Sugar Handling & Processing
Significant recent events have caused sugar refiners to review how materials are handled in their production facilities. Historically the refiners have used mechanical means (screw conveyors and bucket elevators) to handle bulk sugar. Recent changes in legislature atop industrial incidents have caused producers to seek alternatives, such as pneumatic conveying, as well as address the issue of dust collection in refineries.
A visit to sugar refineries around the world will quickly reveal the industry standardization of mechanical handling techniques, but it will also show the difficulty in maintaining these systems and the hazards that can be created. There are three concerns for sugar producers and refineries where mechanical conveying raises serious questions: safety, maintenance and compliance.
Safety. Sugar refiners are looking for alternatives for mechanical conveyors for their process and safety needs.
Maintenance. Mechanical Conveyance takes up plant space and requires hours of dedicated housekeeping and maintenance
Compliance. OSHA has placed sugar handling in the high risk category and NFPA has adopted new regulations concerning explosion protection of sugar handling equipment.
Containment. Mechanical systems are open to the atmosphere, emitting dust and allowing contaminent ingress.
Safe Sugar Handling
MAC Equipment provides producers and refiners of sugar with material handling and dust collection solutions. MAC Equipment specializes in pneumatic conveying and air filtration solutions that minimize safety concerns, decrease maintenance costs and reduce the emission of dust and harmful pollutants while helping our customers improve productivity.
Dilute Phase (or lean phase) is generally used for milled sugar, where degradation of the sugar is not a concern.
Dense Phase conveying has been a staple for many years by sugar users, such as drink mix producers, to convey granulated sugar with minimal degradation.
Sugar producers and refineries are finding they too can use this method and achieve the safety and cleanliness required in their facilities.
Listed below are some types of systems and processes MAC has designed for customers in the Food Processing Industry. Please contact our dedicated sales group for more information.
Truck or Railcar loading, unloading & bulk storage systems
- In-plant transfer systems
- Sugar grinding systems
- Granulated sugar and dextrose handling systems
- Scaling systems for mixers
- Plant controls systems upgrades
- Plant dust control systems
- Citric acid, malto dextrin, dextrose, sugar and starch handling for candy plants
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