Instant (Coffee) Benefits With Cable Driven Tubular Drag Conveyor

Maintaining the quality and consistency of ingredients while in transit through a factory environment is vital to ensure that the end product is in mint condition for packaging and distribution, which is why a leading hot beverages supplier turned to a conveying system from Spiroflow.

The company, which packs instant, roast and ground coffee for most of the major high street chains, required a conveyor which streamlined the transportation process and ensured the minimum degradation of product.

After taking advantage of Spiroflow’s state-of-the-art testing facility at Clitheroe to trial the equipment prior to purchase, the customer then installed a Cableflow® Cable Driven Tubular Drag Conveyor in a z-shaped unit fed through a bulk bag. To meet requirements the system also incorporated a horizontal plane, rather than a vertical one, to maximise floor space at the plant.

Whether transporting powders, granules or whole coffee beans, Cableflow® conveyors are designed for gentle handling and can safely transfer delicate bulk products from single or multiple in-feed points to single or multiple discharge points without any discernible damage.

Manufactured in carbon or stainless steel depending on the customer’s requirements, Cableflow® Cable Driven Tubular Drag Conveyors have been developed from Spiroflow’s Aero Mechanical range, which  drags the ingredients along the inside of a tube to facilitate an efficient, dust-tight operation.

Spiroflow’s After Sales Manager, Jeannette Carter, said: “Our customer wanted gentle, time-saving conveying equipment that would maximise production. The Cableflow® conveyor has been designed with gentle handling in mind and has helped reduce manual handling and degradation of the product during the process.”

Because the tubular drag conveyors are derived from Spiroflow’s Aero-Mechanical Conveyors, they also enjoy the option to have the patented DART (Dynamic Automatic Rope Tensioner) rope tensioning system for maximum rope life and minimum maintenance. This is a key advantage over competitors’ cable driven conveyors.

Flexibility and totally secure handling are required from conveying equipment if coffee materials have to travel dust-free over long distances and complex routes within an operating plant. Spiroflow, world-leading manufacturer of ATEX approved conveying and bulk handling systems, is renowned for solutions that meet the most rigorous standards in hygiene and containment.

Spiroflow’s Cableflow® system can handle hot, cold, wet, dry, hygroscopic or temperature sensitive materials and is the only mechanical conveyor that can operate in three planes, enabling complex circuits, eliminating transfer points and using only a single drive.

When it comes to the challenges of transporting coffee – whether in powder form, granule or bean – Spiroflow aims to provide the beverages sector the best solution for maintaining product integrity.

In addition to Tubular Cable and Chain Drag Conveyors, Spiroflow is also a manufacturer of Bulk Bag Fillers, Flexible Screw Conveyors, Aero Mechanical Conveyors, Bin Activators, Vacuum Conveyors, Bulk Bag Dischargers, Ingredients Handling and Weighing Systems. The company’s technical and engineering expertise has led to it developing an international reputation for an unrivalled range of products with state-of-the-art control systems.

For more information on Spiroflow’s products and services visit www.spiroflow.com or call +44 (0)1200 422525.