Client Overview
Client: Machine Technology, Kogarah NSW
Industry: Industrial equipment manufacturing
Challenge: Automating fine powder transfer for a scaling zeolite product line
Solution: Piab piFLOW®i vacuum conveying system
Provided by: Pneumatic Products
Machine Technology is a Kogarah-based manufacturer that was scaling up its zeolite production line to meet growing demand. Like many businesses handling fine bulk powders, they needed a powder transfer system that could keep pace with production without compromising on reliability or safety.
The Challenge: Automating Fine Powder Transfer at Scale
As Machine Technology’s zeolite product line grew, Managing Director Terry identified a critical bottleneck: manually transferring zeolite powder from bulk bags into the company’s bag-filling machine. zeolite is a fine, unpredictable material to handle in bulk, and the business needed an automated, efficient vacuum conveying solution that could manage the powder’s specific flow characteristics without constant manual intervention.
Terry reached out to Pneumatic Products to explore vacuum conveying options suited to the application – starting a collaborative process that would ultimately deliver a tailored powder handling solution.
The Solution: A Collaborative Approach to Vacuum Conveying System Design
Rather than proposing an off-the-shelf product from a catalogue, Pneumatic Products’ pneumatic specialist Edwin worked closely with Terry to fully understand the application – assessing volume, transfer distance and the material flow characteristics unique to zeolite powder.
To give Machine Technology full confidence in the proposed pneumatic conveying system, Pneumatic Products invited Terry to their workshop for a live demonstration of the Piab vacuum conveying system in action. Seeing the technology perform firsthand allowed the Machine Technology team to validate its capabilities before committing. Following a successful demonstration, Pneumatic Products quoted and supplied a complete Piab piFLOW®i vacuum conveyor system, tailored to Machine Technology’s production line.
Commissioning and Problem-Solving On-Site
Pneumatic Products’ support didn’t end at installation. The team remained on-site to assist with final commissioning – a critical stage in any complex bulk powder handling project. During initial testing, some flow-ability issues emerged with the zeolite powder under the facility’s specific conditions.
This is where the collaborative relationship paid off. Working alongside the Pneumatic Products team, Machine Technology engineered an innovative fix: fitting a small vibrator directly onto the Piab infeed nozzle. This simple but effective modification fully resolved the flow-ability issue, enabling a smooth, uninterrupted transfer of powder into the system.
Why Piab piFLOW®i for Bulk Powder Handling?
The Piab piFLOW®i is a cost-effective solution for any industry looking to automate manual material handling for improved throughput. For Machine Technology’s zeolite application, it delivered several key advantages:
- Energy Efficient Power: Powered by Piab’s COAX® Technology, one of the most energy-efficient ways to generate vacuum, keeping operating costs down.
- Robust & Safe Construction: Built from high-quality ASTM 304 stainless steel with a pickled surface treatment, and ATEX Dust certified for safe operation in combustible environments.
- Low Maintenance: Antistatic filters and seals, plus an automatic filter-cleaning function, reduce manual maintenance and unplanned downtime..
- Compact Performance: A small footprint with high throughput, allowing smooth integration into existing production lines.
The Result: A Reliable, Automated Powder Transfer Solution
Today, the Piab piFLOW®i system is running flawlessly on Machine Technology’s zeolite production line, giving the business the automated, reliable powder transfer capability it needed to support its scale-up, without compromising on safety or efficiency.
From initial consultation and live demonstration through to on-site commissioning, Pneumatic Products supported Machine Technology at every stage of the project, ensuring the vacuum conveying system delivered on its promise.
In powder handling automation, overcoming real-world challenges requires both the right product and the right support. Take the guesswork out of your material transfer processes. Speak with our Pneumatic Solutions Specialists today.