Todd Swinderman elected President of CEMA

Neponset, IL -- Martin Engineering’s R. Todd Swinderman has been elected President of the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA).

Founded in 1933, CEMA is the trade association of leading North American conveyor equipment manufacturers and engineering firms. Swinderman was elected to his new post at the association’s recent 76th Annual Meeting. He will serve a one-year term.

Since 2005, Swinderman has been Director and Chief Technology Officer for Martin Engineering, the leading supplier of systems and services to improve bulk materials handling around the world.

From 1984 to 2005, Swinderman served Martin Engineering in executive capacities including Vice President and General Manager, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

A native of Kewanee, Illinois, and graduate of the University of Illinois, Swinderman joined the Neponset-based company in 1979 as Conveyor Products Engineer.

For Martin Engineering, Swinderman has played key roles in product development and global expansion. He holds more than 30 US patents and acted as a lead author on the company’s series of FOUNDATIONS™ Books on improving the performance of belt conveyors. He also led the development of Martin Engineering’s new research facility, The Center for Bulk Materials Handling Innovation, at the company’s Neponset campus.

With CEMA, Swinderman has participated in a variety of projects, including serving as Chair of the committees to write its Design Standard #575 Impact Beds/Cradles and rewrite Standard #550 Classification of Bulk Materials. He was also Chair, Editor, and “driving force” to produce the Sixth Edition of Belt Conveyors for Bulk Materials.

Source: http://www.martin-eng.com/

"Swirl" Fluidized Dryers to boost TiO2 production

Copenhagen, Denmark -- GEA Niro has received an order from Tiwest for two Swirl Fluidizer dryers to increase production of TiO2 at its plant in Western Australia.

Tiwest, a producer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and a joint venture between US-based Tronox Inc and South African company Exxaro Resources, selected GEA Niro’s drying technology because it is claimed to be able to produce high-quality powders, even when the consistency of the feed material varies.

The Swirl Fluidizer is claimed to be able to accept feeds with widely varying viscosities by virtue of its fluidizing action. The design of the dryer secures a roulette-like rotation at its bottom that, together with a careful control of the fluidizing velocities, retain oversized particles within the dryer until they are broken down.

Jerry Lloyd of Tiwest said, “We identified significant cost savings to be made by using the more efficient Swirl Fluidizers compared to the rather old drying tunnels currently being used.”

The energy-efficient Swirl Fluidizer dryers will replace the dated tunnel dryers that are currently being used at the plant in Kwinana, Western Australia. The raw materials for the facility are mined from the sands of inland sites in Western Australia.

The plant, which was built 20 years ago, uses Tronox’s proprietary chloride process to produce TiO2 pigments from Rutile and Ilmenite minerals. The tunnel dryers currently extract the last of the water from the TiO2.

The plant is currently undergoing a major expansion to accommodate the Swirl Fluidizer dryers later this year, which will raise the plant capacity from 110,000 tons per annum to 150,000 tons per annum and may later expand it to 180,000 tons per annum.

TiO2 is an inorganic white pigment, the crystals of which refract light to create a distinctive white brightness and gloss surface of high luminescence in paints, plastics, magazine papers and many other products.

At the final stage of the production, thin acidic liquor is washed clean. The washing process converts the product into a chalk-like form with limited mechanical strength that breaks up into a paste as it is conveyed. When the paste is too thin or thick, blockages often occur.

Tiwest selected the Swirl Fluidizer to try and avoid these blockages and produce a less dusty product to make down-stream handling and processing easier.

Source: http://www.niroinc.com/

PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2009

Arlington, VA -- The current economic downturn has many consumers rethinking their spending habits, leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and private label manufacturers to reconsider their marketing strategies, including their approaches to packaging.

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2009 (October 5-7; Las Vegas Convention Center), brand owners will discover the innovation they need to build stronger brands, enhance production efficiencies, meet sustainability requirements and reduce total systems costs.

With more than 1,200 exhibitors occupying over 600,000 net square feet, the show will highlight innovation across the packaging supply chain, including advanced packaging and processing machinery, components, materials and containers.

“Innovation is critical, especially during challenging times,” says Charles D.Yuska, president and CEO of PMMI, sponsor and producer of PACK EXPO. “From ideation to manufacturing and getting the product onto the retail shelf, PACK EXPO delivers the tools brand owners need to create attractive, functional packaging that enhances production efficiencies and meets bottom line economic demands.”

Shaping Winning Brands

To help brand owners maximize success on the retail shelf, PMMI is introducing The Brand Zone at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2009. Covering more than 60,000 net square feet, The Brand Zone will spotlight packaging technologies that can help “Open Innovation” executives, brand managers, marketers and package designers launch new products, refresh existing brands and improve sustainability scores.

Visitors will find innovative materials and containers to increase visual impact, enhance convenience, maximize shelf life and add functionality. They’ll also be able to explore business resources that can help attendees gain a competitive edge.

The popular Showcase of Packaging Innovations® will be housed within The Brand Zone. Sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company, this special feature celebrates innovative packaging by featuring hundreds of award-winning designs from internationally recognized organizations. Packages nominated for the annual PACK EXPO Selects™ program, which recognizes best-in-class consumer packaging, will also reside here.

To learn more about PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2009, visit http://www.packexpo.com/

Pennsylvania Crusher’s "Koal King" Granulators

Broomall, PA -- With three models and nearly fifty sizes available, Pennsylvania Crusher’s Granulator can accept feed sizes of up to 12”. Able to handle any type of coal, including low quality coals that may be wet, frozen, high in fines or high in ash content, the Koal King combines rolling compression and shear to produce high reduction ratios at high capacities while minimizing fines.

The Granulator is used primarily for crushing coal, but is also used for gypsum, salt, chemicals and similar materials.

Product size is determined by the screen openings and is also adjustable by changing the clearance between the cage and the path of the hammers. To help minimize damage caused by un-crushable material, a tramp iron pocket is standard equipment.

The Pennsylvania Crusher granulator provides significant service advantages. Since the Granulator opens like a clamshell, the inside of the machine is easily exposed for maintenance and inspection. Inspections and maintenance can be conducted without disrupting the feed system. An optional hydraulic door opener makes rigging the open rear quadrant totally unnecessary.

Pennsylvania Crusher has 7,000 crushers installed in over 80 countries. With 30 crusher models and 2 feeder models, each available in different sizes and configurations, users can choose from more than 400 crushing and feeding solutions.

Source: http://www.penncrusher.com/

I

MECO Seals to exhibit at PBE 2009 SE Conference MECO custom-engineered shaft seals will be on exhibit at PBE 2009 Southeast Conference and Expo in Atlanta.

First time at ACHEMA for new Malvern products
A number of Malvern products will make their first ACHEMA appearances this year with the company exhibiting on two stands.

Bulk Bag Fillers-by-Volume available from Spiroflow Spiroflow's Model ‘CS’ Filler-by-Volume offers an efficient and economic way of filling bags for removal by lift truck in virtually any industry.

More headline news...

 Featured Videos of the Week

Share your videos with everyone.  We have over 400+ industry-related videos that have been watched over 300,000+ times.  You can watch, upload and share industry videos on our Video Center, free!  Its a great way to promote your company, product or service.

People post their requests for help and offer their suggestions to others in our open forum.

Mr. Behrens needs a wood pellet delivery system:

We are seeking a manufacturer that can fabricate a mechanism to deliver wood pellets through a 3-inch hose from a grain truck into storage bins at residential and commercial buildings.

Woodpellet.com already has such a delivery method but their source of equipment manufacturers is unknown. Any ideas?  (to post reply, click here)

Thanks,
Chris Behrens
Georgia Peach, Inc.
georgiapeachinc@earthlink.net

Click here to share your expertise with others in our Help Forum.

Engineering Manager - Bangor, PA

KB Systems, Inc.,(“KBS”), a bakery equipment manufacturer located in Bangor, PA, specializes in ingredient handling systems , roll lines, and other custom equipment, is seeking an engineering manager.

This position is to manage and coordinate of all engineering related activities, goals and responsibilities by capitalizing on the talents and resources of the engineering department. This includes, but is not limited to product and process design, development and improvements, organizing and directing departmental resources to meet objectives and goals, and coordination of project information with KBS staff, customers and vendors.

Candidate should have a degree in mechanical engineering or related field, prior design and technical sales management experience in bulk material handling systems with preference for bakery related applications. The ability to develop a team and communicate effectively to internal and external parties would also be key success factors to the position.

Interested candidates should submit resume and salary requirement via e-mail: hr@geminibe.com or contact 215-673-3520 x260 for further information.

The Job Fair is a free service of Powder and Bulk Dot Com.  You can post job opening for managers, engineers, sales, reps or other talented people you need. ...Or one can post their resume for companies who are looking to add talented people to their staff.

Do you have a position you need to fill?  Visit the Job Fair.

© 1998-2009 Powder and Bulk Dot Com
Home page:  http://www.powderandbulk.com/

Joseph Taylor, Editor
Powder and Bulk Dot Com Newsletter
3948 South Third Street, No. 121
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Phone: 904-280-4656
Fax: 904-273-1399

Email:  jtaylor@powderandbulk.com

Powder and Bulk Dot Com's Newsletter is a 100% opt-in e-mail list of information for the materials handling professional.  Do you have company news, a new product, new service or other information you would like to share with our subscribers?  Please submit articles via e-mail, only to: news@powderandbulk.com

Congratulations to Todd Swinderman, I am sure under his leadership CEMA will be an improved trade association for all of us in the conveying industry.. Read on!

With over 7,000+ subscribers, our goal is to provide information to improve your business by using the resources available on the Internet.

Very Truly Yours,
Joe Taylor, Editor
jtaylor@powderandbulk.com

• Homepage

• Buyers Guide
  & Industry Directory

• Video Center

• The News Center

• Help Forum

• Job Fair

• Powder and Bulk Weblog

• Ask Joe! Column

• Banner Advertising

• Newsletter Ads

• Archived Newsletters

Assessing Loads on Silos and other Bulk Storage Structures:  Research Applied to Practice
by Geoffrey E. Blight
Hardcover, 264 pages, 2006

.

Advanced Drying Technologies
Second Edition
by T. Kudra and A. Mujumdar
Hardcover, 520 pages, 2009

.

Bulk Material Handling
by Conveyor Belt 7
by Mark Alspaugh, editor
Paperback: 108 pages, 2008

.

Find more books for the materials handling professional online, visit our Reading Room.

"Spider Diagrams" :
A novel way of predicting Powder Flow
Guest article by E. McGee, Ajax Equipment and D. McGlinchey, Glasgow Caledonian University

We Need Your
Guest Articles!
Do you have an area of expertise in bulk materials, have you solved a difficult materials problem? Share your knowledge with others and promote yourself by contributing an article to the Ask Joe! Column.

For more information, please contact Joe Marinelli.

Past Ask Joe! Archived Articles

More case histories...

How can you reach the world's bulk materials handling and processing top executives, engineers, managers and service personnel?

By placing a banner ad on the industry's most popular web site. Powder and Bulk Dot Com is your strategic link to the precise audience interested in your products and services.  Both nationally and internationally.

Rates are reasonable - and results are more than satisfying!

Want a Rate Card now?

Email:  rates@powderandbulk.com

Click here for more
Advertising information

This weeks photo is of a Coperion-supplied materials handling and logistics system for one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the Middle East. The system is designed for an annual production capacity of 1.4 million tons of polyethylene and polypropylene.

Photo courtesy of Coperion GmbH.

Send us your photos:  We would love to have your photo of a bulk materials process, packaging, conveying or handling "action shot" for our home page.  Send your photograph and description to: news@powderandbulk.com