Versatile New Vertical Milling Technology

UK-based International Innovative Milling Technologies Ltd (IIT) has developed new low-energy milling technology for a wide range of powder processing applications.

The new M350 milling system extends the company’s M-Series range of vertical roller mills and is a direct outcome of the company’s involvement in the Project Chariot powder manufacturing program.

Headed by Procter and Gamble’s Technical Centre as part of the UK government's Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI), the three-year collaborative project was involved in the development of new technologies for advanced powder handling and processing applications.

IIT’s new M350 mill is specifically designed to accommodate an output capacity range of up to 4.5 tn/hr for single-pass applications and 500 kg/hr for finer products requiring classification. In this way the mill provides a versatile and flexible solution for the effective size reduction needs of a wide range of bulk materials across the complete scale of hardness up to 9.5 Mohs.

The M350 is compatible with the processing needs of a wide range of minerals and other industrial products, including glass, sodium bicarbonate, iron slag, sodium sulphate, limestone‚ zircon sand, silica sand, pet-coke, fly ash, and different types of blast furnace slag.

The design of the ATEX-compliant mill is based on a patented centrifugal grinding mechanism, utilizing a special pivoting roller assembly and a static grinding ring to provide a highly energy-efficient size reduction capability. The modular assembly of the M350 is also designed for efficient strip-down, cleaning, and maintenance, and includes a variety of construction material options to suit specific markets and applications.

The design also minimizes induced airflow through the mill. This feature reduces the ancillary equipment needs associated with similar mills and makes the complete installation smaller and, hence, better value.

These features, together with a non-captive bed, a profiled spreader plate, and other design innovations, means that the size of the milled product remains consistent. In addition, accurate control of particle size distribution changes can be achieved by smooth operating adjustments to the rotational speed of the mill – providing true ‘one pass’ milling if required.

For speed of installation the low-mass mill and its associated control system package are mounted on sub frame assemblies, which can be easily transported between different process locations for maximum feedstock and operational versatility.

As a result, the ergonomically designed mill can be utilized for a range of powder processing applications, including process validation, batch processing, research and development, material preparation, and pre-processing routines.

International Innovative Technologies Ltd, Gateshead, UK +44 (0) 191 491 3136 www.iituk.com

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