News

Rotonivo® rotary paddle switches combined with the NivoLED® status light increase visibility, process safety and response times in the wood processing industry for Hazardous Areas Large quantities of wood shavings and wood chips are generated during wood processing operations. In many facilities, these residual materials are utilised for energy generation and are combusted to produce heat and electricity. Reliable Monitoring of Wood Shavings At a major European manufacturer of wood-based materials, the resulting wood residues are utilised in an on-site biomass power plant. Before being used for energy generation, the materials are temporarily stored in several silos. Level monitoring of the facility is managed centrally via a control system. Around 300 measurement points are integrated into the central plant visualisation system. For point level detection within the silos, UWT Rotonivo® RN 6003 and RN 6004 rotary paddle level switches had already been installed. Challenge: Elevated Temperatures and Fast Status Recognition Due to the close proximity of the biomass power plant and the resulting radiant heat, elevated process temperatures are also…

Harsh industrial conditions cause inaccurate bulk solids inventory in silos. Advanced 80GHz 3D level scanners, rigorously tested for extreme environments, provide continuous, precise volumetric measurement for reliable stock control. Industrial bulk material processing relies on accurate stock monitoring to prevent unexpected production stoppages. During peak summer operations, extreme heat, high humidity, and heavy dust cause material caking along vessel walls, leading to significant inventory accounting errors. Deploying an advanced 3D level scanner for silos addresses these data gaps by replacing manual estimations with continuous radar tracking, ensuring reliable stock records, enhanced workplace safety, and seamless factory material flow. Extreme Industrial Conditions Threaten Silo Inventory Management Maintaining precise bulk inventory presents ongoing operational challenges when field sensors operate in harsh plant conditions. Silo tops frequently reach temperatures above 60°C, which can cause standard electronic components to suffer signal drift or thermal throttling. At the same time, internal humidity causes fine powders to cake and cling to internal walls, creating hollow spaces that…

3D radar replaces flawed manual yard inventory with precise, real-time volume data, overcoming dust and irregular piles to boost accuracy and efficiency. In 2026, manufacturing profits face tightening pressures from volatile raw material costs, rising labor expenses, and stricter safety rules. Today, saving operational overhead is the most direct way to protect industrial earnings. Unfortunately, the most common area for hidden losses is often out of sight: bulk material warehouses storing coal, mineral powder, cement, or grain. While these materials move in and out daily, tracking true stock levels remains a constant challenge. Traditional manual inventory checks are slow and highly inaccurate, leaving managers with unreliable data. What Causes Bulk Material Inventory Errors in Factory Yards? Accurate stock tracking inside large containment structures requires balancing several volatile physical conditions: * Dense Environmental Dust: High-volume loading creates thick particle clouds that block standard optical or acoustic tracking tools, causing frequent measurement errors. * Highly Irregular Piles: Shifting raw stocks…

Sinfimasa offers bulk solids experts a new guide for the selection and maintenance of drag chain conveyors to maximize equipment lifespan through precise material analysis and upkeep. Technical Criteria for System Selection Selecting the optimal conveyor system requires a detailed analysis of bulk material properties such as density, abrasiveness, and chemistry, as these factors significantly influence the choice of materials and the sizing of the chain and housing components. * Bulk density and grain size * Abrasiveness and moisture content * Chemical corrosivity or toxicity * Flow characteristics and temperature Custom Design for Operational Requirements Tailored designs allow for complex routing with horizontal and vertical sections, while special forged chains and wear-resistant linings guarantee high reliability under extreme conditions. * Use of double forged chains for heavy loads * Implementation of special wear-resistant linings * Integration of ATEX-certified safety components * Precise calculation of flight height and pitch Preventive Maintenance to Extend Service Life A structured maintenance program that monitors chain…

Continuous moisture measurement using near-infrared technology helps bulk material processors replace manual sampling with real-time quality control, lowering energy use and reducing product waste. Shift to proactive moisture control Continuous moisture monitoring is enabling industrial manufacturers to move from reactive quality checks to proactive process management. While parameters such as temperature or speed are widely automated, moisture content in bulk materials is still frequently measured manually or through intermittent laboratory sampling. Impact on quality frameworks and traceability Moisture directly influences how bulk solids cure, bond, dry, and handle during conveying or processing. Real-time moisture data supports quality management systems like ISO 9001 and Six Sigma by identifying variations as they occur. Timestamped measurements across production lines ensure full traceability and consistent operating conditions across distributed facilities. Operational and energy efficiency Integrating continuous inline measurement yields immediate operational benefits. Real-time data allows operators to optimize drying steps, which cuts energy consumption…

Matthias Hofmann Takes on Additional Responsibility at singold Ever since the company was founded, engineering expertise has been part of singold gerätetechnik gmbh’s DNA. With Graduate Engineer (FH) Matthias Hofmann, this tradition is being consistently pursued: the company’s long-serving Technical Director has now joined the management team alongside Oliver and Roswitha Lüer. Hofmann knows the products, applications, and customers inside out, as well as the internal systems and processes that keep them running. In his new role, he will also take on greater entrepreneurial responsibility and play an even more active role in shaping the company’s strategic development. With the expanded management team and a strong staff, singold is continuing its steady growth trajectory and systematically expanding its market presence both domestically and abroad. Interview with Matthias Hofmann Q: Mr Hofmann, you have known singold for many years as Technical Director. What does your step up to the executive board mean for the company?…

Radar sensor from UWT is the bespoke solution for content measurement Continuous level monitoring devices regulate and control liquid or solid levels in a processing plant, helping to streamline the operation, eliminate human error and thus maximise overall efficiency. And so level control devices should be and are an investment that needs careful research and consideration to ensure that the investment in such kit is wisely made. Our customer, a large paper mill based in the UK, approached UWT UK Ltd to achieve all the above for the monitoring of their coal silo and in a backwater tank. A mechanical system in the coal silo and ultrasonic technology in the backwater tank had both failed leaving the monitoring task being executed manually using a tape measure dropped in through the tops of the silo and tank. Clearly, it was time to upgrade. So the customer approached UWT UK Ltd to visit and inspect the applications and to advise on a long term, reliable solution within budget. Time & consideration During the site visit the UWT UK team spent…

Münzing upgrades an existing BVP packer with a bag placer and conveyor system. The retrofit increases automation, reuses existing infrastructure and achieves an output of 60 bags per hour at a bag weight of 20 kilograms. Modernizing a packaging process does not always require a completely new system. When existing machinery is technically sound, it can be more economical and sustainable to automate selected process steps and adapt the equipment to changing production requirements. This was the approach taken by additive manufacturer Münzing together with GREIF-VELOX. An existing manually operated BVP packer was expanded with additional components to create a largely automated packaging line. Targeted Upgrade of the Existing BVP Packer The starting point of the project was an existing BVP packer used for filling wax products with additives into bags. Instead of replacing the machine entirely, the project team assessed how the packaging process could be automated through a targeted retrofit. The system was equipped with an S1 automatic bag placer and a bag conveyor line. The bag placer automatically feeds the empty bags and positions them on the filling spout. After filling, the bags…

To ensure better protection in the future, the recycling company is now relying on T&B’s preventive fire protection solutions. Read more: REMONDIS GmbH & Co. KG, Northern Region, is a regional environmental services provider within the REMONDIS Group, headquartered in Melsdorf. The company specializes in waste management, recycling, raw material recovery, and waste disposal logistics, and serves municipalities as well as industrial and commercial customers in northern Germany and parts of central Germany. Among other things, the facilities accept, sort, process, recycle, and properly dispose of plastics, metals, waste electrical and electronic equipment, and batteries. Processing a wide variety of materials—some of which are unsorted—creates increased fire risks. Therefore, effective preventive and organizational fire protection at the facilities is essential. To ensure better protection in the future, the recycling company is now relying on preventive fire protection solutions from T&B. For the new facility in Melsdorf, the requirement was to effectively safeguard the fire-prone process area consisting…

Ultralight powders such as carbon black, silica, pigments, fibres or certain pesticides place particular demands on packaging processes. The challenge is not only to fill a product into a bag with precision. What matters is the entire process: from safe product handling and low-dust filling to compaction, sealing and the creation of stable, stackable packaging units for storage, transport and logistics. Especially when handling very fine and light bulk materials, conventional packaging methods often reach their limits. These products typically have a very low bulk density, tend to generate dust and are difficult to form into stable bags. The result can be voluminous, unstable bags that require significant storage and transport capacity and create additional challenges in downstream handling. Vacuum compaction as a key technology GREIF-VELOX’s VeloVac technology is designed specifically for these requirements. At the heart of the process is vacuum compaction for ultralight powders. By compacting the product inside the bag in a controlled way, the volume can be significantly reduced. This results in more compact, stable and stackable bags. This improves the entire…

Precise Level Measurement with Non-Contact Radar. UWT offers a range of different versions for you Dust, high temperatures, or turbulent surfaces – demanding measurement conditions are part of everyday life in many industries. Non-contact level measurement using radar has proven to be one of the most precise and reliable methods for a wide range of diverse applications. Thanks to radar technology, level measurement can be carried out accurately and without contact – even under extreme conditions. How Does Non-Contact Radar Measurement Work? Radar sensors use electromagnetic waves to determine the fill level. A high-frequency signal is emitted, reflected by the surface of the medium, and received as an echo. The time between transmission and reception determines the fill level. The 80 GHz technology ensures a highly focused signal with a narrow beam angle of just 3°. This enables precise measurements even in narrow tanks or installations with complex internals. Additionally, antennas with a small beam angle can be positioned closer to the tank wall,…

With Havel GmbH, Greif-Velox has gained an experienced partner for the Austrian market. The official signing of the partnership took place during GREIF-VELOX CONNECT 2026 in Lübeck. The Lübeck-based specialist for filling, bagging and palletizing technology is expanding its international sales structure and entering into a partnership with Havel GmbH for Austria. The aim of the cooperation is to support customers locally even more directly and to implement joint projects in the fields of filling, packaging and automation efficiently. Havel GmbH, based in Vienna, specializes in the automation and integration of packaging processes – from unpackaged products to fully palletized goods. This holistic approach is an ideal fit for Greif-Velox’s solution portfolio, which focuses on efficient, safe and future-proof technologies for industrial packaging processes. “With Havel GmbH, we are relying on an experienced partner who shares our vision of integrated and efficient packaging solutions,” says Sebastian Pohl, Managing Director at Greif-Velox. “Together, we can support our customers in Austria in an even more targeted way and implement…

Spare parts and service for underwater pelletizing (UWP) becomes third business unit alongside infrared technology for plastics and food The mechanical engineering company Kreyenborg will enter the aftermarket segment for underwater pelletizing (UWP) beginning in April 2026. Their decades of know-how in the plastics sector are presently being expanded with an all-inclusive service for systems installed in the market offering spare parts, modernization, and servicing requirements. Plates carriers and knives as well as retrofitting components and services will become available from Kreyenborg in the next few months. Above all, what customers with service needs are missing is accessibility to competent people, product availability on short notice, and maintenance service. The new division addresses these needs and complements the two business units focused on infrared technology for the plastics/ plastics recycling and the food industry. Gielen, managing partner and CEO of Kreyenborg, can build on a solid framework of experience in the expansion of this new business unit. He has been responsible for…