Heat exchanger

Alfa Laval developed Fusionline, a plate heat exchanger (PHE) with plates that feature open flows and no contact points. It combines the energy efficiency and accessibility of a PHE with the viscous and particulate-handling capabilities of shell-and-tube heat exchangers, the company says. FusionLine features patented AlfaFusion cassette bonding technology where there are no plate-to-plate contact points. Combined with a special gasket design and 4- to 6-mm. gaps in the plates, fewer pressure drops are experienced and processors can achieve gentler product handling of medium viscosity food or beverage products containing particulates or pulp, according to the company. Compared to shell-and-tube units, pressure drops can be reduced by as much as 75 percent, and because of the smaller plate and frame design, customers save valuable plant floor space by up to 40 percent or more, it adds. This translates to additional efficiency benefits of installing smaller fluid handling equipment like pumps, as well as lowering overall clean-in-place consumption. Extensive testing as well as data from installed units has shown that FusionLine opens new PHE processing opportunities, including fruit concentrate, fruit juice and orange juice with high pulp and fiber.

FusionLine features a 4- to 6-mm. open channel on the product side, designated by the color red, which is fully accessible for inspection or cleaning. The open-channel design features bonded plate cassettes on the media side, which is designated by the color blue. The cassettes are bonded using Alfa Laval’s patented AlfaFusion technology, which bonds two stainless plates together into one piece with no contact points. AlfaFusion technology uses thin yet durable plates to optimize heat transfer to maintain a high resistance against product pressure. The unique channel geometry of the plate design ensures gentle product treatment. Unlike shell-and-tube units, plates can be easily added and removed, providing the flexibility to adjust capacity with production volumes.

• Alfa Laval Inc., 5400 International Trade Drive, Richmond, Va. 23231; 804/222-5300; alfalaval.com.

Business class trucks

Highlighting its Freightliner Trucks Business Class M2, Daimler Trucks North America LLC’s Freightliner trucks offer the M2 106 and M2 112 models, which both feature best-in-class visibility with a 2,500-square-inch windshield and have numerous manual, automated and automatic transmission choices, the company says. With a wheel cut of up to 55 degrees, the trucks can navigate narrow city streets or tight loading zones, it adds. The M2 106 and M2 112 also have been designed for easier maintenance and service, keeping downtime to a minimum. Adding to the value of ownership, Freightliner’s customer support offers a network of more than 300 dealers across North America and a 24-hour assistance hotline that will keep customers operating at peak efficiency every day, it says. These features help drivers deliver more products to more customers, the company says.

• Daimler Trucks North America LLC, 4435 N. Channel Ave., Portland, Ore. 97217; 503/745-8000; freightlinertrucks.com.

Digital positioner

Spirax Sarco released its SP500 Hart electro-pneumatic digital positioner supporting Hart communication protocol. The Hart protocol is comprised of a digital data transfer and communication over existing 4-20mA wiring, and requires no additional power supply or wiring to the positioner. Through the Hart protocol, the positioner can be configured and process parameters updated or modified remotely using a PC or handheld device. Embracing full flexibility and customization options, the positioner permits continuous condition monitoring, leveraging higher processing power to integrate the SP500 Hart positioner and information about its adjacent control valve into data logging applications and advanced control strategies, according to the company. The SP500 Hart positioner can be integrated into a WirelessHart protocol by retrofitting the SP500 Hart with a WirelessHart adapter. The SP500 Hart positioner also is available with 4-20mA retransmission, software switches and has the ability to be powered by an external 24V DC power supply. The SP500 Hart positioner builds from its current SP400 and SP500 product range of removing installation, commissioning and user experience complexities to minimize any plant downtime and enable the full body of features to be utilized with ease. The non-contact valve position feedback system simplifies installation while improving reliability compared to traditional mechanical methods, it says.

• Spirax Sarco USA, 1150 Northpoint Blvd., Blythewood, S.C. 29016; 800/575-0394; spiraxsarco.com.

Detection kit 

Celsis Rapid Detection launched RapiScreen Soy Beverage kit, which was designed for the detection of microbial contamination in soy and nut milks and similar beverage products. The RapiScreen Soy Beverage kit provides beverage manufacturers with test results in as few as 48 hours, compared to four to 14 days with traditional methods, enabling them to release their products to market faster, the company says. This kit complements Celsis’ existing range of testing systems and meets a growing demand by customers for rapid testing of the increasingly popular soy- and nut-based drinks, including flavored and/or sweetened almond, coconut and rice milks. Celsis also has a RapiScreen beverage kit that is used to test a broad range of fruit and vegetable juices including orange, aloe and mango. Manufacturers of packaged beverage products can use the Celsis RapiScreen Soy Beverage kit in conjunction with the Celsis Innovate luminometer and Innovate.im software to rapidly confirm the absence of microbial contamination. This helps companies save time and money by freeing up warehouse space and getting safe products to market faster.

• Celsis – The Americas, 600 W. Chicago Ave., Suite 625, Chicago, Ill. 60654; 800/222-8260; celsis.com.

Industrial vacuum

VAC-U-MAX introduced the next generation of its model 1020 continuous duty industrial vacuum, the VAC-U-MAX Model 1050. The new model boasts 100 percent more filter area for increased efficiency, a unique atmospheric blowback system that allows filter cleaning with power on, larger wheels to deliver superior maneuverability and reduced noise levels, the company says. Due to the unit’s maneuverability and powerful suction, it also can be used as a portable central vacuum system with one, two or three operators using local tubing networks in multiple areas.  Because the unit is moved to debris, it uses less energy than a central vacuum system that requires more horsepower to move material farther, it says. Two notable improvements are the unit’s increased filter capacity, which enhances the ability to handle finer powders and filter them more efficiently reducing the load on the vacuum producer, and the new unique atmospheric blowback system.  The reduced load on the vacuum producer puts more power to the end of the hose, giving the operator more power for an extended period of time, the company says. The unique atmospheric blowback system allows users to clean the filters without compressed air and without having to turn off the vacuum, increasing productivity and reducing wear and tear on the motor. Another productivity advantage is the ability to have the motor continuously running while users change out filled drums or hoppers. VAC-U-MAX has increased the diameter of the front wheels from 10 inches to 14 inches and replaced the single 8-inch caster on the rear with a dual 8-inch swivel caster, making the unit more maneuverable for a single operator. Available for combustible and non-combustible materials, the VAC-U-MAX 1050 continuous duty vacuum, offered with 10 or 15 horsepower, has 100 percent more filter area producing enhanced suction, quieter operation, enhanced maneuverability and increased productivity for high volumes of powders or heavy materials, the company says.

• VAC-U-MAX, 69 William St., Belleville, N.J. 07109; 800/822-8629; vac-u-max.com.

Fan controller app

Big Ass Fans announced the availability of its BAFWorks iPad app and fan controller. BAFWorks gives users control over a virtually unlimited number of Big Ass Fans from a single location, the company says. BAFWorks saves valuable time by eliminating individual controls in large facilities, it adds. It also provides access to real-time fan speed and status, all of which can help maximize year-round energy savings.  A lockout feature with password protection provides security and control. BAFWorks currently is available for all industrial overhead Big Ass Fans and includes an iPad, the BAFWorks gateway module and mounting bracket. Designed specifically for the new industrial line of Big Ass Fans — the Powerfoil X2.0, Powerfoil 8 and Basic 6 — BAFWorks also is compatible with previous generations of Powerfoil X fans.

 • Big Ass Fans, 2425 Merchant St., Lexington, Ky. 40511; 877/224-3267; bigassfans.com.