Friction-free feeders

Sept. 15, 2005
Low-friction coatings from General Magnaplate Corp., Linden, N.J., prevent stainless-steel feeders that meter dry solids from getting gummed up.

General Magnaplate Corp., Linden, N.J ., provides low-friction FDA / USDA-compliant coatings that help ensure metering devices accurately measure food additives during processing.


Low-friction coatings from General Magnaplate Corp., Linden, N.J. (magnaplate.com), prevent stainless-steel feeders that meter dry solids from getting gummed up. The volumetric and gravimetric feeders must survive 20 grueling years of daily use, says their manufacturer Acrison Inc., Moonachie, N.J. (acrison.com). A key design goal for the company is ensuring minimum downtime as well as low cost of ownership for customers.

"Metal coatings play a critical part in the performance of our products primarily because of the variety of applications they serve," reports Acrison senior mechanical engineer Paul Matarazzo. "The principle issue is reducing friction to keep materials from sticking on the inside of the metal feeders."

A coating of low coefficient of friction (COF) materials prevents buildup on the machinery. This is of primary importance to manufacturers using pigments. In these applications accuracy is critical. Any metering error will directly affect endproduct color. "Obviously, this can have huge cost implications in the food industry," says Matarazzo, "where they use extremely expensive color additives." Precise pigment metering is important in automotive parts and consumer products where color is often part of brand recognition and product differentiation.

Low COF coatings that touch food must be FDA or USDA approved. And abrasion of machinery from dry bulk solids is also of great concern, says Matarazzo. "Certain materials vigorously abrade machinery causing damage that not only leads to production downtime but can also contaminate the products being metered. Tungsten carbide and silicon-type materials are particularly abrasive, leading to meter and feeder damage."

Some applications involve materials that react with stainless steel. There, explains Matarazzo, designers must specify coatings that will prevent corrosion from aggressive cleaning solutions used on packaging lines, for example.

"We also use metal coatings for applications that require a release property in high temperatures, as for feeding into a furnace at up to 1,000°F. These coatings, unlike Teflon, can withstand such high temperature."

Sponsored Recommendations

Diaphragm Pump Technology Drives Industrial Washers

Jan. 23, 2025
Discover high-performance pumps and systems built to handle various gases, liquids, and chemicals with precision.

Harmonic Drive Actuators with Integrated Drive Technology

Jan. 17, 2025
Discover the future of motion control.In this video, we explore how integrated drive technology (IDT) from Harmonic Drive is revolutionizing the precision mo...

7 factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Gear Technology

Jan. 17, 2025
Choosing a drive involves several design factors that depend greatly on the task at hand. This top 7 list will guide you, whether your task requires precise and exact movements...

What are the Benefits of Actuators with Integrated Servo Drives?

Jan. 17, 2025
Actuators with Integrated Servo Drive Technology (IDT) simplify cable management, control hardware, and commissioning while achieving outstanding performance in a compact size...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!