News
Further signs of US recovery as demand for online moisture
analysis picks up
13th April 2010
Online moisture analysis specialist Callidan Instruments reports
a spike in sales activity in the United States during February
and March.
Through US Representative KSS (Kanawha Scales and Systems)
several of the MoistScan® online moisture analysis systems have
been supplied into a diverse range of industries for a wide
range of different applications.
One company with numerous facilities throughout the US processes
electric arc furnace (EAF) dust generated by the steel industry.
EAF dust contains approximately 20% zinc from galvanized scrap
melted by steel mini-mills. The company recently purchased a
further 2 MA-500 online microwave moisture analysers for a new
recycling facility on the back of the excellent performance of
the MoistScan® analysers at existing plants. An important part
of the value adding process is kiln drying of the EAF dust in
the creation of Crude Zinc Oxide and Iron-Rich Material. Knowing
the moisture content of the raw feed to the kiln in real time
enables plant operators to better regulate the operation of the
kiln to reduce energy consumption and to ensure a consistent
product of the right target moisture.
Another user of MoistScan® is a company that recycles and reuses
the waste generated by agriculture, construction, felled trees
and a variety of other sources. This biomass waste is currently
unnecessarily filling landfills or burned or left to decompose
at the production site, increasing air pollution. Measuring and
controlling moisture in the biomass waste is integrally
important to the energy generation process. The material is
delivered, pulverized, stored and dried before being blown into
a cyclonic combustor where it is combusted to produce steam for
electricity generation. The moisture of the pulverized wood
waste has a direct affect on the efficiency of the dryer and the
combustion process.
Another company; a well known manufacturer of snack cakes, has a
reputation for innovation and quality. In an effort to ensure
absolute quality of its cake line, the company has purchased an
MA-600 online microwave moisture analyser to continuously
monitor the moisture content of its finished product. The MA-600
is located at the exit to the oven where the cake is presented
to the analyser as a continuous block before it is cut and
packaged. Moisture content is critical for quality and shelf
life. Getting the moisture “just right” is always the operator’s
objective. A real time measure of moisture is an extremely
useful tool for achieving this objective.
MoistScan® US Distributor KSS has reported many more enquiries
in the pipeline after a rather slow 12 months. This is evidence
that activity is coming back into the market.
ENDS
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