Chemical Processing hosted a pneumatic conveying roundtable Feb. 23. Panelists were from Kansas State University’s Bulk Solids Innovation Center (BSIC) and Magnum Systems, manufacturer of material handling and packaging systems for dry bulk materials. Magnum Systems sponsored the event.
One of the main topics revolved around improvements in pneumatic conveying systems. According to Brad Schultz, regional sales manager, Magnum Systems, the technology in general has become more reliable. “A long time ago, we wouldn't sell a system or even really quote it unless we did testing. A lot of that testing was because we just didn't have experience with the materials. The confidence in the designs of the systems has definitely gotten better because of confidence in handling the materials.”
Shultz also noted that industry-wide, controls have gotten more intelligent. “You can look forward and predict when you're having a problem better than what you could five, 10 years ago.”
Benefits of Digitalization
Kevin Solofra, lab manager at the BSIC, asked Shultz about customers’ requests regarding digitalization requirements.
“[Customers don’t ask for it] very often, but when we explain what you can do, usually it's something that we add to their system. The control system is constantly logging data as to how it's performing. So, you can go back and look a month ago, two months ago and say, what was it doing then? And that really aids in troubleshooting. What I hate in the world of troubleshooting pneumatics is what I call corporate memory — nobody can remember when the first time it had a problem. Everybody has an opinion about it, but nobody has any proof of when the problem started. And so, the trending of the data over a long period of time really helps with that corporate memory. Pneumatic conveying systems don't just break overnight.”
Pneumatic Conveying Regulations
Explosion mitigation is still a moving target, according to Shultz. “Customers are starting to accept the fact that they've got to do something, but sometimes understanding exactly what the rules are is still a little fuzzy.”
Knowledge Is Retiring
Todd Smith, business and strategy manager at BSIC, asked Shultz about customer knowledge. “Do they want equipment but they're just not sure of what questions to be asking or what they need?”
According to Shultz, “There's a big generational shift right now. I'm talking to the guys who have been hired right out of school. They're smart, but they're very green. I get a lot of calls where they really don't even know where to start.”
To watch this roundtable on demand, register here.
