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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
Matthew is a mechanical engineer holding an honours degree from the Auckland University of Technology and has been responsible for BFM® Global’s product development, testing and compliance programme for over 7 years. Matt’s experience is centred on the powder handling industry with a specific focus on flexible connectors, and all the compliance requirements around them. From food to pharmaceutical and all industries in between, Matt works with our Distributor partners, end users and OEMs from Europe, Asia and the Americas to solve application challenges. He regularly attends industry tradeshows around the world and understands the complex requirements of each different market.
Paul Malcolm, General Manager of Engineering at Pneuvay Engineering, has been with the company since 2008. He is a highly experienced and qualified engineer, holding both advanced and associate diplomas. Paul is an expert in designing lean and dense phase pneumatic conveying systems and works by the motto, “Excellence is not a skill, it is an attitude”. Outside of work, he enjoys fishing with his son and playing with his daughter.
Rob van Zetten is Senior Account Manager Benelux, Scandinavia, and the Baltic states at DMN-WESTINGHOUSE. With over 30 years of work experience in bulk solids, he knows all the ins and outs of the industry: from complete processes to working with components.
His broad market and industry knowledge is second to none. Due to his experience with numerous system integrators in various technical and commercial roles, he is perfectly capable of calculating a clear ROI and TCO. In his current position at DMN-WESTINGHOUSE this experience comes in very handy. He advises which rotary valve or diverter valve to place in which situation and takes both the sustainable and the financial side of the solution into account. His knowledge of the process ‘up- and downstream’ is of great added value. Rob is a specialist in the field of Aquaculture and also has demonstrable knowledge in the field of Food, Pharma, Petfood, Chemicals, Plastics, non-woven materials, and minerals.
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.
