mississauga Ontario
L5T 1Z6 Canada
Telephone:  905-670-2933 or toll-free 888-284-4574
Fax.:  905-670-2557

Hingham, MA, -PIAB Vacuum Conveyors, manufacturer of industrial vacuum conveyors and components, introduces its complete line of C-Series of vacuum conveyors for powder and bulk applications.

The C-series of conveyors are ideal for conveying starches, powders and other dry ingredients that are typically used in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Powered by the company's highly regarded pneumatically driven vacuum pumps, these systems safely and quietly transport up to 10-15 tons/hour of material in virtually any manufacturing or processing environment.

PIAB's vacuum conveyors are made of stainless steel AISI 316L and can cope with the most demanding circumstances. The filter design can trap particles down to 0.3 microns and can be equipped with a High Efficiency Particle Arrestment (HEPA) filter. The design of the new conveyor improves the vacuum-assisted flow by 25% without affecting energy consumption.

To meet the strict regulations of the pharmaceutical, food and dairy industries, PIAB's C-21 and C-33 conveyors have been examined and accepted by the USDA and comply with the 3A standard. The C-Series of vacuum conveyors are available in diameters of 21, 33 and 56 cm.

About PIAB

PIAB Vacuum Conveyors is a global leader in developing innovative vacuum technology for use in automated material handling and factory automation processes. PIAB provides innovative solutions designed to help improve productivity and efficiency in manufacturing processes around the world.

For more information contact:
PIAB USA, Inc.
65 Sharp Street
Hingham, MA 02043
Telephone:  800-321-7422
Web site:  www.piab.com

Livingston, NJ -- The Definer is an ultra-sanitary multi-function mill that is capable of reducing a variety of powders and agglomerates to a controlled output particle size. This unit has the processing capabilities of several mills in one. It is uniquely designed to meet the special demands of the pharmaceutical, food, dairy and chemical industries.

The Definer is a fully enclosed, dust-tight unit constructed entirely of stainless steel. It has a compact body which only measures 5" from inlet to outlet. A straight flow-through product path eliminates the possibility of hang up or accumulation in hoppers and simplifies installations. The machine is easy to clean and can be disassembled and reassembled in a matter of minutes.

Several interchangeable mill designs are available for the Definer. A de-agglomerating element with teeth and combs features a positive once-thru anti-clog action, minimal temperature rise and extraordinary processing capacity. This design is optimal for reducing agglomerates and clusters to basic grain size.

A fine milling element features a high shear, rotor and screen design which gently mills and conditions the solids without degrading them. Also available is a knife blade design which is excellent for cutting of fibrous materials. The unit is provided with a variable frequency controller and direct drive for precise, repeatable and infinitely variable results.

An optional hopper is available, as well as a stand on casters for portable use. The unit connects to systems via its flanges. Purge ports permit optional inert gas.

For more information contact:
Franklin Miller, Inc.
60 Okner Parkway
Livingston, NJ 07039
Telephone:  973-535-9200
Fax:  973-535-6269
Web site:  http://www.franklinmiller.com/
Email: info@franklinmiller.com

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

Mr. Evans needs help with loading bulk bags:

I am trying to find a system for filling 1 to 2 tonne capacity bulk bags with lime powder from storage silos. The fill rate would have to be greater than 20 tonnes/hour. Can anyone help in locating this type of equipment please.
(Click here to post a reply)

Stephen Evans
Onyx UK Ltd
sevans@onyxgroup.co.uk

Ms. Poirier needs help with conveying zinc powder:

I am conceiving a pneumatic conveying system for zinc powder. I need to buy a vacuum nozzle with adjustable geometry. Does someone know which dealer can provide me with that kind of feeding devices ??
(Click here to post a reply)

Thanks,
Annick Poirier
Seneca
apoirier@seneca.ca

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

FOR SALE: Batch Mixer & Gear Box

Johns Manville in Waterville, OH has a used Mixer Systems Model 6800 Batch Mixer with 80 cubic feet mix capacity and a new S-20 Fairfield Gear Box available for sale. Picture of the mixer is attached. Sale "as is" Waterville, Ohio.  Click here more details

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Sales Reps Wanted - Latin America

Seeking sales rep for Latin America. Minimum of 3 years working experience in the bulk material handling field. Must be bilingual, Spanish/English, and willing to travel.

Office located in Miami Florida is a branch of WAM Group, http://www.wamgroup.com

Contact:
Ms. Julia Magnani
NORTHON
1260 NW 29th Street  
Miami, Florida 33142

305-635-1724 (office)
305-635-1747 (fax)
juliam25@bellsouth.net

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Home page:  http://www.powderandbulk.com/

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I was away last week attending the WEFTEC 03 trade show in Los Angeles last week and was not able to send out the newsletter.  The show is the largest water and wastewater treatment show in the US with almost 1000 companies exhibiting and 30,000 people in attendance, pretty interesting.

We have a great issue, specially the upcoming GEAPS show, read on!

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

.

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

.

Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers (10th Edition)
by E. Avallone, T. Baumeister (editors)
Hard Cover, 10th Edition, July 1996

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

Increasing Conveying Rates in Pneumatic Systems
Guest article by A. Tim Agarwal,
Pneumatic Conveying Consultants

Past Ask Joe! Archived Articles

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This week's homepage photo is an inside view of a Lodige, 20,000 liter continuous rubber-lined mixer for blending 800 mt/hr of iron ore with bentonite binder in Eastern Quebec.  Lodige Process Technology is a leading supplier systems for industrial mixing for bulk solids, powders, dusts and pastes.

Photo courtesy of Terry Frank of Lodige Process Technology Inc.

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