Virtually every vehicle on the road today is designed with an engine hood that can be easily opened for access to the engine, so mechanics can perform routine service and diagnose and address problems that arise during its lifespan. Without that access, cars and trucks would be nearly impossible to maintain, and service life would be short. Bulk-solids conveyor systems should be designed in much the same way, with convenient points along the length of the belt to allow technicians to inspect its condition, perform service as needed and help prevent catastrophic failure. After nearly a century of working with bulk handlers all over the world, experts have discovered that “maintenance access” is a common element for both safety and productivity across all industries. By adding safe, easy access and monitoring in the design phase, equipment can be better maintained using less labor, leading to reduced downtime. This is reflected in the cost of operation, offering a better overall return on investment. MORE

When it comes to processing bulk solids, (particle) size matters. Almost all industries rely on some sort of particle-size control within their processes, whether it is comminution (reduction of particle size by crushing, grinding or milling) or screening (separating materials based on particle size). For example, without crushing mined material, it would be impossible to extract valuable minerals and ores from the surrounding rocks. And effective screening is commonly used in the food industry to separate foreign materials and contaminants during food processing. However, crushing and screening can have unintended consequences, including causing process upsets in downstream equipment and creating potential safety issues. The good news is there are scientific approaches to evaluate these risks, and there are approaches for preventing poor process flow as a result of upstream particle-size control. This article touches on the background of comminution and screening, how both can impact processes, and how to evaluate flowability risks. MORE