Material Handling Problems

Our customers are manufacturers of some raw material or product whose sales volume will increase if only an easy solution to some material handling problem can be found.

- Dust

- Clumping

- Poor metering

- Segregation of particles

- Poor ergonomics

- Customer preference

- Poor process economics

Example 1:

A product is currently offered as a casting in a drum. The end user does not want to have to heat the drum to melt and pump the product out of the drum.

Example 2:

A product is currently a fine, dusty powder. The end use wants less dust so his operators do not have to wear respiratory protection and so his housekeeping effort and cost will be less.

Example 3:

A product is currently a flake that clumps together in the packaging causing increased labor and poor efficiency at the end user.

Example 4:

A powder product that is part of a solid blend segregates in the packaging during transit. A particle size to match that of the other ingredients is needed.

Example 5:

The end user knows what he wants and he wants the product to be a pastille.

The Pastille Solution

Some products can be converted into a small granule or pellet form called a pastille. A pastille is a split pea shaped particle that is formed when the product is dripped onto a cooling surface and allowed to solidify. The system we have for making pastilles is a Sandvik Rotoformer and Cooling Belt. See www.sandvikprocesssystems.com for a good process description. Our unit will make pastilles in the size range of 2-8 mm in diameter.

We Are Your Partner

Pastilles offer the end user a convenient, dust free, free flowing product that is also appealing to the eye. Our customers put a lot of money and effort into their products. They want the end user to receive a high quality product that meets or exceeds all their expectations, including a very reasonable price tag. Partnering with us to give the end user what he wants is a decision that will add value and increase sales

We Add Value

Converting a product into pastilles is not a slam dunk. At least we like to think it is a tricky business. That makes us feel good. We can often engineer a solution for processing tricky products. The products must generally have the following characteristics to be suitable candidates for pastille conversion at Volunteer Pastilles:

a) Melt point in the range of 110-300 F.

b) Drips easily upon melting

c) Crystallizes upon cooling within 60 seconds.

Initial evaluation of prospective materials for conversion to pastilles is provided at no charge. Engineering is provided as needed.