In brief Going with the flow
Growing numbers for Total Solids equipment handling specialist, Ajax from the hopper.
Top companies are adding their names to Equipment has supplied a hopper and Ajax Equipment conducted powder flow
the rapidly growing exhibitor list for Total screw feeder to Wardle Storeys characterisation testing of the hopper
Processing & Packaging 2010 following (Blackburn). The new equipment has contents. This identified that the mix of
the hugely successful recent PPMA enabled the company to overcome polymer pellets, granules and powders
Show, with bookings and enquiries segregation and bridging problems during stored in the hopper were poor flowing
continuing to grow as companies finalise the manufacture of thermoplastic and due to the polymer's 'stickiness' and
their marketing plans for 2010. synthetic rubber sheeting products. tendency to bind together. This in turn led
“This three yearly event, which Wardle Storeys (Blackburn) is a to problems of segregation within the
incorporates the PPMA Show, along specialist manufacturer of flexible hopper and bridging at the hopper outlet.
with a number of other popular polymeric noise insulation and vibration Based on the powder testing analysis,
features such as the Packaging damping products which have been Ajax Equipment has replaced Wardle
Innovation and Interphex hubs, offers developed for a variety of industries Storeys pyramid-shaped, hopper with a
exhibitors the only chance in 2010 to including automotive, marine and wedge-shaped, hopper that pushes the
demonstrate their products and construction. The products are typically stored materials in two directions to
services to the largest gathering of manufactured from polymer granules, create a single planar flow, preventing
industry professionals in the UK,” pellets and powders which, after mixing, segregation and encouraging mass flow.
comments group exhibition director are stored in a large hopper and The hopper also features a wider outlet
Ian Crawford. transferred to a compounding mixer via a to prevent bridging and provide a
Total Processing & Packaging takes screw feed. consistent flow to a new, twin-screw,
place at the NEC Birmingham from 25 Given the increasingly wide variety of feeder transferring polymer to the
to 27 May 2010. products which the company has been compounding mixer.
For more information visit: developing, and the consequently wide “Ajax Equipment's approach to our
www.totalexhibition.com variety of raw materials being used, the solids handling problem has enabled us to
company put in place a flexible facility for
experienced an continuous manufacture of all our
increase in products: thermoplastic or synthetic
bridging rubber. The new hopper is working well,
problems at the and we have had no bridging problems
hopper outlet, whatsoever,” commented Craig Snape,
leading to an Technical manager, Wardle Storeys
inconsistent flow (Blackburn).
6 Solids & Bulk Handling February 2010 www.solidsandbulk.co.uk
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