Bulk materials handling equipment and conveyors designer and manufacturer Hapman has added a hopper with a ribbon agitator to its Helix flexible screw conveyor Quick Ship programme.
The Quick Ship programme provides a 48-hour ship time after order receipt.
“The Helix conveyor Quick Ship programme has been around for many years. This programme is designed to support processors that need to react quickly to changing customer needs,” says Hapman product manager Mike Zeluff.
He says the addition of the stainless steel hopper with ribbon agitator was driven by the increased demand for flow aids in the programme.
Flow aids are often necessary for a hopper that holds bulk materials with a high moisture content or ability to compact.
Zeluff explains that bridging or rat-holing is a common challenge in bulk materials handling. This means the material will actually stick to the sides of the hopper and not flow into the conveyor without continued movement.
The ribbon agitator will eliminate this flow issue and keep the conveyor running smoothly and production efficient, states Zeluff.
The hopper with an integral ribbon agitator is made out of stainless steel and Hapman offers it as part of the quick ship option for the 3" model 300 and 4" model 400 Helix.
The Helix conveyor model 300 is also available in the programme with an ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene food grade hopper and discharge. The Helix model 300 and 400 are designed for reliable, point-to-point, low cost conveying.
Additional options available for the Helix flexible screw con- veyors include the hopper-mounted vibrators to further aid in material flow and Nema 4-fixed speed controls with automatic start/stop function.