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Reed Corporation

Circular Screen Separators Help Granulator Provide Pure Product

Reprinted from Power Bulk Solids

Reed Corporation first opened its doors as a supplier of high purity cellulose to the food industry. As success with the Vitacel® cellulose product line was achieved, the company expanded into screening and granulating of chemicals and food additives for companies whose capacity was limited but whose processing needs were immediate.

Granulation, which is accomplished with a roll compactor contributes to dust control and flowability. These ensure high product quality and greater productivity. Powders can be granulated to any desired mesh size. Compaction of fine powders helps in many ways. These include producing uniform blends, controlling bulk density and particle hardness, and improving dispersion rates as well as dust minimization and adjusting flow rates.

To provide better service to its new customers in the chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries, Reed installed a 40" diameter VIBROSCREEN Circular Screen Separator in 1988 and a 60" diameter unit in 1989. Because these separators both have three frames and many screens, Reed can carefully control the particle size distribution for its customers. With about 40 screens of varying mesh sizes ranging from 10 to 140 on hand, Reed can meet exact customer specifications, eliminating overs and fines. Having worked with cellulose for many years, Clyde Reed, president of Reed Corp., knows the important role of particle size distribution on a food ingredient. Its effectiveness depends on using particles that are within a narrow size range. Particle size affects absorption, mouth feel and bulk.

Between every batch, Reed completely disassembles, washes, dries and reassembles its VIBROSCREEN Separator. The cleaning prevents one customer's products from contaminating another customer's product.

While screening and granulation may seem to be simple tasks, Reed uses special accessories to accelerate the process and maximize utilization. Kason Kleen Screen Rings, located on a perforated plate under the screen, and Four-finger Flexi-sweep neoprene wipers are on hand for powders that tend to blind the screen. Blinding, if left un-addressed, slows separation, leading to shipping delays, and shorter screen life and lowered production rate.

VIBROSCREEN units are efficient to operate because their efficient gyrator motors use minimum power. The motors incorporate extra large bearings to withstand years of operating under heavy loads.

Kason VIBROSCREEN units rely on modular construction design, which is particularly useful for a company such as Reed Corporation, because if a significant capacity increase is needed a Kascade Deck or a recycle frame which doubles the screen area of a screening deck can be added. These two devices would allow for a major capacity increase and they cost far less than purchasing a second circular screen separator or replacing one in use with another that has a larger diameter.

In addition to offering a broad range of modified components that may be incorporated into a VIBROSCREEN unit, Kason engineers are willing and able to design special units or special devices to help processors such as Reed Corporation achieve maximum separation, scalping and classification rates. While some processors have selected Kason for its competitive pricing, customers find that their separation equipment provides unparalleled flexibility. As a result, companies such as Reed Corporation are prepared for tomorrow's challenges as well as today's.