• A.

    Rotary valves can help keep plastic dusts contained within your system and prevent them from leaking out into open areas of your processing facility. If your process generates combustible dust, make sure you choose an NFPA-compliant valve to reduce the risk of fires and explosions in your plant.

    Relevant for: NFPA, Safety, Plastics
  • A.

    A rotary valve with an adjustable side inlet design, such as the S-Pellet Series, can protect plastic pellets, beads, and granules from shearing by controlling the flow of material. More standard valve designs can also be customized to handle the requirements of your plastics processing application, so check with your supplier to find the best fit.

    Relevant for: Conveying Systems, Difficult Products, Plastics
  • A.

    Material buildup and flow issues like bridging can happen when plastic resins flow through the system too quickly, or when your equipment lacks the proper accessories to handle flow issues. Ensure rotary valves are properly sized for your material, system, and desired rate of flow, and consider accessories such as shear protectors and air purge kits to prevent issues such as shearing, jamming, and buildup.

    Relevant for: Conveying Systems, Difficult Products, Plastics
  • A.

    Outboard bearings are mounted on the outside of a rotary valve’s housing, while inboard bearings sit on the inside of the endplates. Because they’re located closer to the seal, inboard bearings are typically associated with more frequent repairs and a greater risk of contamination. Outboard bearings leave a gap between the seal and bearings, which makes them safer and more reliable in the long run.

    Relevant for: General, Technical Support, Chemical, Construction, Food, Pet Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics, Plastics
  • A.

    The key to storing a valve is to keep it covered in a warm, dry, and clean location to prevent condensation and contamination. For long-term storage, the valve should be kept in a temperature-controlled facility with a weatherproof covering. Check this blog or your valve manual for more detailed instructions.

    Relevant for: General, Technical Support, Chemical, Construction, Food, Pet Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics, Plastics
  • A.

    While we understand the temptation for a quick fix, we definitely don’t recommend hitting your valve with hammers, wrenches, or whatever tools you have on hand. It only damages the valve and doesn’t help with material blockage. If you need help improving material flow, speak to one of our valve experts for recommendations specific to your application.

    Relevant for: Technical Support, Difficult Products, Chemical, Construction, Food, Pet Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics, Plastics
  • A.

    When it comes to material shearing, the first thing we tend to look at is fill capacity. Factors like your material shape and size, equipment specifications, and conveying speed influence the right fill capacity to prevent jamming and shearing. Optional accessories like adjustable shear protectors, often recommended for materials like plastic pellets and sawdust, can be useful to help things keep flowing smoothly. A valve expert can give you more specific guidance based on your application.

    Relevant for: Difficult Products, Construction, Plastics
  • A.

    They can! For situations where consistent feeding is essential, we have rotary valves specifically designed for applications like pellets or metering small batches of product. To get the most accurate flow, it’s important to work with a specialist who understands your industry well enough to recommend the right valve configurations.

    Relevant for: Difficult Products, Plastics
More Questions?

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