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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
Chris Nawalaniec is President at Stedman Machine Company, the Aurora, Ind.-based manufacturer of size reduction equipment and systems, founded in 1834. Nawalaniec graduated from the University of Cincinnati (BSME, MBA) and has more than 30 years professional experience in size reduction and particle size separation.
David Hyer has led Thayer Scale as President and General Manager since 2016, overseeing all aspects of daily operations and long-term strategic direction. He originally joined the company in 1985 as a college student writing machine-level code for the PI-164 instrument, returning in 2013 after a successful career in senior leadership at Teradyne and two venture-backed technology ventures.
Prior to rejoining Thayer Scale, David served as Division Manager for Teradyne’s circuit-board test and inspection business, where he was responsible for P&L and led global sales, engineering, and service teams. His broader background includes senior roles in sales, business development, and product strategy across high-growth technology companies.
David brings deep expertise in the design and manufacture of precision conveyor belt scales and gravimetric feeders. Under his leadership, Thayer Scale has strengthened its focus on product specialization, engineering excellence, and rigorous quality, delivering solutions tailored to the demanding needs of the Food, Energy & Building Products, and Chemical & Industrial markets.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University. David and his wife have three children, and he enjoys tennis, golf, and spending time on the water.
Weighing Expert at Hense Wägetechnik GmbH. Know-How and experience: Extensive experience in development of different types of belt scales, solid flow meters and smart electronic systems for retrofit able weighing systems for silos on steal constructions and skirts. Describe your requirements to Andreas and he will assist you both in planning new systems and in improving the efficiency of existing processes.
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.
