PITMAN, NJ -- The Feeder Group of K-Tron International has introduced a combined feeder/ receiver unit engineered for special applications and compact spaces. The combined feeder/ vacuum receiver unit is a combination of feeding and conveying technology, based on K-Tron Soder K2 modular feeders and K-Tron Hurricane P-series vacuum receivers.

Originally designed for Gain-in-weight applications with restricted headroom requirements, this unit has also been used successfully for direct loss-in-weight feeder refill, where sticky or fluidizing powder could cause problems with vacuum refill valves.

K-Tron's hemispherical feeder bowl and a pneumatic discharge valve replace the discharge valve at the receiver outlet. The Hurricane P-series standard receiver design fits easily onto the diameter of the feeder body. Feeder and receiver units can be combined freely to achieve an optimal configuration for each application. Thanks to the modularity of both the feeding and conveying models, a variety of combinations can be chosen between feeder and receiver model, in terms of screw type, receiving volume, and filter area to serve the customer's process.

K-Tron T20, T35 and S60 feeder models (for feed rate ranges from 0.007 to 120 cubic feet per hour) can be combined with Hurricane P-series for vacuum receiver volumes up to 100 liters. The integrated units can be operated from common controls and operator interface.

For more information contact
K-Tron Feeder Group
Routes 55 and 553
Pitman, NJ 08071
Telephone:  856-589-0500
Fax:  856-589-8113
E-mail to info@ktron.com
Web site:  http://www.ktron.com/

KALAMAZOO, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PRAB, INC., which operates under two divisions, Prab Conveyors and Hapman Conveyors, is a leading provider in the design and manufacture of conveyors, metal scrap reclamation systems, and bulk material handling equipment and systems for a wide variety of industrial markets throughout the world, announced today that it has received a merger proposal from Inter-Source Acquisition, Inc. The proposal, dated August 18, 2003, included in its terms a provision that the shareholders of Prab would be offered a price of $2.25 per share.

Prab's Board of Directors has formed a special committee of independent directors (the "Special Committee") for the purpose of evaluating strategic alternatives and any offers Prab may receive. Prab has received two (2) previous merger proposals, including a proposal from a company formed by Prab's CEO and President, Gary A. Herder. Prab previously announced these proposals through Form 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and press releases.

Prab also announced today that the Special Committee has retained the investment banking firm Lincoln Partners LLC of Chicago, Illinois to assist the Special Committee in considering strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of Prab. The Special Committee has also retained Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP to serve as independent legal counsel to the Special Committee. The Special Committee expects that it may in the future receive additional proposals to acquire Prab.

The Special Committee intends to proceed with an orderly process of reviewing all current proposals and any additional proposals that it receives, in an effort to maximize shareholder value. This process will involve obtaining confidentiality agreements, distributing due diligence information, potential visits to Prab's facilities and receipt of final proposals from interested parties. The Special Committee expects that the bidding process will be completed by early October 2003.

Once the bidding process is completed and if a proposal acceptable to the Special Committee is received, a definitive merger agreement will need to be negotiated with the successful bidder followed by full Board approval and a special meeting of Prab's shareholders to approve the transaction. Information about any proposed transaction will be provided to Prab's shareholders by means of a proxy statement in advance of the shareholder meeting. There can be no assurance, however, that any transaction will occur, and, if any transaction occurs, what the structure or terms of such transaction will be.

Web site:  http://www.prab.com/

Hingham, MA, -PIAB Vacuum Conveyors, manufacturer of industrial vacuum conveyors and components, announces that its C-Series of vacuum conveyors offers fluidization, a feature that creates a consistent, reliable flow of product both in the feed source and the discharge from the vacuum receiver. Fluidization is ideal for the conveying of non-free flowing materials like powders used in pharmaceutical, food or chemical processing applications.

PIAB's fluidization feature allows for compressed air to pass through a porous material creating a cushion or film that considerably reduces the friction between material and base. The air is then mixed with the material in such a way that friction is also reduced between the particles in the material, which means that the material "flows like water."

The fluidization feature also allows Nitrogen to be introduced into the vacuum receiver through the product without custom modifications, thus reducing the chance of explosions of volatile materials. Fluidization may take place both at the feed station, to ensure supply of material to the conveyor, and in the vacuum conveyor unit to improve discharge.

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:  http://www.piab.com/

Fort Lee, NJ -- A Wyssmont Turbo-Dryer is being very successfully used to remove the bound water of hydration from a specialty chemical at a rate of approximately 100 pounds per hour. After an extensive search of different dryer types the Turbo-Dryer has turned out to be the ideal selection for this difficult drying application.

The Turbo-Dryer's ability to yield a remarkably uniform product due to its positive retention time and extremely close temperature control has resulted in a product quality previously thought to be unattainable on a production scale, while the Turbo-Dryer's gentle handling has allowed for continuous drying of the low-density product without the need for a dust collector. From an operating standpoint, the Turbo-Dryer's reliability and ease of operation have enabled the customer to startup in the morning and shut down in the evening, with only occasional cursory monitoring by a single operator throughout the day.

In addition to the Turbo-Dryer the drying system consists of a small fresh air fan, electric heaters, interconnecting ductwork, and temperature controls. The total motor horsepower requirement for the system is only about 3 hp and the required floor space requirement for the primarily vertical system is approximately 5 feet by 10 feet. The installation of the Turbo-Dryer for this application has proven to be even more beneficial than the customer had ever hoped for.

For more information contact:
Mr. Joseph Henderson
Wyssmont Company, Inc.
1470 Bergen Blvd.
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Telephone:  201-947-4600
Email:  jph@Wyssmont.com
Web site:  http://www.wyssmont.com/

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

Mr. Bare needs help with a dust cyclone:

A line vac is being used for material transfer from storage to a cyclone separator.  The problem is the sock on top of the cyclone is getting stopped up with dust which lets the dust escape from the cyclone
(Click here to post a reply)

Please advise,
Shane Bare
SHANEBARE@LEVITION.COM

Omar needs help with stacking bags on a pallet:

Our packaging mode is 20Kg bags stacked 5 layers high each layer contains 5 bags, wrapped with clear shrink film.

All product grades stack looks good with the exception of one grade where the pallet has a step look. One layer in, the next layer out, and so forth causing the pallet to look ugly and occupy more space.

Any help is appreciated  (Click here to post a reply)

Omar
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
bougoh@yanpet.sabic.com

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

For Sale - Best Offer:  Nisshin Turbo Classifier

Model TC-60- II, for classification of fine atomized aluminum powder and other powders allowing fine cuts below 10 micron.

The Turbo Classifier comes with complete system - dust collector, cyclone, screw feeder, air/gas flow controllers. It has a capacity 1,000 kg per hour and was built in 1992. 

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Joseph Taylor, Editor
Powder and Bulk Dot Com Newsletter
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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

Summer is over and its back to the "grind".  I hope everyone had a great summer, I know I did.  This week we have more on the continuing saga of Prab/Hapman Conveyors...read on!

Our goal is to provide information to improve your business by using the resources available on the Internet.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Feeder Performance
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This weeks photo is of a Buhler supplied batching system, in Siberia, making preliminary blend of animal feed additives where vitamins, minerals and other additives are intermixed with a carrier material.  Buhler is a specialist in the design and construction of premix plants, where hygiene and accurate blending are demanded.

Photo courtesy of Bühler AG

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