Transport of dry goods remembered

There are countless ways to transport bulk, semi-finished and finished goods from one place to another. With the introduction of an aeromechanical transport system from Floveyor, Bascules Robbe expands the possibilities even further. Why? Because in many cases, the transport of dry goods can definitely be organized even more safely, hygienically and efficiently.

The Floveyor conveyor is an Australian-made product that provides aeromechanical transport of dry powders, flakes, granules and seeds in various applications and sectors. Bascules Robbe has equipped several installations with it over the past year and now considers it an indispensable component in a lot of bag filling stations, big bag unloading systems, tanker loaders and mixing and dosing installations that they are developing. "In almost every situation where powders and dry substances have to be transported, especially when a certain height has to be bridged, we see added value and potential. After all, the Floveyor systems can be incorporated into countless process configurations."

Efficiency

Efficiency is a key driver in any manufacturing process. "Don't be fooled by the small footprint, mobile design and low electrical power of these devices," Cedric Pollet immediately warns. "It is precisely because of their high efficiency that they can be so modestly executed. Depending on the type - Floveyor offers three models for dust- and contamination-free transport in the food sector - a flow rate of 30 to even 54 tons per hour can be processed, and that at sharp angles. That means you can noticeably reduce the footprint of the plant without sacrificing results."

Integrity

However, result is not a matter of quantity and flow alone. It is also about the quality of the product. "Let us say that the aeromechanical system is very friendly to the products being transported. This is because Floveyor's patented FloDisc technology uses centrifugal force to float and transport raw materials in a kind of air pocket in a closed tube."
The technology provides a fast yet safe way to transfer substances for food and beverage applications. "Cereals or flakes are not crushed, for mixtures, the homogeneity of the whole is maintained, and even a difficult and sticky product such as maltodextrin does not lose any integrity through transport. We have tested this ourselves in our workshops."

Hygiene

Pollet emphasizes that no product is left in the machine either, and the simple cleaning principle allows for quick product changes. "In the tests with maltodextrin, the machine was simply blown off with air for a few seconds afterwards. Nothing was left of the sticky granules." In the first place, it is the split between the dirty drive and the clean transport tube that makes the Floveyor devices a hygienic and easily cleanable system. But beyond that, there is the choice between three models. "Elementa is the basic model suitable for dry cleaning and low-risk applications; with the Nutria, the welds are a bit more meticulously finished and wet cleaning is also possible; and the Pura is suitable for CIP and steam cleaning, among other things, and thus for applications with a high risk of mold or bacterial contamination such as the transport of milk powder. Floveyor Pura is thus one of the few conveyors included in EHEDG Directive 36."

Safety

Finally, in addition to food safety, Pollet highlights the benefits for overall safety. Not only because each model is also available in ATEX version, but especially because daily processes can be organized in a safer way. "How often do we not see operators having to crawl onto a platform with heavy bags to then pour the contents into a mixing kettle? Or that big bags must be lifted many meters high to then unload them into a tanker or dosing unit? Such situations no longer occur with a Floveyor conveyor. After all, all goods can be unloaded at an ergonomic height in the container of the conveyor system, after which the aeromechanical system brings them safely and efficiently to the desired height."