OCT. 9–LANCASTER, PA–Chrysler Corp. made the Duster, but Pelletron Corp., a developer of contamination control technology, has unveiled the Deduster.
In an effort to promote the technology, Pelletron has announced a free testing program to demonstrate its de-dusting equipment and the impact it can have on improving productivity and profit margins.
The test measures the results of removing dust contaminants from sample plastics materials during the pre-production process.
The program, according to Pelletron, is available to plastics, pharmaceutical, food processing, automotive and medical devices manufacturers, as well as others interested in improving the quality of raw materials prior to production.
Pelletron will de-dust up to 50 pounds, 1.5 cubic feet, of sample material at no cost, except for shipping. More extensive testing, involving larger quantities of material, is available at a nominal fee, which can be credited to the purchase of a de-dusting system.
“Whether you manufacture automotive parts, medical devices, or raw plastics material, the Pelletron system is an effective de-dusting technology,” said Jerry Paulson, president and CEO of Pelletron. “The removal of dust particles from the production process is a vital step in increasing productivity, reducing scrap, and improving product quality. The return on investment from implementing a Pelletron system can often be measured in a matter of weeks or even days.”
Paulson says the testing program would demonstrate Pelletron’s de-dusting technology, compared to other processes, and its cost effectiveness in a variety of plant conditions.
Product contamination is caused by the pneumatic conveyance of raw material ? such as plastic pellets through the production process. As the material is conveyed, pellets collide, causing minute particles, including fines, fluff, and streamers to break off, resulting in dust contaminants. As the material moves, a static charge builds causing dust to attach to the pellets. If not removed, the contaminants can burn or bubble when processed, resulting in a rejected end product.
The patented Pelletron Deduster uses a flux field generator with a low power electromagnetic field to disrupt the electrostatic bond between a pellet and the dust. The pellets and dust fall to the surface of the primary air wash deck, where they are flushed with air that lifts the lighter contaminants above the main product stream.
Fines, fluff and streamers are carried out of the de-duster and into the dust collector. The air is filtered at the blower inlet and re-circulated to the air wash deck (closed system). The cleaned pellets are discharged through the product outlet at the base of the unit.