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Latest questions
Equipment for toasting soybeans?
What information do you have about toasting soybeans and suitable equipment? The aim is to lower the levels of urease and TIA in the soybean to make the product better adapted to poultry and pigs.
Minimum conveying velocities for various particle types
I am currently in the process of designing a dust collector. One of the first steps involves specifying the correct minimum conveying/pickup velocity at the inlet of the hood. It is to be used in the baking industry and can see anything from different flours, sugar, salt, seeds, whole buns, etc. After a couple hours of research I’ve realized it...
What Do Chutes And Hoppers Do In Pneumatic Conveying Systems?
A pneumatic conveying system can’t function without the combination of chutes and hoppers – they are integral and critical components that are inseparable because they act as a giant funnel that helps to get your material into your system.
What Is Saltation Velocity?
Saltation velocity is the speed below which particles being conveyed through a pneumatic conveying system lose suspension and begin to deposit at the bottom of horizontal pipelines.
Are All Moisture Sensors Equal?
When working with materials that can hold water, it is always important to know how much water is contained inside it. Depending on the size of the particles, storage method, temperature, and many other factors, some materials can hold more water than others.
Our experts
Travis has over 20 years of experience in the dry bulk solids industry and is the President at Vortex, an engineering and manufacturing company that specialises in process valves and loading solutions specifically for solids handling. Travis has worked on solution-driven installations across six continents and has a strong knowledge of market-specific regulations and requirements within the industry.
Sami Koskela is the Head of Business Unit at Laitex, a Finnish expert company specializing in bulk material handling solutions for demanding industrial applications worldwide. For over a decade, Sami has been solving complex bulk material handling challenges across industries such as energy, wood processing, chemicals, mining and environmental technologies.
In his current role, Sami is responsible for driving complex, turnkey material handling solutions, managing the entire sales process from early-stage customer engagement to final contract negotiations. He works closely with cross-functional internal teams and key external stakeholders to ensure the delivery of tailored, value-adding solutions that meet each customer’s specific process and material requirements. Sami plays a key role in helping customers overcome challenging bulk material problems by combining technical insight with practical project experience. He is well prepared to discuss, analyze, and recommend customized, full-scope material handling solutions for a wide range of demanding applications.
Dr.-Ing. Johannes Lottermann studied safety engineering before he worked for DMT GmbH & Co. KG, an independent engineering and consulting company. He managed the department of technical fire and explosion safety. In 2010 he started to work at REMBE GmbH Safety + Control and is in his role as Director Explosion Safety responsible for the (inter)national customer base with a focus on consulting and engineering. Johannes Lottermann is a member of numerous expert committees and international professional associations such as the VDI, VDSI and VGB.
Chris Harrison began his career by studying Mechanical Engineering and Computing at college before joining Trantec Solids Handling Ltd, where he has now built over 10 years of hands-on technical experience within the bulk solids handling industry.
Working in a technical role, Chris provides customer support, product trials, machine design and system development, supporting customers across a wide range of powder and bulk handling applications. His expertise centres on metering and feeding systems, including gravimetric and volumetric feeders, flexible screw conveyors and micro-dosing solutions, delivering reliable and hygienic handling solutions tailored to specific process requirements.
Chris has extensive experience in the handling of troublesome and difficult-flowing powders, as well as the design and specification of batch weighing systems and weighed processes. He also provides specialist support for ATEX applications and hazardous area requirements, ensuring systems are designed and implemented in line with current safety standards.
With strong knowledge of PLC systems and their integration into materials handling equipment, Chris supports the development of automated and efficient feeding and weighing solutions.
By combining engineering knowledge with real-world materials handling experience, Chris delivers practical, cost-effective and fully optimised solutions that improve reliability, accuracy and long-term performance for customers across multiple industries.
