Ensure greater consistency in output with electromagnetic vibrators

ESS specialises in providing processing solutions to the food and beverage industry to create consistency and improve material flow. Food & Beverage News reports.

ESS Engineering works with many bulk material handling industries to help optimise processing and manufacturing output. The VSS Vibration Systems & Solutions branch of the company operates as their vibration specialists to provide tailored solutions for applications in the Food and Beverage industry.

Optimisation solutions include electromagnetic vibrator-driven feeders that help to consistently align, sort, spread, separate, and feed material at the required rate.

This is achieved by applying controlled vibration to a steel tray which moves the material in the required direction at the correct rate. The amount and type of vibration depend on the product characteristics and the weight and rate of delivery required, explains Vibration Applications Manager Steve Johnson.

In designing a solution for clients, a number of factors are taken into consideration. For example, says Johnson, “Feeders in food manufacturing facilities are manufactured in 316 stainless steel for hygiene reasons. But out in an orchid or farming environment, for example, it can be any other steel they choose.”

The choice of vibrator driver is also essential, “Electromagnetic Vibrators have a strong presence across the food and beverage manufacturing industry because they speed up the sorting process,” says Johnson.

Electromagnetic vibrator-driven feeders are ideal for the food and pharmaceutical industries because they are simpler and easier to clean and maintain.

Firstly, “a stainless steel tray is easy to wash down with any chemicals, and it doesn’t affect the vibrating equipment underneath”, and secondly, “electromagnetic vibrator driven feeders don’t wear and need replacing the way traditional rollers on conveyors do” expands Johnson.

Electromagnetic feeders are utilised across food processing in multiheaded weighing systems because they can be metered.

For example, if a client needs a flow rate of four tons per hour, an electromagnetic feeder can be configured to do this. Another advantage of electromagnetic feeders is the ability to stop and start instantaneously, which is vital in applications where the correct weight, such as packaging, is critical to the process.

Often a site can benefit from multiple electromagnetic feeders as they go through various processes around the site. Johnson explains that there may have been only a couple of feeders on-site in the past, but now “they have six or eight [feeders] running and weighing products”.

Anything that goes into a bag, for example, generally goes through a multi-head weighing system, and the bagged product needs to be delivered at the correct rate, weight, and consistency.

Using electromagnetic feeders to control the flow rate of products and materials helps to mitigate material overflow, resulting in wasted product and spillage. It also eliminates the inefficiency that is a result of insufficient flow.

ESS vibration systems and solutions are also very versatile with many applications, across many industries, from simple to automated and include retrofitting to existing processes.

“We can provide a total feeder solution, or you can buy your own electric vibrator and make your own tray. And as far as the controllers go, you can have a simple, cost-effective unit, or you can have an automated process with the features and functions you need,” said Johnson.

A well-designed solution can be incorporated into existing material feed lines or designed at the beginning of a project, concludes Johnson.