Materials handling.

Gravimetrics dominate the landscape in blenders. Smaller units are plentiful in blenders, dryers, and hopper loaders.

Gravimetric blending systems will be a major presence among the materials-handling exhibits at this year's show. You'll find new batch-weigh and continuous models in a range of capacities from 50 to 6000 lb/hr. One new unit can dispense as little as 0.1 g at a time. Many of the new units promise actual dispense-to-target-weight accuracy of 0.1%.

There's lots new besides blenders. In feeders, one new design incorporates Doppler radar technology to monitor material flow rates. In dryers, look for new models with closed-loop controls and at least three new twin-desiccant models offering increased drying capacity. Another new unit can deliver dewpoints down to -100 F. In loaders - as in blenders and dryers one of the most interesting trends at this show is the wealth of new units designed for small processing machines.

BLENDERS: MICRO TO MEGA

New gravimetric blenders span a wide capacity range, but there seems to be particular emphasis on the small end. Maguire Products, Inc., Media, Pa., will unveil its new Micro-Pulse gravimetric metering technology for blends with additive amounts as low as 10-20 pellets. A new slide gate with a 0.125-in. stroke can be opened and closed up to 20 times/sec, dispensing as little as 0.1 g at each stroke. Micro-Pulse will be standard on Maguire's 100 series blenders.

Also featured will be the company's new Windows version of its MLAN system for plant-wide monitoring and control of gravimetric blenders. The new version has extensive capabilities for reporting materials usage (see PT, Jan. '97, p. 43).

The smallest batch weigh blenders introduced at the show will be five new models in the Accu Trac line from Foremost Machine Builders Inc., Fairfield, N.J. They handle two to eight components at rates of 100-500 lb/hr. Previous models process 5001000 lb/hr, but the company plans to extend the line up to 5000 lb/hr by year's end.

Foremost also will have a new stainless-steel version of its CLWB-4 four-component, continuous loss-in-weight blender.

Comet Automation Systems, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, will roll out a redesigned WB-400 batch weigh blender that meters up to 400 lb/hr and is reportedly accurate to 0.5%. The unit incorporates Comet's disc-metering technology with microprocessor controls. Comet also will show its new retrofittable CT-100 controller for volumetric blenders. It performs calibration, stores up to 100 recipes, and prints out material-usage reports.

Sequential batch weighing and mechanical mixing are eliminated with a new ultra-compact blender only 23 in. high from Plastrac Inc., Edgemont, Pa. The unit uses patent-pending Auto-Disc metering technology to perform synchronous blending. Plastrac will also show a line of hopper loaders and systems using the Auto-Disc technology.

Colortronic, Inc., Blackwood, N.J., will introduce its new Graviblend Plus blending technology for continuous loss-in-weight applications. The method, geared toward extrusion applications, reportedly improves upon Colortronic's Graviblend non-agitated blending technology. Colortronic will also bring out a two-station Colorblend unit with digitally controlled dosing, as well as new C100 disc dosing control for its CDK and CDE blenders.

The Conair Group, Franklin, Pa., has expanded from gravimetric blending into extrusion weight/length control in cooperation with Plast-Control Inc. of Newburyport, Mass. Conair's new GCX series continuous blenders can automatically adjust extruder or takeoff speed to maintain a product weight/ length setpoint. Conair will also introduce self-loading versions of its Autoweigh gravimetric batch blenders.

Dual load cells and microprocessor controls help the new GXB Exac-U-Batch gravimetric batch blenders dispense up to eight components to 0.5% accuracy. These blenders from Mould-Tek Industries,Inc., Scarborough, Ont., range from 200 to 5000 lb/hr.

A new line of compact machine-mounted gravimetric blenders that handle two to eight components and are accurate to 0.5% of setpoint comes from Novatec, Inc., Baltimore. The line handles throughputs from 50 to 6000 lb/hr. Novatec's new MCB 650 blender control provides easy keystroke entry of blend ratios and automatically compensates when regrind runs out:

AEC/HydReclaim, Fenton, Mich., will show its new Optimum series of gravimetric blenders for up to eight components and rates up to 5000 lb/hr. A micro-blender with new controls and software will also be introduced.

Process Control Corp., Atlanta, has improved its XG series of gravimetric blenders with a new Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) closed-loop drive control, which increases the operating range of each ingredient feeder to 30:1 from 10:1.

Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering Co., Gloucester, Mass., will show its recently introduced Acura-blend multi-component gravimetric blending and feeding system in action on a seven-extruder, seven-layer blown-film line.

New from K-Tron America, Pitman, N.J., is the K2-G Smart-Flow gravimetric feeding/blending system for extrusion and compounding. It handles precision ratio control of multiple feed streams by way of a single-point measurement of each feed module in the system.

TSM Control Systems of Louth, Ireland, is showing a new gravimetric blender with extruder rpm control and integral vacuum loader.

AS DRY AS YOU NEED IT

Small units will also make news in drying. Universal Dynamics, Inc., Woodbridge, Va., is coming out with the Century micro-dryer, said to be a compact, extremely low-dewpoint dryer for small injection machines. A 15-cfm unit will be shown. The company says it also has made gas-fired drying affordable for smaller processes, so that energy savings are available on machines running as little as 200 lb/hr.

Another new introduction from Universal Dynamics, the dual-station VCL (vacuum closed-loop) dryer, is a single unit that combines drying and dry-air conveying. It allows dry-air conveying to two stations or dry-air conveying to one station and ambient-air conveying to another.

Comet Automation Systems is rolling out the SD-65, a 65-lb/hr twin-bed dryer with Allen-Bradley controls and SPI communication protocol. It can be machine mounted or placed next to the press. Comet also has the new CDD-400 closed-loop drying system with a two-stage filter and two four-way diverter valves that direct moist air to the active desiccant bed. Air is dried to a minimum of -40 F dewpoint, then is pre-heated to 350 F.

For something a little out of the ordinary, Novatec will introduce a line of nitrogen dryers for processes running nylon and other oxygen-sensitive materials. These units use heated nitrogen containing less than 50 ppm oxygen as a drying medium. The company also has new PLC dryer controls.

AEC/Whitlock, Wood Dale, Ill., will introduce its WDMR series dual-bed desiccant dryer with closed-loop controls and compact design. It's made to deliver -40 F dewpoint in high-humidity environments.

Conair's new SC60 twin-desiccant dryer monitors air flow, filter conditions, and critical drying parameters while conducting self-diagnostics. This "closed-loop" system does not introduce ambient air into the process-air circuit. Conair will also show its new GasTrac gas-fired process-air heater, which uses a patented Pyrocore HT burner to trim energy costs to 20% of those for conventional electric heaters, the company says.

Dri-Air Industries, Inc., East Windsor, Conn., redesigned its PD portable dryer line, adding an open-frame design to allow easy access for draining the hopper. Also new are laser-cut doors that eliminate troublesome gaskets, new valving, and a more compact positioning of the closed-loop loading package under the dryer. Also new from Dri-Air is the PDII line of dual-hop-per portable dryers, which are said to be unusually compact and can feed two or more machines as a mini-central system. The dryer stands by the press and only the filterless receiver is mounted on the machine. Both PD and PDII series are available in a new optional four-bed (HP4-X) design for faster drying under humid conditions. Dewpoints to -100 F are said to be possible.

Motan, Inc., Plainwell, Mich., expanded its Press Side dryer line with four new models from 30 to 120 cfm, all with microprocessor controls.

Thoreson McCosh, Inc., Troy, Mich., will show new DVL and DJL lines of portable dryers, each in sizes from 12 to 120 lb/hr. The company also has new Tech 3 dryer controls that help evaluate dryer performance and guide an operator through potential problems.

Speedryer 2000, a new hopper dryer, will be shown by Webb Technologies Ltd., Vancouver, B.C.

A new multi-canister drying station from IMS Co., Chagrin Falls, Ohio, lets you dry four 35-lb batches of different materials or one 140-lb batch.

Colortronic will show three units from its new CTT series of compact dryers.

FEEDER HAS RADAR SPEED CONTROL

A Doppler radar sensor is used in a new feeder to measure the amount and speed of material flow and signal to a control gate. The new Flo-Commander feeder from Bindicator Co., Port Huron, Mich., controls and monitors the discharge of bulk powders and granules.

In other new feeder controls, K-Tron will unveil the K-LCD Line Control Display operator interface for controlling up to eight gravimetric feeders.

Motan will unveil its MB ECO two-component additive/regrind feeder, which has been upgraded with a second inclined auger and stainless-steel hopper assembly. It's said to facilitate quick cleanout and change-over.

Premier Pneumatics, Inc., Salina, Kans., presents its new ProRate additive feeder for on-machine feeding. It meters pelletized additives directly into the resin stream. The feeder is synchronized with the primary machine.

Citsco Inc., Fort Mill, S.C., presents the new Arbo model KDA-W/45 vibratory micro-feeder for gravimetric feeding of free-flowing materials at ultra-low rates.

New single- and twin-screw feeders will debut from Colortronic.

And for metering liquid colorants, Morton International, Inc., Cincinnati, is featuring the new LC-Pro peristaltic pump. This unit is better able to keep up with fast-cycle molding than previous models and has a redesigned pumping mechanism that permits easier servicing with less disassembly than before.

MOVE LARGE OR SMALL LOADS

There will be plenty of new introductions in hopper loaders, receivers, and materials-conveying systems. Once again, there's news at the very small end of the size range.

Dri-Air will unveil its new mini central conveying system that moves as little as 1 to 4 lb/hr for distances up to 100 ft.

Una-Dyn's new KFG 50 self-contained hopper loader conveys up to 100 lb/hr of free-flowing materials. It features a self-cleaning filter, noise-insulated blower housing, control unit, and sight glass to show material level. The company is also showing new LS series of self-contained vacuum loaders. Una-Dyn will rollout its new TwinCon control system that interfaces the material-handling system with your process.

Bry-Air Systems, Sunbury, Ohio, is introducing the Mini-Loader Series of small hopper loaders for up to 500 lb/hr.

L-R Systems, New Lenox, Ill., will present the Little Loader (LL) Package, consisting of a receiver, durable exhaust filter, solid-state level sensor, venturi with suction lance or VTB adapter, filter regulator with steel bowl shield, and NEMA-12 controller. L-R offers the LL-50 package with a mild-steel receiver and the LL-100 system with stainless receiver.

Motan will roll out its new Press-Side Air Loader (PAL), which uses compressed air and a 15-ft hose to move up to 200 lb/hr of material from a container to the hopper.

Autoload, Inc., Smithville, Mo., has developed a new material-transfer system for just-in-time processes that moves single shots of material at a time.

New just-in-time, direct-feed loaders with new level controls will also arrive from Novatec. In addition, the company will roll out its new VL series of self-contained, single-phase, brushless vacuum loaders, new hopper-loader control options, and a new microprocessor control option for all the firm's self-contained vacuum loaders. Novatec also promises to introduce a new method of conveying friable or abrasive materials.

The new Cartridge line of receivers, integral loaders, and filter stands from Hurricane Pneumatic Conveying, Inc., Brantford, Ont., are small quick-change units that use little compressed air and have washable PTFE cartridge filters that can handle PVC powder and dry colors.

Premier Pneumatics is introducing 2400 series receivers and loaders in a stainless-steel version.

Conair will show an upgraded version of its Z-series self-contained, stainless-steel loaders and its Compressed Air Material Loaders (CAML) for specialized applications.

A number of new materials-handling control systems for multiple pickup and delivery points will also appear at the show. Motan, for example, will present its new microprocessor-based conveying controls that regulate filling and discharge of up to 20 stations from one control panel. Premier Pneumatics' new Series II sequencing controller regulates up to 24 vacuum receivers.

Novatec will unveil its new Symphony control package, which allows processors to program and monitor all their auxiliary equipment (not necessarily Novatec products) from a single IBM-compatible, PC/PLC control station with easy-to-use graphic displays. It has virtually unlimited expandability and can include touchscreen controls.

Also new from Novatec is a distributed control network that is said to greatly reduce wiring costs and allow unlimited expandability. Control stations can be mounted wherever convenient.

In other controls news, AEC/ Whitlock will bring out VacTrac conveying controls with touchpanel interface. Colortronic will show its new CCC124 touchscreen control for vacuum conveying. And CTI Celtek Electronics Inc., Metairie, La., will demonstrate its new I-Level inventory manager for data-logging and trending.

PARTS-CONVEYING NEWS

Adept Technology Inc. of San Jose, Calif., will bring out at the show the Flexfeeder 250 small-parts conveyor, which has a control system that delivers parts of random orientation, size, and shape to the correct down- stream point.

Direct Line Products, Eastlake, Ohio, will present a new economical line of belt conveyors with 32 models in widths of 12, 18, and 24 in. They come in flat, inclined, and cleated versions.

What to Look for

* Gravimetric blender dispenses down to 0.1 g of material.

* Doppler radar monitors feeder throughput.

* JIT hopper loaders deliver one shot at a time.

* Four-bed dryer delivers -100 F dewpoint.

* Nitrogen dryer protects nylons.

* Gas-fired drying is now affordable for rates as low as 200 lb/hr.

* Blenders, dryers, loaders fit small machines.

* Central conveying controls are easily expandable, cut wiring costs.