Flexible Screw Conveyor with Trough Hopper Improves Bulk Material Handling Efficiency

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A new Flexicon® flexible screw conveyor with trough hopper has been designed to provide efficient, reliable and versatile bulk material handling across a wide range of industrial processing applications. Suitable for receiving material from multiple discharge points, the system offers an effective solution for manufacturers looking to improve material transfer, reduce downtime and maintain consistent product flow.

The flexible screw conveyor can receive material from multiple outlets of feeders, grinders, blenders, bulk bag dischargers and other types of process equipment featuring a wide-style discharge. This versatility makes it well suited to industries including food and beverage, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, minerals and other process manufacturing environments where dependable material conveying is essential.

Measuring 108 inches (275 cm) in length, the conveyor is fitted with a trough hopper featuring a low 36-inch (92 cm) profile. This compact design allows the hopper to be positioned beneath the discharge point of most vessels without requiring significant modifications to existing production equipment or layouts.

The hopper’s base incorporates a U-shaped channel that exposes the flexible screw along the entire length of the vessel. This design enables bulk materials entering the hopper at virtually any point to feed directly into the conveyor, helping to maintain a consistent flow of material throughout the conveying process. By allowing material to charge the conveyor across the full hopper length, the system promotes efficient loading and reliable conveying performance.

For enhanced workplace safety, the hopper is fitted with a robust stainless steel grate. This protective feature helps safeguard operators while also preventing oversized particles or foreign objects from entering the conveyor, reducing the risk of blockages and protecting downstream equipment.

To support greater process control, the hopper walls include dedicated ports for the optional installation of level sensors. When fitted, these sensors provide continuous real-time monitoring of material levels within the hopper.

The resulting signals can be integrated into plant control systems to detect conditions such as hopper overflow or conveyor starvation, allowing operators to respond quickly and helping maintain efficient, uninterrupted production.

At the heart of the conveying system is the rugged inner flexible screw, which is the only moving component that comes into contact with the conveyed material. Flexicon offers the screw in numerous configurations to accommodate both free-flowing and non-free-flowing bulk solids.

The conveyor is capable of handling products that pack, cake or smear while maintaining blend integrity and preventing the separation of mixed materials during conveying.

As the flexible screw rotates, it naturally self-centres within the conveyor tube. This design provides generous clearance between the screw and the tube wall, helping to eliminate or significantly reduce product degradation during transfer. The gentle conveying action makes the system particularly suitable for handling fragile or difficult materials where maintaining product quality is important.

Material is discharged from the conveyor below the drive point, preventing product from coming into contact with bearings or seals. This arrangement helps improve hygiene, minimise contamination risks and reduce maintenance requirements, making the system suitable for demanding industrial processing applications.

Maintenance and cleaning have also been simplified. Quick disconnect clamps positioned near the drive point, together with a cleanout cap located at the opposite end of the conveyor, allow operators to quickly remove and clean the flexible screw during product changeovers. This design helps minimise downtime while supporting efficient cleaning procedures between production runs.

Designed for flexibility, reliability and ease of maintenance, the Flexicon flexible screw conveyor with trough hopper provides manufacturers with an effective solution for conveying a wide variety of bulk materials while improving operational efficiency, product protection and process reliability.

www.flexicon.com

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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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