What’s trending in screening equipment
Demand for equipment such as compact screeners and trommel screens has grown of late. Photo: Screen Machine Industries
As equipment and technology advance, trends are constantly emerging throughout the aggregate processing cycle.
In the screening world, two different types of machines are beginning to be seen more of late: compact screeners and trommel screens.
“I would say we have indeed seen a trend toward compact equipment, both with our line and with other competitors getting into the game,” says Timothy Miller, central and international sales director at Screen Machine Industries.
In compact equipment, Screen Machine offers its SMI Compact 90TS screen.
The company also has several trommel screens in its line – the 621T, 612T, 612W and Might II.
Jeff Williams, East regional sales director at Screen Machine, agrees with Miller’s assessment off the screening market.
“I am definitely seeing more trommel interest than we have in the past,” Williams says. “Our 6-ft. x 12-ft. tracked trommel seems to be the piece that my dealers have the most success with retail-wise. On the rental side, that trommel also has the best utilization rates.“
Screen media developments
Also in demand recently, according to Screen Machine, is urethane-molded screens. This is due, in part, to their ability to handle sticky material. Photo: Screen Machine Industries
Screening media is also evolving, says Mike Zamiska, inside sales and product support manager at Screen Machine.
“We have seen an increase in requests for shape wire screens,” Zamiska says. “These are used for smaller finished product requirements in material with a higher moisture content. Back when I started, these were still somewhat new compared to the typical wire cloth, and we used to steer people away from them. But now they have evolved and become more in demand. We sell quite a bit of them.”
Shape wire screens are not woven, but rather are a collection of individual wires. This allows them to move independently of other wires, making them more readily able to process high-moisture content material as conditions warrant.
Zamiska also notes growing demand for urethane-molded screens. These screens accommodate sticky material with a very high moisture content.
Maximizing production
Screen Machine has seen an increase in requests for shape wire screens – a collection of individual wires, rather than woven wire cloth. Photo: Screen Machine Industries
While finding the right screen type and screen media are crucial steps, there are three key factors to keep in mind when it comes to getting the most out of the equipment.
1. Identify the type and amount of material you have to process.
2. Have a machine that is the right size for the amount of material being processed.
3. Use the proper sizes of screen media to allow the machine to operate at peak efficiency.
David Stewart is director of marketing at Screen Machine Industries.
Related: Polydeck visualizes the future of screening
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