Key Considerations When Choosing the Right Mechanical Conveyor
Selecting the ideal mechanical conveyor can be a daunting task – possibly even a nightmare – for buyers who may not be aware of the features and benefits of the different types available.
Here are some key considerations for choosing the right mechanical conveyor.
1 – Material Characteristics
Arguably the most critical aspect to consider is the type of product you are trying to convey. Issues such as product flowability, abrasiveness and cohesiveness should always be taken into account whereas product degradation or the need to maintain a blend may be key aspects to consider in some applications. It is therefore vital to look for a conveyor supplier with a comprehensive material test database as well as a test laboratory equipped with a complete range of conveyors to enable adequate testing of the specific application prior to making an investment in new equipment.
2 – Rate, Layout & Safety
How far do you need to move the material and at what rate? Does the conveyor need to pick up from or feed multiple locations or follow a complex route around other equipment or structures? Are there any special safety considerations based on Area Classification, traffic, or other processes? Understanding the system requirements, possible conveying routes and identifying any possible hazards is critical in conveyor selection and design.
3 – Hygienic / Sanitary Requirements
A crucial deciding factor in choosing a conveyor is the hygiene specification. With food and pharmaceutical grade applications requiring some of the highest sanitation standards, a fully enclosed, clean and dust-free conveyor is essential. In addition, choosing a conveyor that incorporates easy to clean or ‘clean-in-place’ features will be another key consideration. The Cablevey Tubular Drag Conveyor offers a fully enclosed system that minimizes the risk of dust emission or product contamination and can be fitted with a variety of clean in place solutions to speed up the sanitation process. Cablevey conveyors can also be supplied with FDA-compliant coated rope to eliminate product contact with the metal-stranded cable, thereby reducing possible harborage points and reducing the risk of metallic contamination. Many of these features are also available on an Aero-Mechanical Conveyor which, due to its near-to-total product transfer capability, also helps minimize any residual product in the system between batches.
4 – Installation Speed or Mobile Requirement
For applications that require versatility or rapid, flexible installation options, a mobile conveying solution might be the best option. Aero mechanical conveyors and flexible screw conveyors can readily be mounted on wheeled frames, complete with integral controls and a power connection fly lead. This makes it possible to use one conveyor to serve several processes or to remove it to a remote wash-down area for cleaning.
Still unsure of which conveyor is right for your process? Call Spiroflow. With over 40 years of experience in moving materials, our engineers can help you determine the best application for your process needs. We have a complete range of conveying systems that can be customized to best fit your application. We exist to offer the right solution, not just any solution for your bulk material handling needs.
With many businesses looking to commence operations again, in whatever capacity, equipment that has potentially stood idle for several weeks, will be required to function again. It is highly likely that some essential servicing will need to be carried out on your equipment prior to resuming a workflow, which may or may not result in a requirement for spare parts.
Clearly, it is always a good idea to make sure you have a spare ‘on the shelf’, and to this end we supply a ‘Recommended Spares’ list for each of our machines, indicating what spares are critical and what spares may be worth keeping on site in the event of a breakdown. We keep a stock of replacement parts for bulk bag fillers, bulk bag unloaders and many other dry bulk material handling equipment, including: inflatable neck seals, hand operated levers, air filter regulators, flexible fill hoses, loads cells, and much more.
Of course we provide replacement parts for our own bulk material handling systems, but did you know that our quality parts are designed to work in systems supplied by other manufacturers?
You may have a conveyor, bulk bag filler, bulk bag discharger or control system from any number of suppliers, some of which may no longer be trading. Worry not, your existing equipment will perform at its best with Spiroflow replacement parts.
Another way of keeping up-to-date with servicing and spare part requirements is by retrofitting our Spiroflow Active Monitoring (SAM) system. By placing sensors on our equipment or virtually any piece of equipment in any part of your process, and connecting via the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), SAM can monitor and report operations real time. Through SAM you can you can get up to date information on asset monitoring, predictive maintenance, equipment optimisation, possible health and safety breaches and energy management.
However you need to manage your critical spares, we are here to help. Contact us here.
Valued Spiroflow Customers,
We’ve all seen the important cautionary checklists and best practices to keep your businesses safe during the COVID-19 crisis. This is not intended to be a source for information of that type. What I hope to do is share how Spiroflow is navigating this challenge. Spiroflow is guided and grounded by the following principles: people, process and productivity.
People. We put people first to design with the end-user in mind providing safe, ergonomic equipment solutions. Putting people first also means the health and safety of our employees, customers and partners remain our top priority.
To support the global effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we have implemented remote working for all applicable employees and have put in place social distancing and enhanced sanitation programs at all Spiroflow facilities.
To protect our customers, visits to our facilities are restricted to mission-critical service and support activities for our critical infrastructure partners. All non-essential visits to Spiroflow corporate locations are also temporarily suspended.
Process. While we have to adapt our process to this ever-changing environment and restrict visitors to our facility, we won’t stop working for you. Many of you, our valued customers, are in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and defense industries and though our workforce may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as a critical infrastructure supplier, Spiroflow will remain open and continue to manufacture equipment essential for your operations.
We are following recommendations from U.S. Homeland Security’s Guidance on the Essential Workforce, which states, “Functioning critical infrastructure is imperative during the response to the COVID-19 emergency for both public health and safety as well as community well-being. Certain critical infrastructure industries have a special responsibility in these times to continue operations.”
Spiroflow has endured for nearly 50 years through Vietnam, 9-11, the War Against Terrorism, more than a dozen recessions (eight since 1980), and we’ve always found a way forward. We have and will continue to be the resource and supplier for you, our valued customers.
Productivity. Our end goal is to help you increase productivity. What you run through our equipment is your business — how you keep it running is ours. We are now offering “Critical Spare Parts Evaluation” support for partners who need to ensure uninterrupted production during these challenging times.
Thank you for your partnership in this difficult circumstance. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 704-246-0900.
Jeff Dudas
Spiroflow CEO
Spiroflow, a global leader in the field of powder handling and dry solids processing and an emerging leader as a Control Systems Integrator, is excited to announce Andy Forrester as their new Vice President of Sales for the Americas. Within this role, Forrester will be developing and implementing national sales strategies, opening new vertical markets for Spiroflow, and overseeing the growth of innovative solutions within the Powder and Bulk Solids Industry.
Forrester, a former Royal Air Force officer, comes to Spiroflow with over 15 years of experience in the Sales and Marketing field. Most recently, he was the Director of Sales & Marketing for Kice Industries, in the Powder & Bulk Solids Industry. There, he was responsible for the development and execution of sales strategies for Kice Industries. This background will help Forrester make an easy transition into his position with Spiroflow.
“I am excited to now be able to return to North Carolina and join the Spiroflow team where I look forward to helping them tap into the enormous market opportunities they have in this fascinating industry,” he said.
In addition to his prior sales and marketing experience, Forrester has extensive experience with the construction industry. Before working for Kice Industries, Forrester served in various senior-level roles for Hilti in the UK, Canada and the USA.
“As a former US Navy F-4 pilot I am looking forward to working with Andy and seeing him take our sales process supersonic, soaring to new heights . He will be a great asset to our team,” said Jeff Dudas, CEO of Spiroflow