MATERIALS HANDLING | TECHNOLOGY
Technology helps a smart approach to material flow
Many new conveying, feeding and blending systems were launched at the K Show last year, as suppliers aim to make materials handling more efficient. By Chris Saunders
Materials handling has become an important area in plastics compounding, with competitive advantage increasingly being determined by how efficiently raw materials are stored, conveyed, metered, blended, tracked, and recovered. Rising use of recycled feedstocks, tighter quality tolerances, labour shortages, energy pressures, and traceability requirements, are forcing compounders to rethink traditional handling methods giving rise to a new generation of intelligent systems combining automation, digital monitoring, gravimetric precision, contamination control, and sustainability-driven design. A major driving force is increasing use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials which often come with inconsistent bulk density and moisture levels, variable particle geometry, contamination risk, and unpredictable flow behaviour. As formulations become more complex, compounders can no longer tolerate variability caused by bulk-density fluctuations and gravimetric feeders have been adopted in new installations.
www.compoundingworld.com
Rather than operating as standalone feeders, gravimetric systems are now fully linked with MES and ERP environments, allowing batch traceability from raw material receipt through finished pellet production. This level of integration is particularly important for automotive, medical, electrical, and food-contact applications where documentation and process repeatability are critical. “Across bulk material handling, controls and
automation have become the quiet engine of competitiveness,” said Brian Durant, Electrical Controls Engineering Manager at bulk material handling equipment manufacturer Hapman. “When these automated systems are thoughtfully engineered, plants see measurable gains, including higher throughput, fewer unplanned stops, safer operation, and clearer decision making. The day-to-day reality is less glamorous but more important; moving powders, granules, and ingredients while meeting production targets and regulatory expectations.” A defining trend is the shift from machine-centric
July 2026 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 31
Main image: Optimising material flow can provide compounders with a
competitive advantage
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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