Bio
With her expertise in special coating applications, Nena can help you choose the right rotary valve coatings to prevent material build-up, boost sanitation, and convey difficult products.
Written by Nena
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![Two rows of pistachio cruffins on a wire rack]()
BlogWhat does ‘food grade’ mean for valves?
If you’re conveying ingredients for food or pet food, you most likely need a food-grade rotary valve for sanitation and compliance — but which features make a valve ‘food grade’?
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![Colourful splatters of paint]()
BlogWhy do rotary valves have coatings?
For most dry bulk processing applications, valve coatings save you time and money by minimizing maintenance and downtime. Here’s how.
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![Dispensers filled with milled grains and nuts]()
BlogQuiz: Can you master milling with valves?
Think you know a lot about processing milled ingredients like flour and corn? Take our quiz on milling, conveying, and rotary airlock valves to find out.
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![Gloved hands scooping fertilizer mix out of a bag]()
BlogWhich rotary valves are best at handling fertilizer mix?
Fertilizer mixes tend to cause buildup and abrasion in your conveying equipment. Try these rotary airlock valve recommendations to boost longevity and material flow.
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![Plastic bottle next to plastic flakes and a bundle of leaves]()
BlogTips for conveying recycled plastic flakes
Read our plastic flake conveying tips to maintain healthy material throughput, minimize product waste, and prevent contamination.
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BlogA micro blog for a micro valve
The Micro-Ingredient Valve fits into the palm of your hand – and plays nicely with test systems and metering equipment.
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![Wheat flour and grains for milling with rotary valves ACS Valves]()
BlogMill more flour, corn and oat products with efficient valves
Boost productivity in your mill with rotary airlock valves for grains, flour and similar materials
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![An ACS Valves MD Series Rotary Airlock Valve with Accessories]()
BlogYour rotary valve accessory guide
These are the main types of accessories that boost efficiency, longevity and safety in your rotary airlock valve
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![Rotary Airlock Valves on Platforms ACS Valves]()
BlogRotary valves with niche appeal
Some airlock valves are built with a specific application in mind, and that’s what makes them great!
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![Hands putting puzzle pieces together for a custom solution]()
BlogHere’s how we configure rotary airlock valves
Rotary valves, like hot dogs, have lots of customization options. Learn how we do it at ACS
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![Child in Rain boots and jacket with umbrella]()
BlogLayer up: An overview of coating types for rotary valves
The coating on your rotary airlock valve affects factors like material capacity, lifespan and overall performance
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![CI Series rotary valve by ACS Valves on a radiating backdrop]()
BlogWhat coatings mean for your valves
When your valve needs to weather a material storm, layering it up with a coating can help it keep moving. Here's how.
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BlogHow to increase the life expectancy of your machinery
That rickety old valve has broken down again, and you're tired of replacing it all the time. Here are some tips on how to ensure your valves last longer and give you less downtime.
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![Rotary airlock valve and shaft seal by ACS Valves]()
BlogAn ACS crash course on seal types for rotary valves
When your shaft seal needs replacing, use this as your go-to guide on which one works best for your application.
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![cast iron airlock rotary valve with square flange]()
BlogWhy you shouldn't size your airlocks for 100% pocket fill
Using the same methods to size all of your feeder valves is a recipe for inefficiency
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![stainless steel rotary valve with square flange with different dry bulk material]()
BlogHow to convey sticky material with a blow-through
Conveying sticky material? Harness the efficiency of a blow-through valve, without the premature wear!
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These are abrasive construction materials, so your rotary airlock valve will need a tough coating to withstand wear, minimize downtime, and extend its lifespan. Hard chrome is a common choice, but heavy plate chrome and tungsten are also solid choices for more heavy-duty applications. Talk to a rotary valve expert to choose the right one.
Relevant for: Difficult Products, Durability -
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Corrosive materials can damage the rotary valve’s internal parts over time, including the rotor-to-housing tolerances. We recommend a coating called XTR-Coat to minimize the effects of acidic, abrasive, or corrosive materials. Its durability prolongs the lifespan of your valve and parts, and its compliance with FDA and USDA regulations also makes it an excellent choice in many food-grade applications.
Relevant for: Difficult Products, Safety -
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Too much clearance between the rotor, endplates and or housing can result in air loss. Measure the rotor to endplate and rotor to housing clearances to confirm that they are an NFPA compliant 0.0079 inches. If the clearance is larger than this, it might be time to replace your rotor, rotary valve, or have it sent back to ACS for a repair or evaluation. Make sure to stick to a maintenance schedule and check your clearances at least every three months.