Sewell, NJ, USA (September 2016) – At this year’s upcoming PackExpo, held November 6-9, 2016 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, North Hall - Booth N5847, Coperion and Coperion K-Tron will present their latest technological developments that are advancing packaging and bulk materials handling to the next level. Representing their comprehensive portfolio in bulk material handling systems, feeding solutions, packaging system capabilities and after sales service for the plastics, food, pharmaceutical and chemicals industries, the equipment on display will include a Sanitary Filter Receiver (SFR), a ZZB Sanitary Rotary Valve and ZRD Hygienic Rotary Valve, a WYK Sanitary Diverter valve, a Smart Weigh Belt Feeder and an Electronic Pressure Compensation (EPC) unit with a live demo. Additionally, the booth will include an overview of the ITL 250/500 packaging machine – a highly automated form-fill-seal system that now functions even more efficiently and reliably, thanks to newly engineered details.
Our Newest Development – Electronic Pressure Compensation (EPC) System
The Electronic Pressure Compensation (EPC) system is designed for high-accuracy Coperion K-Tron loss-in-weight feeders. Coperion K-Tron has developed a clever but simple electronic solution for accurate and steady pressure compensation in feeder hoppers. The modular design incorporates pressure sensors and electronics tailored to interact smoothly with Coperion K-Tron’s KCM feeder control system. Retrofitting options for existing feeders are available. EPC can be installed on a majority of Coperion K-Tron gravimetric feeders in almost any application and all industries.
New ZZB Sanitary Rotary Valve for discharging and metering powders
The booth will display a new compact stainless steel rotary valve ZZB which was developed for small capacities and high sanitary needs. The interior and exterior polished surfaces prevent undesired product deposits. With the standard extraction device, the rotor can be easily removed from the housing. Easy to open tri-clamp flange connections at both inlet and outlet simplify installation and maintenance. The ZZB is available in two sizes: 80 mm [3 in] and 100 mm [4 in] (inlet and outlet) and is suitable for use in hazardous areas.
Sanitary Filter Receiver for quick clean-out and elimination of cross-contaminants
The Sanitary Filter Receiver (SFR) provides automatic separation of product material from the convey air for vacuum and pressure conveying in sanitary applications, for batch and continuous processes. The SFR is specifically designed for stringent food applications requiring quick clean-out and to reduce food contaminants and/or the cross contamination of allergens. The unit is easily cleanable with round corners, no ledges and no hidden areas.
ZRD Hygienic Rotary Valve – USDA approved, easy to clean
Coperion’ s ZRD sanitary rotary valves have been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) following certification in compliance with the USDA Dairy Grading Branch. Already designed in accordance with the engineering and design guidelines of the EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group), these sanitary rotary valves also meet the current, strict requirements governing application in the USA. The valves can be used in the food, pharmaceuticals and chemical industries for applications demanding even the highest degree of hygiene and cleanliness. In addition, they are distinguished by their extreme reliability in operation. As these rotary valves can be readily inspected and also cleaned quickly and thoroughly, they are ideal for applications involving frequent changeovers from one product to another and/or for the processing of products with adhesive tendencies. Parameters such as particle size, cohesion and adhesion influence the flow properties of bulk materials and therefore the correct design and layout of bulk material handling components. The ZRD Hygienic Rotary Valve offers an extra-large inlet for high throughputs and is suitable for pneumatic conveying up at up to 1.5 bar (g) [21 psi] and temperatures up to 100°C [212°F]. The sanitary versions of the ZRD rotary valves are used in pneumatic conveying systems and for the discharge of powdered and granular materials. The certified versions of the ZRD series of rotary valves are equipped with the innovative and service-proven FXS (Full Access System), which enables easy withdrawal of the rotor, as both end plates can be swung out through an angle of more than 90°, making the interior of the rotary valve fully accessible. The withdrawn rotor can then be readily detached from the end plate.
WYK Diverter Valve
Another valve on display will be the Coperion WYK Diverter Valve which is ideal for powders and granular products. The asymmetric design with 45° angle, is suitable for distributing and collecting in pneumatic conveying lines and in gravity pipes and is ideal for sanitary and wet cleanable design, EHEDG certified (0.8 Ra execution); suitable for the wet cleaning process. It is essential for the function and for the cleaning result that the rotor is disassembled after each washing process and manually cleaned and dried.
Smart Weight Belt Feeder for high-precision continuous and batch feeding
Coperion K-Tron’s Smart Weigh Belt (SWB) feeder offers optional continuous online auto tare by using two Smart Force Transducer III digital weigh modules. Automatic and continuous online taring of the belt reduces costly maintenance, line shutdowns and laborious manual calibration and improves long term accuracy. The SWB feeder can be supplied in two different belt widths: 300 mm and 600 mm. The mass and volume flow rate is strongly dependent on the bulk density, the maximum allowable height of the bulk solid on the belt and the belt speed. By utilizing different control software, the Smart Weigh Belt can be used to feed material into a batch system.