New Sponsor : Airsweep Systems

Jacksonville Beach, FL -- We are pleased to announce that Airsweep® Systems by Myrlen, Inc. has become a sponsor of Powder and Bulk Dot Com.

Airsweep Systems is a leading manufacturer of pneumatic bin dischargers for tough flow problems. The company offers customers 40 years of experience in the powder and bulk industry. They provide free engineering proposals to suit the individual needs of each application, from new designs to retrofits.

The Airsweep bin discharge system is a powerful air injection system that directs powerful pulses of air between the material and the vessel wall, lifting and sweeping material off the walls and back into the flow stream. The unique, patented, nozzle is designed to immediately reseal after each pulse to prevent clogging and material feedback. Operation is quiet and efficient, with the average system using less than 10 SCFM of plant air or inert gas.

"Guaranteed Solutions for Tough Flow Problems"

Airsweeps can be installed on virtually any vessel, hopper, silo, bin, tank or chute - any place sticky, granular or fine material may experience flow problems. Installed entirely from the outside of the vessel, the system can easily retrofit to virtually any application.

All contact parts are precision-machined from solid steel, allowing operation in high-heat, caustic or abrasive applications. The Airsweep System consistently outperforms other flow aids such as air pads, vibrators, rubber disk/jet fluidizers, lances and air cannons.

Airsweep Systems works closely with OEMs and engineering firms involved in storage, transfer and processing equipment. Our distributor network extends throughout North/South America, Australia, Eastern/Western Europe.

For more information contact:
Mr. Paul Rose
Airsweep Systems
Telephone: 800-662-4762 or +1-954-345-7778
Fax: 954-345-7331
Email: paul@airsweepsystems.com
Web site:  http://www.airsweepsystems.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

K-Tron Acquires Premier Pneumatics

Pitman, NJ -- K-Tron International, Inc. today announced the acquisition of all of the stock of privately-held Premier Pneumatics, Inc. (“Premier”), a leading manufacturer of pneumatic conveying and bulk handling equipment for the North American market. The purchase price was $27.565 million, all of which was paid in cash, including a $2 million escrow. The purchase price is subject to adjustment based on Premier’s net working capital on the closing date.

Premier, which is based in Salina, Kansas, manufactures and markets a complete line of components for pneumatic conveying systems. Premier and its predecessors have been in the pneumatic conveying business for over 50 years, and the company is well-known for its Aerolock® rotary valve, Series II 2400 vacuum receiver, blower package and diverter valve product lines.

Premier is also known for its engineered systems for rail car and truck unloading, as well as for its storage-to-production-line transfer systems which are used in the plastics, compounding, food and chemical industries. The company has a large installed base of systems, resulting in significant repeat business from established customers. For the trailing 12-month period ended August 31, 2006, Premier’s unaudited revenues were approximately $25.8 million.

Top operating management of Premier is expected to remain following the acquisition, including Mike Wedel, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Todd Smith, Vice President Engineering and Manufacturing, and Gary Lee, Vice President Finance. Kevin Bowen, Senior Vice President of K-Tron responsible for the K-Tron Process Group, will also serve as President of Premier.

Commenting on the acquisition, K-Tron Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edward B. Cloues, II said, “The acquisition of Premier significantly expands the scope of K-Tron’s activities in the pneumatic conveying business, which we entered in 1997, and in the solids feeding business where K-Tron has been a global leader for many years with its volumetric and gravimetric screw and belt feeders. The combination of these two market leaders will enable both K-Tron and Premier to offer their customers integrated pneumatic conveying and feeding systems with engineering, manufacturing, commissioning and after-sale services from a single source, something that is not widely available today. In addition, K-Tron’s extensive global network of wholly-owned subsidiaries and independent sales representatives is an ideal platform on which to expand Premier’s scope beyond the North American market.”

Robert Korbelik, the previous owner and retiring President of Premier, added, “We view the fit of our Premier business with K-Tron as being ideal for our company and our employees since we are each a market leader and serve many of the same customers. I am also enthusiastic about the combination because both businesses are known for their high standards when it comes to product quality and customer satisfaction.”

While indicating that K-Tron does not intend to provide guidance to the market with respect to future earnings, Mr. Cloues said that he expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2006.

On a related matter, K-Tron also announced that on September 29, it and its U.S. subsidiaries entered into a Loan Agreement with Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. This credit facility provides K-Tron and these subsidiaries until September 29, 2011 with a $50 million unsecured revolving line of credit. The $27.565 million purchase price for Premier was borrowed under this new facility, and the Company also borrowed $9.7 million thereunder to repay all of its other bank indebtedness, except for a mortgage note with a principal balance of $1.6 million.

K-Tron International, Inc. and its subsidiaries design, produce, market and service material handling equipment and systems for a wide variety of industrial markets. The Company has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and its equipment is sold throughout the world.

Source: http://www.ktron.com/

ATEC Expands : Purchases New Field-Weld Tank Facility

Parsons, KS -- ATEC Steel has announced their purchase of a 100,000 sq. ft. plant in Baxter Springs, KS, a former Liebherr plant. ATEC Steel is an industry leader in knocked-down, high quality steel fabrication. Their specialty is dry bulk (hopper tanks) and liquid (flat bottom) storage tanks and silos for the power, industrial & petroleum markets.

“This plant was built as a world class manufacturing facility for heavy steel fabrication,” stated Noel Garrett, President of ATEC. “The fit with our business is right on the mark. In lieu of planned phased expansions, ATEC can now immediately service all of the requirements for our customers.”

Garrett was the former General Manager for Matrix Services in Tulsa, OK, a large field-weld tank company. Fabrication is expected to commence by mid-October. ATEC Steel currently ships throughout North America, and international shipments will be available in 2007.

“In the shop, our manufacturing processes set the benchmark for the highest quality steel fabrication available. Documented quality control procedures, economies of scale processes, and precision manufacturing standards have positioned ATEC far apart from other fabricators. This is what we offer to our customers and the market has responded with continuous orders that have exceeded our expectations,” stated Garrett.

Specialties include: Knocked-down hopper tanks for the industrial market, flat bottom tanks for liquids and petroleum applications and heavy steel fabrication components required in all three markets.

Tank Connection

Tank Connection is the parent company of ATEC Steel. The Tank Connection specializes in dry bulk storage and liquid storage applications. Our in-house services consist of consulting, engineering design, specification development, prompt equipment quotes, equipment supply and field installation services. Web site: http://www.tankconnection.com

For more information about Atec Steel contact:
Mr. Noel Garrett
Atec Steel
Telephone: 620-856-3488
Email: ngarrett@atecsteel.com
Web site: http://www.atecsteel.com/

Mammoth Order for Level Transmitters from China

Peterborough, Ont. -- Siemens today announced that it has received an order from Beijing Dellsonics Science & Technology Co., Ltd., their distributor in China, for 988 level transmitters. The order includes 178 - Sitrans LR 400 radar transmitters which have been named "Innovative Product 2005" by Industrial Control China.

The level transmitters were purchased by Weiqiao Aluminum Technology Co., Ltd., one of China’s major privately-run state-of-the-art aluminum smelters for use in their new three-phase project with a total capacity of 600K tons, approximately four percent of China’s total aluminum production. Weiqiao will install 654 Siemens radar transmitters as well as Siemens ultrasonic and capacitance transmitters at their new aluminum smelter in Beijing to help them meet their aggressive production targets.

“We’re delighted that Weiqiao has selected Siemens to supply their new plant with Siemens level measurement equipment. This order marks the beginning of what we hope will be a long-term customer relationship with one of China’s major aluminum smelters,” says Andrew Blazey, Senior Marketing Director, Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments Inc. “Previous to this order, we’ve supplied level measurement devices to aluminum smelters around the world, but these were supplied over several years and from many separate orders. Looking to the future, China represents a huge potential customer to do business with, and a single order of this magnitude opens the door to future sales in this important emerging market.”

Mr. Han Liqiang, head of Weiqiao’s technology department, says the reason Siemens was chosen over the competitors was largely due to Siemens’ reputation. Mr. Han says Siemens not only provided a competitive price and guaranteed delivery times, but also provides outstanding value in terms of service support through Dellsonics, who has been distributing Siemens products in China for 10 years. With China’s economy going full throttle, demand for aluminum will continue to rise, so smelters like Weiqiao insist on strong assurances that the equipment will be delivered on time and will operate reliably, and that top-flight support is available when they need it.

“We were very impressed with Dellsonics’ technical expertise, innovative approach and fast response time,” says Mr. Han Weiqiao Aluminum Technology Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group Co., Ltd., a large synthetic textile company engaged in cotton spinning, weaving, dyeing and clothing, thermoelectricity and aluminum products. It is one of China’s top 100 industrial companies, one of China’s top 100 import/export companies, and one of 20 “super large” enterprises of Shandong Province. Weiqiao achieved sales revenues of 2.1 billion RMB, and exports of 260 million RMB in 2005.

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 in China contact:
Mr. Ding Zhen Jie
Siemens Ltd., China
Shanghai Branch
Telephone: (0086) -21- 38893466
Web site:  http://www.sea.siemens.com/ia

I

Schenck Honored with Frost & Sullivan Award Frost & Sullivan presented the Schenck Process Group, which includes the company Schenck AccuRate, the Product Line Leadership of the Year Award.

Malvern Exhibits at easyFairs Solids 2006
The focus on the Malvern Instruments stand at easyFairs® Solids 2006 will be the Insitec T on-line, and the Insitec ALISS at-line, particle size analyzers.

Power-Flo Conditioning System for Bulk Bags System is designed to automatically break up non-free flowing material that has hardened or developed lumps inside bulk bags during transit and/or storage.

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Manufactures Rep Wanted - Florida

ARBO Engineering, a manufacturer of a full line of LIW and volumetric feeders (vibratory, flexwall and single/twin auger) is seeking an established manufactures representative for the State of Florida.

Please contact dgicza@arbo-feeders.com
for further information.

For information on ARBO and it's products
please visit www.arbo-feeders.com

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© 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 would like to welcome Airsweep Systems into our family of sponsors, please take a moment to visit their web site.

Lots of news this week, acquisitions, new sponsors and giant sale to China, read on!

With over 6,400+ 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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Characterisation of Bulk Solids
by Donald McGlinchey
Hardcover: 264 pages, 2005

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

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

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This weeks photo is of two HAF Moovinator filter receivers in a dairy plant. One unit is mounted directly on top of a Littleford mixer, while the other unit in foreground is fixed directly to a live bin discharger.

Photo courtesy of HAF Equipment, Inc.

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