Industry Blog

21
Dec 10

Food Cone Mill

Size reduction is a major part of food processing. Most ingredients or products undergo some form of powderisation, deagglomeration or delumping before they become a finished product.

In cone milling, the material is fed through the in-feed chute, using either gravity feed (manually or automatically operated) or by using a vacuum. The material is forced downwards towards the rotating impeller (see picture below), where the centrifugal force pushes the material through the screen, in the required particle size and shape.

Above: Food Cone Mill Grinding Red Peppercorns
Above: Food Cone Mill Grinding Red Peppercorns

Once the material has passed through the cone mill screen, it falls can either fall into a receptacle ready for storage, or automatically flow to a downstream process, offering excellent processing efficiency.

The cone mill can be used for a wide variety of applications in food processing, such as powder or breadcrumb manufacturing, product reclaim, the deagglomeration of food (such as raisins and other dried fruit), the delumping of powders and the size reduction of herbs, spices, flakes (see picture below).

Above: Finished Product of Milled Red Peppercorns
Above: Finished Product of Milled Red Peppercorns

A cone mill is an extremely common and effective method of size reduction in food processing, as it is capable of achieving a high throughput and consistent particle size. The Hanningfield Uni-Mill cone mill also generates low levels of noise and dust, offering significant operating advantages. Importantly, the Uni-Mill also offers an ‘easy-clean’ design, making strip-down and cleaning between processes simple. Manufactured from stainless steel, the Uni-Mill cone mill (pictured below) is a high-performance, low maintenance and extremely hygienic system for size reduction in food processing.

Food Cone Mill
Above: The Hanningfield ‘Uni-Mill’ Food Cone Mill

For more information on the Hanningfield Uni-Mill cone mill click here. Alternatively, to contact a member of our technical sales about using the cone mill for food processing, simply click here.

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Posted in Cone Mill, Conical Mill, Food Processing, Food Processing Equipment, Milling, Size Reduction, Uni Mill | No Comments »
20
Dec 10

Cone Mill

A cone mill is an extremely effective machine for size reduction. The advantages of a cone mill over other forms of size reduction mean it is widely used in the pharmaceutical, food, chemical, cosmetic and associated industries.

Above: Cone Mill Screens
Above: The Hanningfield ‘Uni-Mill’ Cone Mill

So-called because of the screen shape (pictured below), a cone mill can offer great adaptability in terms of throughput, particle size, particle shape and many other factors, simply by changing the type of screen or impeller; for example, a screen with a smaller hole size will produce a smaller particle size.

Above: Cone Mill Screens
Above: Cone Mill Screens

Material is fed into the cone mill through an in-feed chute. This can either be charged into the mill using a vacuum or gravity feed. The material passes to a rotating impeller which forces the material through the holes in the screen. Once the material has passed through the screen, the finished product falls from the bottom of the mill to a receptacle beneath.

The cone mill can be used for a wide variety of applications.  In pharmaceuticals, they are often used for wet/dry granulation, tablet reclaim etc., in chemicals the are often used for deagglomeration, in cosmetics it can be used for fine grinding and in food it can be used for deagglomeration, product reclaim and general size reduction.  For example, seeds or nuts (such as almonds, pictured below) can be ground to a smaller particle or even a powdered state.

Above: Cone Mill Screens
Above: Almonds which have been ground in the ‘Uni-Mill’ Cone Mill

For more information on the Hanningfield ‘Uni-Mill’ cone mill click here.  Alternatively, to contact a member of our technical sales for assistance, simply click here.

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Posted in Cone Mill, Milling, Size Reduction, Uni Mill | No Comments »
14
Dec 10

Hanningfield in EPM Magazine (Page 31) November/December Issue 2010

Hanningfield are pleased to be in this month’s EPM Magazine, with an article about our Uni-Mil lab cone mill, and how it can be used to scale up to full-size production processing.

To see the editorial either turn to Page 31 of the magazine or click the thumbnail below to view the article.

Hanningfield have more than 20 years experience in pharmaceutical size reduction. The Uni-Mill is designed and manufactured by Hanningfield in the United Kingdom.

For more information on the Hanningfield lab size Uni-Mill, please click here.

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Posted in Conical Mill, Conical Mills, Conical Screen Mills, Hanningfield, News, Pharmaceutical, Size Reduction, Uncategorized, Uni Mill | No Comments »
7
Dec 10

Conical Mill

A conical mill is a machine for reducing the particle size of material, to create a consistent and uniform finished product.  The conical mill benefits from low noise, minimal heat, reduced dust, higher throughput and a more uniform finished particle size.

Material is fed into the conical mill via the in-feed chute, this can either be via gravity feed or by vacuum.  Once the material has passed through the in-feed chute, it the reaches a rotating impeller which forces the material through the holes in the screen.

With a conical mill it is possible to alter the particle size, particle shape and other characteristics, simply by changing the screen.  For example, the hole size will determine the particle size, so a larger hole will produce a larger particle.  Once the material has passed through the screen, the finished product exits through the milling chamber into a receptacle beneath.

Hanningfield offer the conical mill in a range of different sizes.  From table-top sized mills, to full-scale production models, a conical mill can be used to satisfy a wide range of requirements, most notably in the pharmaceutical, food, chemical and cosmetic industries.

Typical applications for a conical mill include:

  • Reclaiming broken tablets, biscuits or other material
  • Sizing wet granulated particles before drying
  • Sizing dry granulated particles before tabletting
  • Deagglomerating dried fruits or other clumped material

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For more information on the Hanningfield conical mill, please click here.

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Posted in Conical Mill, Conical Screen Mills, Hanningfield, Powder Processing, Size Reduction, Uncategorized | No Comments »
1
Dec 10

Technical Article: Improving Powder Transfer

Common Problems with Powder Transfer

Typically, there are two major problems which arise during the transfer of powder; excess dust and waste. Excess dust is a hazard to operator health, as well as to the working environment (and can even result in fatal explosions when mismanaged). Meanwhile, waste material results in poor overall efficiency; a problem also caused by excessive manual handling during processing.

Hence in this regard waste is two-fold, it is physical waste (loss of material) and it is time waste (loss of production) both of which negatively impact the overall efficiency of a process. Thus, if an engineer can overcome the problems associated with excess dust and waste, then the efficiency of a process can be maximised to improve hygiene and ultimately profitability.

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Solutions for Powder Transfer

There are three simple solutions to improve powder transfer; vacuum transfer, gravity feed and the use of valves - all of which are common in pharmaceutical, food, chemical and other types of process. By selecting the most appropriate method for your application, a process can be easily enhanced.

Lean-phase vacuum conveying is a very efficient and contained method of powder transfer. From pick-up point to discharge, it is possible to maintain a fully enclosed process, preserving the integrity of the system and protecting both the operators and the environment. The system also minimises waste due to the fully enclosed nature of the pipe-work (no product loss) and the ability to transfer powder at high rates (up to 4,000 kgs/hr). Given these features, a vacuum conveying system is an excellent method for powder transfer as it overcomes the problems outlined above.

The use of gravity feed is another simple, yet effective method of powder transfer. Using a hoist it is possible to raise one container above another and discharge directly or indirectly from the outlet of ‘Container A’ to the inlet of ‘Container B’. For example, if you are looking to transfer powder from one IBC to another, but mill the product in between, this is possible with gravity feed. Using a hoist it is possible to position an IBC above a cone mill, with another IBC beneath it. The IBC can then be discharged into the mill, which mills the powder directly into the IBC below. This removes the need for manual handling, whilst creating a dust-free, fully-contained method for transferring powder. It’s flexibility, simplicity and reliability makes gravity feeding an excellent method of powder transfer, which can be used across a wide range of applications. However, it should be noted that this is not always a suitable option as ceiling height or other obstructions in the process room may restrict the operating height available.

Butterfly and rotary valves can be an extremely simple and effective method for controlling the flow of powders during transfer. Valves are dust-tight, and easy to install and maintain. The butterfly valve design provides positive control of powders stored in silos and the rotary valve can provide constant regulated powder transfer. Another variation is the split butterfly containment valve, which is specifically designed to ensure the operator is never exposed the the product during transfer.

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Conclusion

The above solutions can often be used in combination with one another, to provide the ultimate in contained powder transfer. For example, a vacuum conveyor can pick up powder from an IBC and transfer to another IBC, with the use of a valve to control the flow of powder and help maintain a strict closed-system design. A hoist is also often integrated to provide a mixed vacuum/gravity system, to combine the benefits of these to approaches. Hence these solutions, by themselves or in combination, offer the ultimate in process efficiency and containment by overcoming the problems associated with powder transfer; they contain excess dust and eliminate waste.

For more information on how you can improve your powder transfer, please contact us.

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Posted in Powder Transfer, Powder Transfer Systems, Technical Article, Vacuum conveying | No Comments »
29
Nov 10

Process Tips: 5 Tips for Optimising your Powder Transfer System

There are various means to ensure optimum performance of your powder transfer system.  Below are some of the simple, yet essential checks you can undertake:

1. It is important that the filter cleaning system used during powder transfer in operating efficiently. Filters are at the heart of any powder transfer system and should be checked and cleaned regularly.  Blocked filters can constrict the airflow and can significantly hamper throughput as a consequence.  Cartridge-type filters can be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner. Fabric-type filter bags can be washed.

2. Seals and gaskets must be in perfect condition and fitted properly to avoid air-leaks. Check seals and gaskets and remove any residual product that may cause air leaks. Similarly to above, any problems here can cause a significant drop in performance as the air flow suffers.

3. Air entrainment is vital to the correct operation of a lean-phase vacuum conveying powder transfer system.  It is important that adequate air-bleed systems are incorporated into and convey line and checked for correct operation allowing air to be introduced when needed. Hanningfield offers a range of air-entrainment devices to ensure peak performance is achieved.

4. Good ‘earthing’ of the system in essential to avoid static build up. Ensure all flexible hoses are embedded-wire type and correctly earthed at each end. Confirmation of a continuous ‘earth’ throughout the system should be checked periodically using a multi-meter.

5. Finally, all vacuum conveying powder transfer systems rely on a timed sequence of operations, such as convey duration, discharge durations and length of filter clean cycle etc. It is important that these settings are correct to provide optimum performance. Control sequences should be regularly checked.

If a system is not correctly maintained, performance levels can fall significantly. For process-specific recommendations and best-practice, please just ask a question to our team of experts by clicking here.

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Posted in Hanningfield, News, Powder Transfer, Powder Transfer Systems, Process Tips, Vacuum conveying | No Comments »
23
Nov 10

Hanningfield at ISPE UK Conference 2010

Hanningfield are pleased to have exhibited at the ISPE UK Conference at the Park Inn Hotel, Heathrow, on Thursday 18th November 2010.

The event was a great opportunity to meet industry professionals and to showcase our equipment to the UK pharmaceutical manufacturing market.

Below are some photos from what was a great day.  Thanks to everyone who came to visit our stand!

Above: Colin Ellis, Managing Director of Hanningfield

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Posted in Hanningfield, News, Pharmaceutical, Powder Handling, Powder Processing, pharmaceutical equipment | No Comments »
15
Nov 10

High Efficiency Cyclones for the Pharmaceutical Industry

The Hanningfield ‘Uni-Dust’ high efficiency cyclone is capable of capturing up to 99.99% of excess dust from pharmaceutical processing.

The high efficiency cyclone is uniquely placed within the process room itself, capturing excess dust in a catch pot.  This prevents excess powder from flowing to the central dust extraction, preventing the blocking of filters, and the expenses that come with changing these filters.

For example. Excess powder from a tablet press or a capsule filling machine can be collected in the process room itself - making batch loss reconciliation simple.

For more information on the ‘Uni-Dust’ high efficiency cyclone, please click here.

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Posted in Cyclones, Pharmaceutical, Pharmaceutical Dust Control, Powder, Powder Recovery, Uni Dust | No Comments »
9
Nov 10

Uni-Dust Advert: Manufacturing Chemist

Hanningfield are pleased to announce a full-page advert in October’s ‘Manufacturing Chemist’.

The full-page ad, on page 23 of the magazine, highlights the benefits of the Uni-Dust cyclone to engineers around the world.

To view the advert, just click the image below:

Uni-Dust Advert in Manufacturing Chemist
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Posted in Cyclones, Dust, Hanningfield, News, Powder Recovery, Uni Dust | No Comments »
4
Oct 10

ISPE UK Affiliate Annual Conference 2010 - Table Top Exhibition

Hanningfield at ISPE UK Annual Conference

Hanningfield are pleased to announce they will be exhibiting on Stand 41 at the Table Top Exhibition at the ISPE UK Affiliate Annual Conference, Park Inn Hotel, Heathrow, London, UK on 18th November 2010.

This year’s conference will centre on ‘Sustainability – Application of the Principles in the Pharmaceutical Industry’.

Please feel free to come visit us or alternatively contact us in advance to arrange a brief appointment at your convenience.  We look forward to speaking with you.

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Posted in Hanningfield, News, Uncategorized | No Comments »
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