APEC Blog

Pneumatic conveying systems use air to create propulsion that moves materials from one place to another. Though other types of mechanical motion, like belt conveyors or screw conveyors, can be more efficient, pneumatic conveyors offer a number of advantages. When working with particular materials, pneumatic…

Screw conveyors are a simple, affordable and highly-effective material transportation method, when the conveyor is designed properly. The screw conveyor design can determine how quickly material moves through it, how the material is dispensed, and it can help to avoid problems, such as overworking the…

Pumps are one of the most valuable and integral parts of a liquid system. Whether you are working with liquid systems in food processing, pharmaceutical products, chemicals, or something else, it’s important to get the right pump. Choosing the right pump for your liquid system…

The ROI calculation for automated systems too often comes down to direct labor costs versus the cost of automation equipment. However, there are many aspects to consider. The value and cost-savings realized through automation goes beyond direct labor. If you are thinking about adding or…

Ratholing, bridging, and flushing are just a few of the problems that can arise as material flows through a hopper and into a feeder. Instead of dealing with these issues as they arise, it’s best to optimize and feeder and hopper design to prevent or…

Automation can improve the efficiency, safety, accuracy and speed of a process, but it also requires careful planning. There are many factors to consider and it can be difficult to know when a process should be automated. If you are wondering about automating a process…

In our previous post, we discussed the benefits automation equipment can have on business and on workers. One of the benefits of automation equipment and robots over humans is the machines’ ability to perform the same task continuously, consistently and reliably, without risk of injury…

Recent events shed a light on the potential downside to setting up manufacturing in other countries in order to cut labor costs, and the instability that can occur without established links in the labor force. More and more companies are looking at the long-term costs…

Ribbon blenders, paddle mixers and other types of food mixture machines and industrial mixers are integral to an ingredient system. With proper maintenance, these mixers can last for decades. Without proper maintenance, they may wear out prematurely.   Setting aside time to regularly perform ingredient mixer…

A powder feeder can improve your system efficiency by metering the right amount of materials from the ingredient source—such as a bulk bag or another container—into a mixer or another downstream process. Many ingredients can be challenging to work with, and knowing how to customize…