Multi-Ingredient Handling

Overview

Multi-ingredient pneumatic conveying systems are ideal for applications where accuracy, consistency, and purity are essential, making them extremely popular in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and chemical industries.

Automating multi-ingredient handling with a pneumatic conveying system allows you to carry out complex processes with precision while eliminating manual dumping and fugitive dust exposure; avoid potential spills, mishandling, and contamination; improve compliance across the board (OSHA, FDA, USDA, NEMA); and increase productivity.

Multi-ingredient systems are often batch weigh systems, but they can also be designed as continuous, gravimetric, or volumetric feeding systems. While batching is common for high-accuracy and recipe-driven applications, continuous systems may also be used for high-volume, steady-state production where ingredients flow without interruption

Similar to our batch weigh systems, VAC-U-MAX Multi-Ingredient Handling Systems are highly customizable and versatile, with countless possible configurations, pickup points, processes, etc.

• Precision: Our engineers will custom design and program your PLC-control panel to automatically and accurately control material as needed for your operation.
• Clean & Compliant: Using vacuum to move materials in a totally enclosed, hygienic, and dust-free system ensures cleaner product, a safer workplace, and a cleaner production line. 316L stainless steel fabrication is available for pharmaceutical and food-grade applications.
• Automation: Multi-ingredient systems can manage multiple recipes and batching sequences with PLC-based controls.
• Reliability: VAC-U-MAX multi-ingredient pneumatic conveying systems are low maintenance, reliable, and extremely accurate.
• Safety and Efficiency: Automating transfer eliminates manual labor, such as heavy lifting and bag dumping, and reduces operator exposure to airborne dust. It also means less maintenance and downtime across the board.

Features

When we develop a system for you, we bring 70 years of experience in the business, over 10,000 materials handled, and our full arsenal of solutions and capabilities.

GENTLE, DUST-FREE TRANSFER

• Material is drawn directly from drums, super-sacks, storage containers, totes, or other process vessels — without manual lifting, stair-climbing or messy dumping.
• Automated systems can be completely sealed minimizing contamination and fugitive dust. • Any potential leakage will be inward — no hazardous materials discharged into work area.
• Filtration based on application requirements — Unifilter, Multi filter (sock), Multifilter (pleated bag), or cartridge filter
• All systems are available with secondary HEPA filtration located ahead of the vacuum producer.

SANITARY DESIGNS

• Material of construction ranges from 304SS or 316L
• CIP-able Designs / Insertable Spray Balls • All finishes: Your spec or ours, up to mirror-finish • No tools required for disassembly, easy sanitary ferrule fittings • Modular design facilitates easy cleaning
• “No Edges, No Ledges” design with welds ground smooth

ECONOMICAL

• Long service life / lower cleaning costs
• Minimal maintenance — few moving parts
• Reduced downtime, reduces operating costs

VERSATILITY

• Vacuum conveying lines can be routed between floors, through partitions, around machinery — can easily be re-routed to accommodate process modifications.
• Adaptable to many process operations — easily integrated and automated.
• Floor-level loading, no manual lifting or messy dumping.
• Mobility brings vacuum conveying to process vessel.

SAFETY & CERTIFICATION

• Explosion protection available based on the application.
• Rupture Discs, Flame-less Venting, Chemical Suppression, Pressure Containment, Inlet & Outlet Isolation Valves
• In-House Passivation & Dye-Penetrant Testing
• FDA Documentation, Passivation Certificates of Compliance and Mill Certifications
• Bag-in-Bag-Out Filtration
• Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) available in our 6,000 square foot customer test lab located in Belleville, NJ.

CONTROLS

• VAC-U-MAX is a UL-certified control panel designer and builder for General Purpose (NEMA 4), Class 1 (NEMA 7/9), Class 2 (NEMA 4/4x with Purge or Pressurization, and Controls with ATEX-approved components.
• VAC-U-MAX controls with local PLC or remote plant system including Allen-Bradley, Siemens, RTU, Modbus +, Modbus/ TCP, Allen Bradley DF1, Device Net, Ethernet/IP & Profibus DP.
• Conveying with inert gas

Capabilities

VAC-U-MAX CAPABILITIES

• Direct charge loading of blenders, mixers, reactors and other vacuum tolerant vessels
• Automatic weighing & batching of multiple ingredients
• In-line check sieving while conveying product
• Dust-free transfer to tablet presses and capsule fillers
• Conveying tablets, gel caps, empty or filled capsules
• Delivering product, containers, and closures to filling and packaging machines
• Integration & automation of material transfer & controls
• Maximize regulatory compliance
• Sanitary designs, “No edges, no ledges”
• CIP-able designs
• Hand polishing to mirror finish
• In-House Passivations and Dye-Penetrant Testing
• In-House Engineering for Approval Drawing Submittal

FULL SERVICE TEST LAB

• 6000 ft2 (560 m²) test lab
• 400 ft (120m) tube runs • Full scale testing with customer supplied ingredients
• Expert consulting and design engineering
• Convey handfuls to 25,000 lbs/hr (11,400 kg/hr)
• Line size availability up to 4” (100mm) OD
• Material tests for vacuum conveying applications
• Material tests for aero-mechanical conveying
• Material tests for flexible screw conveying
• Material tests for bulk bag loading/unloading
• Material tests for bag dump stations & more!
• Witnessed or virtual testing
• High vacuum pump capabilities up to 29” Hg (982 Mbar).
• Industrial vacuum cleaner testing
• Equipped with VAC-U-MAX Central Vacuum System