Milling industry

Consistent material flow in an organic mill: vibration prevents bridging and downtime during silo discharge of flour and meal

An organic mill with a wide product range of flours, meals and animal feed in EU organic quality operates silo and bunker systems for the storage and discharge of various grain-based products. During operation, recurring typical problems were observed during the discharge of fine and partially cohesive bulk solids:

  • Bridging formation in silos and bunkers during the discharge of flour and meal
  • Irregular or interrupted material flow
  • Requirement for manual intervention to loosen material
  • Production interruptions and increased cleaning effort

 

Consequence:
A stable, continuous material flow could not be ensured. This resulted in downtime, inefficient operating sequences and consequently increased production costs.

Our solution

To improve material discharge and stabilise bulk material handling processes, PKL pneumatic interval impactors from NetterVibration are used. These generate targeted mechanical impulses on silos, bunkers and associated components. The Netter Adhesive Mounting Console (NKK) enables permanent installation without the need for subsequent welding work on existing plant equipment. Netter adhesive mounting consoles ensure efficient energy transfer between the pneumatic impactor and the affected vessel, silo or hopper. Installation of the NKK is straightforward and comparatively fast, as the console is fixed using a specially developed elastic adhesive and subsequently serves as the support medium for selected impactors. Installation can be carried out during ongoing operations without prolonged interruption to production processes, thereby minimising downtime typically associated with welding or bolting. The positioning, configuration and control of the PKL units are individually adapted to the respective process steps and site-specific conditions such as silo geometry, material properties and installation constraints. This ensures effective impulse transmission without adversely affecting plant operation. Adhering or compacted materials are reliably dislodged by the impulse effect, significantly improving discharge from silos and big bag stations. At the same time, the performance of pneumatic conveying and dedusting systems is stabilised, as material build-up in filters and cyclones is reduced. Vibration-assisted operation acts across multiple process stages—from silo discharge and dosing points through to filter cleaning—thus contributing to a more uniform and stable material flow.

Our advantages
  • Consistent and reliable material flow without bridging
  • Reduction of downtime and manual intervention
  • Improved process stability in discharge, dosing and conveying
  • Individually tailored solution for optimal performance under varying plant and material conditions