K-Tron, Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems, and Virto/Elcan collaborated to, present, “Advances in Material Handling & Compaction Technologies for Dry Powders,” a complimentary technical seminar that attracted more than 100 attendees, March 6-7 at the Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems facility in Summit, NJ.

The seminar offered processors detailed information on the advances in material handling and compaction technologies for the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.

The technical seminar examined a variety of important processing technologies, and offered a technical overview introducing participants to methods of both improving current operations and utilizing new process technologies. The program covered ingredient feeding, material handling via pneumatic conveying, compaction in the production of dense granules from fine powders, granulation, and screening.

Greg Boyer, marketing manager, Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems, kicked off the event by welcoming everyone and introducing the first presenter, Leonhard Heinrichsmeier, project manager, Hosokawa Bepex. Heinrichsmeier presented, “Theory of Compaction” and then spoke about size reduction technology. Demonstrations were given on the Pharmapaktor and Flake Crusher/Bexmill.

After lunch, Bob Grotto, president, Virto/Elcan, and Greg Riter, director of sales & engineering, Virto/Elcan, discussed screening, and gave a presentation detailing screening methods and types of equipment available, as well as the company’s toll processing services.

The final participant of the day was Ed Bonsall, regional sales manager, K-Tron, who presented “Basic Technologies of Feeding for Batch and Continuous Processing” and “Material Handling and Product Conveying Principles.” Demonstrations were given on both topics.