Reliable screw feeding depends on more than achieving the required feed rate. Modern production environments also require equipment that integrates seamlessly into existing processes and is easy to maintain.
As Trantec Solids Handling celebrates its 30th anniversary, the True-Flow Screw Feeder range draws on three decades of engineering experience in developing effective material handling solutions. Designed around robust construction and dependable performance, the range reflects an engineering philosophy focused on delivering the right solution for each application.
Designed around practical requirements
Every production process presents its own challenges, but the best solution is not always the most complex. In many manufacturing environments, the priority is a screw feeder that delivers accurate, repeatable material flow while remaining easy to operate and maintain.
This requirement shaped the development of Trantec’s True-Flow range. Purpose-built for consistent material feeding across a wide range of industrial applications, it focuses on the features that improve day-to-day operation, making it intuitive to use, simple to service and cost-effective to own.
Each feeder is designed around the operating requirements of the application. A modular design allows additional options to be incorporated where required without compromising the engineering principles on which the True-Flow range is built.
Robust performance for demanding production environments
Industrial feeding equipment must reliably handle abrasive and difficult materials, as well as free-flowing over prolonged periods. Achieving this requires mechanical strength and a design capable of withstanding everyday production wear and tear.
Manufactured from stainless steel, the True-Flow feeder range is designed and manufactured entirely in-house, enabling every stage of production to be carefully controlled, from initial engineering through to final assembly. By avoiding unnecessary complexity, the straightforward mechanical design simplifies routine servicing, helping reduce downtime while making inspection and maintenance quicker and easier.
Interactions with their customers influenced this design philosophy; for example, one customer experienced problems caused by small metal fasteners inadvertently entering existing feeding equipment, resulting in blockages, component damage, and costly downtime.
To validate this engineering approach, Trantec’s engineering team carried out practical in-house testing. This included introducing M6 steel nuts into a running Trantec screw feeder and evaluating how the machine responded when small unexpected metal objects entered the system. With some minor adjustments, instead of jamming, the feeder continued operating and discharged the nuts, demonstrating the robust mechanical design that underpins Trantec’s approach to screw feeder development. While no screw feeder is intended to process foreign objects during normal operation, the testing demonstrated the value of engineering equipment capable of tolerating the unexpected demands of real manufacturing environments.
Versatility across a wide range of bulk solids
Understanding the material being handled is fundamental to selecting the right screw feeder. Differences in bulk density, particle size, flowability and moisture content can significantly influence how material enters, fills and discharges from a feeder, even where products appear similar.
Designed to handle a wide variety of dry bulk materials, the True-Flow range accommodates powders, granules, grains, flakes and pellets across a broad range of feeding applications. Rather than relying on a single standard configuration, each feeder is engineered to suit individual material characteristics and operational requirements. Selecting the correct auger geometry and agitator configuration for each application helps promote consistent material flow and reliable feeder performance.
The choice of auger can involve a range of configurations, including single-flight, twin-start and triple-start designs, alongside variable-pitch arrangements and segmented or tapered cores. Flight profiles can also be tailored to the application to influence material movement and feed characteristics. Beyond the auger itself, agitator design can also play an important role in controlling material movement within the feeder. Options include contra-rotating agitator blades, club and plough shear designs, each offering a different approach to managing challenging materials. Together, these mechanical options give Trantec’s engineers greater flexibility when developing feeders for demanding or unusual applications.
With so many factors influencing material movement, selecting the right combination of auger and agitator cannot always be determined from material properties alone. Material testing allows Trantec’s engineers to assess how a product behaves under feeding conditions before equipment is specified. The results help determine the most appropriate auger, agitator and feeder configuration for the application, helping ensure that the equipment will perform as intended once installed.
Engineering for long-term performance
The True-Flow feeder range has been developed around a simple engineering principle: to deliver reliable, practical screw feeding without unnecessary complexity. As Trantec celebrates its 30th anniversary, that philosophy continues to guide product development, combining practical engineering with application knowledge to meet the changing needs of modern manufacturing.
To learn more about their feeding and dosing solutions, visit: www.trantec.net or contact their team at: sales@trantec.net