Dumping From Safety Cages Eliminated With Flexible Screw Conveyors
SMK Nutra Makers, a formulator and contract manufacturer of dietary supplements and nutritional products, improved production of a protein shake sports drink by switching from manual dumping of a powdered chocolate mix from an elevated safety cage, to dumping of the mix at floor level into mobile flexible screw conveyors.
Previously, operators in a safety cage were raised by a forklift to dump 25 kg bags of the shake powder into either of two screeners positioned above blenders.
To improve the laborious, dusty procedure, the company purchased two mobile, high-capacity flexible screw conveyors, each dedicated to a separate blender. The powder is now dumped at floor level into the hopper of a conveyor, which feeds a screener and, in turn, a blender.
SMK owner Avni Patel says, “Manual handling at floor level has increased productivity, eliminated dust, and improved worker safety.”
Supplied by Flexicon, each of the BEV-CON™ model conveyors includes a 7.5 m long beveled-edge spiral driven by a motor positioned beyond the discharge point, precluding material contact with bearings or seals.
The conveyor’s charging adapter consists of a trough at the outlet of a pyramidal hopper that exposes the intake end of the spiral to the powdered mix. A pneumatically-actuated vibrator fitted to the hopper wall promotes the flow of powder into the trough as the rotating spiral moves it at a 45° incline through the enclosed tube, discharging it into the screener.
A 3.6 m high castor-mounted frame with support boom enables operators to roll the unit into position with the conveyor discharge directly above the screener, and thereafter to a cleaning area. Mobility of the units also provides SMK with the flexibility to satisfy new processes.
Patel says, “We also considered a solid shaft auger conveyor among other options, ultimately deciding on the Flexicon conveyors.”
The conveyors were purchased through manufacturer’s Quick-Ship program, reducing the lead time associated with custom-built equipment.
“The conveyors are precisely what we needed,” she explains. “We no longer have issues of dust, safety and fatigue when moving the chocolate powder. We’re in the process of expanding and will be ordering additional units.”
For information contact Flexicon Europe Ltd, +44 (0)1227 374710, sales@flexicon.co.uk, www.flexicon.co.uk
Flexicon Europe Ltd
- sales@flexicon.co.uk
- https://www.flexicon.com
- 182 John Wilson Business Park, Harvey Drive, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3RB GB
About us
Flexicon Corporation is a world leader in the design and manufacture of bulk handling equipment and custom-engineered and integrated plant-wide systems. Flexicon products range from individual equipment to automated systems that source bulk material from interior and exterior plant locations, transport it between process equipment and storage vessels, weigh it, blend it, feed it to packaging lines, extruders, moulding machines and storage vessels, and load it into railcars and trailers. Flexicon can also custom-engineer automated, plant-wide bulk handling and processing systems that integrate Flexicon equipment with bulk handling and process equipment of other manufacturers.
Where we supply to
UK Ireland, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America
Industries we supply to
Chemicals, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Oil and Gas, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater
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