Unloading, dosing and weighing of ingredients
In the dosing field we can highlight two possible systems: volumetric or gravimetric.
Volumetric
The various units designed for conveying raw materials are divided into two types depending on the product concentration in the air flow:
Milling
Mills with hammer, pins, etc., for milling all types of products with grain sizes under 1 mm.
ATEX-certified turbo mills for obtaining icing sugar.
Flow rates up to 30,000 kg/h depending on the final granulometry.
Lump breakers
One- or two-axis units for grinding caked products that form large lumps. The resulting particle size is between 2 and 10 mm, depending on the mesh size. Flow rates up to 2000 kg/h depending on the final particle size.
Micronisation
Mills for obtaining products with particle sizes of less than 50 microns.
Micro-dosing
Micro-dosing systems are applied to components handled in quantities below 1 kg. Gravimetric units are normally used given their clear advantages.
The possibility exists of using individual single-component or multi-component scales according to the required precision of scales or cross-contamination issues (allergens).
Gravimetric equipment
Gravimetric systems use weighing systems with load cells to control the amount of product by weight. These systems represent a number of advantages:
- Applicable to difficult-to-handle products and ingredients since there is no direct contact with the measuring equipment.
- Weighing systems can be used in a wide range of tanks and scales, available in various shapes and capabilities.
- Sanitary systems for regulatory compliance.
- Easy to clean since there is no contact with products.
- Greater dosing precision—since the product mass is measured directly, correction factors do not need to be applied.
- Complete automation of the system via programmable local units or centralised control systems.
- Some of the variables by which a unit can be selected are: horizontal or vertical mounting; different internal mixing elements (belts, screws, plows, etc.); mixing capabilities, mixing speed, etc.
- Design of units of varying sizes, materials and ATEX certification.
