Materials handling.

Material-handling developments at NPE were almost too numerous to mention in one place (fortunately, many have been covered in our previous show reports). New dryers have sophisticated dewpoint controls and gas-heat conversion kits. Gravimetric blenders by the dozen include new units for dispensing powders or minute quantities accurately. There's also news in loaders, feeders, vacuum conveying systems and multistation controls.

DRYING WITHOUT DOUBTS

Perfect drying conditions for any material are said to be achieved by new Moisture Manager dryers from Novatec, Inc., Baltimore. The twin-tower units handle 25 to 4000 lb/hr. Dewpoint sensors are mounted on both the process- and return-air circuits. Dewpoint can be set from 0 to 40 F.

New Excel series twin-tower dryers from Walton Stout Inc., Lithonia, Ga., come with 100 or 150 cfm and hopper sizes of 25 to 800 lb. Their new ES-1 controller continuously displays drying parameters and can control six drying hoppers.

Labotek Inc., Rochester, N.Y., introduced its DFD portable dryers with up to eight hoppers. Three models give dewpoints down to -35 F and process temperatures up to 355 F, suitable for PET.

The new Nomad roll-around drying and conveying system from AEC/Whitlock, Wood Dale, Ill., is available in hopper sizes from 1.5 to 6 cu ft and vacuum from 10 to 225 cfm.

New portable DVL series mini-central dryer/loader from Thoreson-McCosh Inc., Troy, Mich., is a self-contained cell with three desiccant beds and dry-air conveying. Three-phase regenerative blower has no brushes to wear out.

GAS CONVERSION UNITS

Utility bills can be trimmed with GFH indirect gas-fired dryer heaters from Novatec, which are redesigned for lower cost. Units operate at 500 to 6000 cfm and at 160 to 400 F.

AEC/Whitlock now offers the WGR gas dryer retrofit package for electrically heated units.

Walton/Stout introduced a new line of gas-fired, closed-loop crystallizers that process PET at up to 4000 lb/hr.

GRAVIMETRIC BLENDERS IN ALL SIZES

As noted in our first post-show highlights in July, tiny blenders for injection machines as small as 25-50 tons were one notable innovation at the show. One example previously reported is the Micro-Blender from Maguire Products Inc., Media, Pa. It processes up to 60 lb/hr at [+ or -]0.1% accuracy, the company claims.

Batch weighing down to 400 g can also be accomplished with the new Micro Blender from The Conair Group, Pittsburgh. It uses a new pneumatic dispensing unit in each bin to deliver four components at up to 50 lb/hr total rate. Each bin has a quick disconnection from the control unit.

Conair also has a new Autoweigh mini-blender with a micro pulse valve that delivers 1-2 pellets per cycle and h as a top rate of 200 lb/hr.

Novatec's new NovaBlend 600 series provides gravimetric blending at rates from 50 to 600 lb/hr. The new hopper has a screw-in load cell for quick disconnection from the controller. The 600 series uses Novatec's new MCB650 blender control.

Target 3.5, the new gravimetric blender from Universal Dynamics Inc., Woodbridge, Va., provides throughputs up to 650 lb/hr depending on motor and auger combination.

AEC/Hydreclaim, Fenton, Mich., showed its new Optimum OL series continuous gravimetric blender for extrusion, which can control color feed from multiple sources. Also new are Optimum OS batch weigh blenders for up to six components from 30 to 5000 lb/hr.

Colortronic Inc., Blackwood, N.J., introduced an Ultrablend gain-in-weight blender that is now capable of processing powders. It gets rates of 2200 lb/hr.

The company has also integrated single- and twin-screw feeders into its Graviblend continuous loss-in-weight blenders so that they are now able to handle non-free-flowing powders and fluff.

LOADING UP

Colortronic's CSK series of vacuum loaders for high temperature, abrasive materials now have all-stainless-steel contact surfaces, a viewing window, and quick cleanout and changeover ability.

New minimum-inventory receivers from AEC/Whitlock have a capacity range from 3.5 to 30 lb with a minimum inventory of 8 oz to 2.5 lb.

The first bulk-bag loader/unloader from International Material Control Systems, Inc. (IMCS), Holland, Mich., has a dead-lift capacity of 4000 lb. It can handle a 40 x 40 x 70 in. bag using a self-contained 2-hp electric motor.

A new cyclone filter separator from Universal Dynamics entraps dust and fines and directs heavier materials to a collection bin, reducing contaminants that reach the pump filter.

NEW FEEDERS, HOPPERS

Colortronic developed a line of compact feeders available with a vertical twin-screw agitator that permits easy addition of powders.

Also new from Colortronic is a version of the two-station Colorblend additive disk feeder with ability to handle regrind.

Conair's new Compressed Air Feeder for batch weigh blenders is said to be 25% more accurate than auger feeders because it eliminates the "pulsing" effect of the auger.

Movacolor 16 is a more economical volumetric feeder (based on the earlier Movacolor 24) from Romax Inc., Louisville, Ky.

The same firm's new MC 580 high-output volumetric feeder delivers up to 450 lb/hr of free-flowing powders and pellets.

AccuRate, Whitewater, Wis., has redesigned its Model 300/600 DEA weigh-belt feeder for improved cleanability, reduced maintenance, and greater reliability.

Also, AccuRate's Rapidstart control software, which helps an operator configure a loss-in-weight metering system, is now available with even simpler instructions for faster set-up. The system can be used to run up to 16 gravimetric feeders.

CONVEY SLOWER & CLEANER

Creation of streamers or angel hairs when conveying abrasive materials is said to be virtually eliminated with the new Softflow vacuum-conveying pump system from Novatec that moves material at a lower velocity. The low-noise units are available with 5 to 40 hp.

A new tunnel diverter valve from Premier Pneumatics, Inc., Salina, Kans., permits fast and easy seal replacement without removing the valve from its position or removing the housing, rotor, or bearings.

New Powermax regenerative-style pneumatic pumps from Universal Dynamics are said to be very compact and quiet. These belt-driven, positive-displacement models come with 3-50 hp.

New hydraulic lift-and-seal drum dumper from Flexicon Corp., Phillipsburg, N.J., automatically forms a gasketed connection between the drum and receiving vessel to prevent dusting.

GET IN CONTROL

Colortronic showed its new icon-operated gravimetric control and management system, called COVIS, which uses Pentium PC hardware and a high-resolution LCD display. It can control continuous loss-in-weight feeders and blenders on up to five extrusion lines or 30 dosing stations.

Conair's Central Distribution System (CDS) optimizes conveying, drying, and blending control functions. The company's new Drying Monitor Network links drying monitors to a single Windows 95 PC control station.

The Convey Pacer III series "S" central controller is a new multi-station sequencing device from Mould-tek Industries Inc., Scarborough, Ont. It can monitor two vacuum pumps to fill up to 24 stations with any material combination.

Novatec introduced the Exxpand distributive-control network, which can control up to 55 loading stations or five vacuum pumps.

Premier Pneumatics has a new Series II 2400 central controller that can manage up to 24 Series II 2400 vacuum receivers. Receivers can be added to the system with "T" connectors, so no additional wiring is required.

New Tech 3 controls for dryers, blenders, and central loading systems from Thoreson-McCosh boast improved diagnostics, 24-hr history of alarms, and a printer port.

New i-Level inventory-control software for Windows 95 from CTI Celtek Electronics Inc., Dorval, Que., continuously monitors Celtek silo level detectors and provides up-to-the-minute inventory data.

DETECTION DEVICES TOO

Clogging can be detected in a cyclone, dust collector, hopper, or chute with the new ABC Plug-Up detection system from GreCon Inc., Beaverton, Ore. Clogging breaks a signal between a non-intrusive transmitter and receiver placed on the material handling device.

New model 9100 metal detector from Advanced Detection Systems, Milwaukee, is a more compact unit that mounts on a belt conveyor.