Problem:

An automotive assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan utilizes their own coal- fired utility. The company has experienced build up on a number of chutes in their fuel-handling system. As a result, air lances and shovels must be used daily to clean the build-up to avoid ongoing problems. Unfortunately, dealing with this issue meant that operators had less time to focus on other areas of the plant. Additionally, fly ash hoppers were bridging. The vibrators being used were not effective in providing enough vibration or were simply malfunctioning altogether.

Situation:

Martin Vibration Systems did two things. First, we sold the plant an NTS 54/02 on a VAC 20 MOUNT. Second, we recommended NTS Vibrators with FRL units. The company purchased an NTS 50/01 and an NTS 54/02.

Solution:

The portable unit has resolved the issue of buildup, which effectively allows the operators more time to spend in other areas of the plant. Additionally, the new NTS units will be evaluated to determine which offers superior performance. The best of the two will be selected for their 23 ash hoppers.

Problem:

An ostrich farm was searching for a faster and more efficient way to remove unwanted waste from their many ostrich pens throughout the property.

Situation:

The farm’s previous method utilized a screen, and it required the tedious task of tilting and shaking the waste by hand. It had been situated on a 4×8 golf cart trailer for portability, and the tires were used as a vibrating mechanism between the ground and the trailer.

Solution:

Ultimately, the solution was to attach our vibrator model CDS36-390 to the center of the reinforced screen frame, with it tightly secured to the trailer. The material now easily flows through the screen and can be re-spread again upon removal of the screen. The operation must be performed daily, and now it is completed by only one person in just one-fourth of the time.

Problem:

A manufacturer who is located in Midland, Michigan was using a wood-burning powerhouse for its plant. The issue at hand was that the wood was forming unnecessary bridges inside of their five feeders.

Situation:

The company applied vibrators to shake the wood bridges loose, but unfortunately, they only found minimal success. Plant operators then had to take the time to ultimately loosen the bridges, which was not an optimal solution.

Solution:

The solution was ultimately found by mounting several NTS 50/04 vibrators from Martin Vibration Systems. The vibrators were set up on a timer system to supply air every minute for 15 seconds to each vibrator. This solution has since solved the manufacturers’ bridging problem. Consequently, wood successfully finds its way to the belts. As a result, the operators of the plant are now able to work in other areas thus solving a time management issue.

Problem:

A Wisconsin Confectionary was in immediate need of specific equipment in order to properly prepare their candies for human consumption. The candies initially required separating and then spreading on a processing belt to get the candies ready for coating.

Situation:

Unfortunately, the confectionary was having issues separating its small, flavored candies and dry chocolates evenly for a coating application. As a result, the company was experiencing a high amount of waste due to the clumping of the candies and chocolates.

Solution:

Martin Vibration Systems promptly installed our NTK Oscillators to the shaking-zone frame to control noise and to create vibration between 60 to 70 dBa. Additionally, there was no oil mist discharge present.
Our Oscillators boast an instant stop and start capability, and as a result, the lubrication-free equipment has considerably improved the packaging process of the Wisconsin confectionary, now resulting in very low waste of the candies and chocolates.

Problem:

A well known Food Company of Kitchener, Ontario is a manufacturer of biscuits and cookies. The company uses several of our Piglet Belt Scrapers to make cookies which contain marshmallows and chocolate.

Situation:

On a visit to the plant, an engineer inquired as to whether or not we could address and possibly fix a vibration issue. It turns out that a pivoting motion was causing an arm weldment to repeatedly strike a wire mesh screen belt and cause a pivoting oscillation in an axis. As a result, cookies and chocolate were passing through the system, and the ingredients were creating a mess of the screen which was to be recycled.

The issue was one of quality control. The amount of chocolate adhering to the screen versus the amount of chocolate passing through the screen was the problem. Despite the temperature control and the fat formulation, originally the end product was not turning out as expected.

Solution:

The NTK Pneumatic Oscillator was the solution to the problem, as it was found that it works in a pivoting motion. The operator is now working correctly to consistently produce a delicious, high quality cookie.

Problem:

A manufacturer in Midland, MI uses a wood-burning powerhouse for their plant. The problems they were having was the wood was forming bridges inside their five feeders.

Situation:

They tried using vibrators to shake the wood bridges loose but only had minimal success. Operators had to take time to loosen the bridges.

Solution:

Our solution was to mount several NTS 50/04 vibrators. The vibrators wereset up a timer system to supply air every minute for 15 seconds to each vibrator. This has solved their bridging problem. Therefore, wood gets to their belts and the operators are free to work in other areas of the plant.

Problem:

A manufacturer of stainless food handling equipment was having a problem with product damage in the handling of Spanish-style peanuts. The stainless storage bin metered on to a belt at various rates depending on package size.

Situation:

The current solution was to hammer on the bin with a rubber mallet to induce heavier flow for larger packaging.

Solution:

The addition of a MARTIN® CD18—470 Vibrator (set back to the lowest setting) moves the product smoothly with minimal damage.

The manufacturer has since standardized on our products.

Problem:

A Michigan manufacturer was experiencing a buildup of limestone fines on the bottom slope section of their screens. This buildup caused the bottom screen to blind which would then cause the next screen to blind, and so on until every screen deck was blinded to the top.

Situation:

If the conveyor feeding the screen was not shut down in time tons of material would spill and overflow. Then production would come to a halt. They would have to hammer out the buildup, which would take hours and therefore costs would be passed on to the consumer.

Solution:

Our solution was to mount a non-impacting vibrator to the sloped section of the screen to remove the fines. The NTS 54/02 with VAC 20 Mount was assembled to test. We let the unit run for one hour. The results no fines build up, no blinding of the screens and no loss of production.

Problem:

A chemical plant was having a problem with material moving through a 60″ x 12″ chute with the help of a piston vibrator caused enough noise that “neighbors” complained. I realized that linear vibration would move the material, so the impacting, quiet.

Situation:

This company makes a variety of chemicals in small lots to test for mass production. Material size, consistency, and moisture content changed daily causing it to rathole and bridge in the dryer.

Solution:

The solution was to use an NTS 50/10 mounted on the dryer. This allows the customer to easily adjust the frequency and amplitude to meet changing demands. Also, the vibrator rotates with the dryer; therefore, the quick-connect air couplings increase efficiency.

Problem:

A large blending plant in Illinois was experiencing difficulty filling their large bagging machine.

Situation:

As the bagging machines filled, hopper levels were visually checked with a slight glass. Oftentimes, flour would plug these sight glasses resulting in lost production.

Solution:

An NTK-8 was super-glued to the sight glass. This small amount of vibration kept the glass clear with no damage to the glass.