During the production of myriad goods, the manufacturing process requires that a material be dried, heated, cooled or reacted to meet proper production and quality requirements for that process. Often, the equipment selected is a heated or cooled, mechanically agitated and efficient device for adding or removing energy from a process mass: a vibrating fluid-bed dryer.

Ignition sources for dust fires and explosions can take many forms. When powders are heated, however, new subtle sources of ignition hazards are revealed: Those associated with the inherent thermal instability properties of the powder being heated or dried, and the nature of the drying process.

Mars Mineral designs and builds turnkey systems to convert bulk powder materials into spherical pellets. To develop the pelletizing process for a customer, the company offers research and testing services, including the pilot pelletizing line at the company’s 45,000 ft2 (4,180 m2) production facility in Mars, Pa., near Pittsburgh.

Difficult-to-disperse powders can pose a challenge to food manufacturers due to the formation of lumps or "fish-eyes" during processing.

In many industrial processes, rotary dryers are relied upon for high capacity, consistent drying of bulk solids — and for good reason. They offer innumerable benefits, both to the process and the product.

Vibro-Bed utilizes a spraying system that introduces moisture to powdered material as it is fluidized and dried, forming agglomerates on a controlled basis.

Kason Corp. expanded its global reach by acquiring U.K.-based Kek-Gardner Ltd.

A conical bottom-agitated vacuum dryer is designed to process a range of products.