Food processors frequently test, and sometimes even retest, their goods on conveyor systems that they are thinking about buying. All food products and raw ingredients, after all, have unique properties that will dictate how they respond to the strains and stressors of transportation. Important information on flow characteristics, throughput, breakage possibility, safety precautions, cleaning needs, and maintenance procedures is provided by this testing. It is also essential for permitting precise sizing and evaluation of equipment.

Material Testing – Gathering Information Before Purchase

To gain a better grasp of the material properties of their product before purchase, many in the industry are now doing material testing beforehand. Powders can be assessed to determine bulk density, moisture content, and angle of repose to determine flowability in a fully furnished laboratory.

These tests are yielding a wealth of information that is being used to solve product-specific issues with powder, including stickiness, abrasiveness, compaction, and inadequate flowability. These elements may even be quite important when choosing between tubular cable drag, flexible screws, and aeromechanical conveyor systems.

“With material testing, the main concern is usually conveyability. Through laboratory analysis, we can assess the flowability of the material to determine the throughput [a conveyor] will be able to deliver,” says Dr.-Ing. Emmanuel Ricohermoso III, Operations and Testing Manager of Automated Handling Solutions Germany GmbH Test Center in Friedrichsdorf.

Automated Handling Solutions (AHS) – Market Leader In Material Handling

Including Cablevey Conveyors, a market-leading OEM of tubular cable drag conveyors for food and high-value industrial applications, and Spiroflow, a global manufacturer of material handling equipment and provider of control systems integration, Automated Handling Solutions (AHS) offers a full suite of material handling equipment and industrial automation.

Food processors can choose the kind and brand of conveyor and make informed decisions about it based on known material attributes by using rigorous testing. By using this method, equipment engineers may also design specialized solutions that meet the unique needs of processors, resulting in increased productivity, uptime, conveyor dependability, and product quality.

More Assessable and Comprehensive Testing

Reputable OEMs have made investments in state-of-the-art facilities to provide food processors with complete material characterization and conveyor testing services. These services are easily accessible from major international airport hubs and are frequently offered for free or at a very low cost.

For instance, the AHS Germany GmbH Test Center is a testing facility spanning 645 square meters (6,942 square feet) that is centered around a test workshop furnished with product transfer systems from brands such as Cablevey Conveyors, Spiroflow, and the Advanced Material Processing (AMP) group of companies Kason and Marion.

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