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 Looking Vacuum & Conveying Systems Recommendation
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StrapGod Senior Member Posts: 23 |
posted January 19, 2003 05:51 PM
  
Hello friends - quick summary: I currently operate vacuum systems from Con-Air and have to move material - Polyester pellets and regrind(bulk density in the 18 pounds/cu ft area - very light and fluffy) - these materials must be moved from dumpers/silo's to blenders, then to dryers, then to the extruders. My problem - consistant reliability problems with the equipment. Popper valves failing, holes in hoses, pipes comming loose, circuits failing. I understand preventitve maint - I really do - but I am wondering about the overall reliability of Con-Air equipment. If anyone has any recommendations out there I would love to entertain them. The frequency of problems is not predictable and often problems are different. Thanks everyone! IP: Logged |
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zabielski Senior Member Posts: 386 |
posted January 20, 2003 07:41 AM
Strapgod: So who "installed" the Con-Air system; they or you? Electrical failures may be related to your grounding system, and hose wear & tear is common. Pipes coming loose can be typical if you don't torque the bolts evenly. Even if you do, the constant vibrations sneak up on you. You can do a search under auxiliary equipment in the spe4.org forum to find alternate suppliers, but if your already "fixed-in-place", it would be a new an expensive remidy. I'd highly suggest you have Con-Air service tech's come on over - of face a bill for down-time periods. IP: Logged |
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Bob Cunningham Senior Member Posts: 115 |
posted January 20, 2003 01:33 PM
Many of the blender companies also do material handling - HydReclaim (AEC) and Formost both do, if memory serves. HydReclaim had some pretty neat stuff (piping, etc.) last time I looked. Or like Zabelisky said, you might have the ConAir guy come in- this stuff isn't always as simple as it seems on the surface. Things like pipe radii and diameter can play havoc if not sized properly. -Bob Cunningham IP: Logged |
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BrianAndLiz Senior Member Posts: 42 |
posted January 26, 2003 02:39 PM
We've worked with Novatech, Conair, Whitlock, BryAir and Formost. In order of recomendation from the Operator Side of things: Formost, Novatech, Whitlock, BryAir, then distant last Conair. Conair broke down all the time. Never had a lick of trouble out of our Formost stuff. For the hoses wearing out, look into an aftermarker abrasion resistant hose. Or, if money is no object, set up fixed feed stations. Metal pipes leading from a ground-level feed station to the loader, with only a short flex tube to accomidate different boxes/bags/garbage-cans. Good luck and let us know how you make out! IP: Logged |
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BrianAndLiz Senior Member Posts: 42 |
posted January 26, 2003 02:39 PM
We've worked with Novatech, Conair, Whitlock, BryAir and Formost. In order of recomendation from the Operator Side of things: Formost, Novatech, Whitlock, BryAir, then distant last Conair. Conair broke down all the time. Never had a lick of trouble out of our Formost stuff. For the hoses wearing out, look into an aftermarker abrasion resistant hose. Or, if money is no object, set up fixed feed stations. Metal pipes leading from a ground-level feed station to the loader, with only a short flex tube to accomidate different boxes/bags/garbage-cans. Good luck and let us know how you make out! IP: Logged |
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Paladine Member Posts: 1 |
posted January 30, 2003 03:54 PM
Hello Strap God: Your problem isn’t unique, nor is it limited to Con-Air vacuum loading equipment. I ran across a problem with symptoms similar to the ones you describe 10 years ago at a plastics company in Cleveland, Ohio. They were using Foremost equipment and were in effect chasing their tails in trying to prevent unscheduled downtime due to equipment failure also. What I learned while working with this company is that the problem is industry-wide and it stems from complacency. As long as the plastics industry will pay for its own problems, the vendors that supply the equipment needed by it are never going to improve the quality of said equipment, because frankly, their making more money selling spare parts than they are from selling the original equipment. What the bulk conveying equipment supplier’s need from the plastics industry to cure this problem Strap God, is a wake-up call like the one given to the automobile industry by the Japanese in the 1980’s. If the industry truly wants quality equipment that does what it was bought to do, then it’s going to have to force its suppliers to sell it to them by spending its money some place else. The company I mentioned went national with this concept 10 years ago, and they’ve been running trouble-free ever since. IP: Logged |
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