Because both questions and answers will be posted, please make sure to only include information that you are willing to have appeared on the site or advise us about which details should not appear.
Please also let us know if there are any other technical areas for which you’d like to see us line up authorities — or if you want to become an expert of BulkInside yourself.
Experts are available in the listed categories.
BulkInside reserves the right to omit questions. If your question is chosen, it will appear with the Expert answer on the site. Please check back frequently to see the answer to your question and others submitted by people in your industry.
Submit a Question
Please send us your question; we will forward it to the appropriate expert and post the answer as soon as possible.
"*" indicates required fields
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
Carrie Hartford is the Director of Business Development and Senior Project Engineer in Jenike & Johanson’s office in California. For nearly 2 decades, she has been solving challenging bulk material flow related problems around the world. Typical projects include the analysis and design of bins, hoppers, feeders, and transfer chutes. Previously, she opened and established an engineering office and laboratory facilities in Perth, Western Australia. Internationally she publishes and presents technical papers, participates in conferences, and presents numerous short courses in the field of bulk solids flow. Carrie has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MBA from Azusa Pacific University in California. She is a licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer in the State of California.
Russell Grotto serves as the Director of Operations for the Toll Processing sector of Elcan Industries’ sieving business. He graduated from Union College with a BA in Managerial Economics. His father, Bob Grotto, is the founder of Elcan Industries and served on the board of PEMA for over a decade. Russ works closely with customers to help them develop catered sieving solutions to their specific products and needs. Before becoming the Director of Operations, Russ served as an operator in the toll processing plant and has hands on experience running screening machines. Russ also works closely with the manufacturers of the sieving equipment Elcan sells and was an integral part in bringing their newest line of equipment, the Hi-Sifter, to the US market place.
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.
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.
