The company has added the TurboBelt 800 TPXL and TurboBelt 1250 TPXL models to its lineup.

Germany-based Voith, with U.S. operations in York, Pennsylvania, has introduced the TurboBelt 800 TPXL and TurboBelt 1250 TPXL to its TurboBelt TPXL range of fill-controlled couplings. The total lineup now includes 500-kilowatt, 800-kilowatt and 1,250-kilowatt versions. The couplings combine hydrodynamics with intelligent control technology to optimize performance, according to the company, which says the integrated controller matches the output torque to the startup parameters of the conveyor belt system, reducing wear and increasing service life. Because of its high power density, the TurboBelt TPXL range requires half the space of conventional couplings, allowing for easy integration into drive trains, Voith adds.

Delivering a nominal torque from 1,600 Newton meters to 7,960 Newton meters, respectively, the TurboBelt 800 TPXL and TurboBelt 1250 TPXL open up an expanded range of applications. The rugged construction of the TurboBelt TPXL makes it ideal for use in demanding environments, according to the manufacturer.

The TurboBelt TPXL’s plug-and-play design allows easy integration into established systems and drive trains and shortens commissioning times. The coupling concept consists of an integrated controller, an integrated oil pump and an oil supply unit, all of which are designed to work together. The TurboBelt TPXL’s hydrodynamic operating principle enables wear-free power transmission without the need for a mechanical connection. As a result, the system’s lifespan is extended, and maintenance costs are decreased significantly, Voith says.

TurboBelt DriveControl, Voith’s digital control system, was designed to work in conjunction with the TurboBelt TPXL’s integrated controller and to meet the most demanding requirements in belt conveyance. It allows seamless connection of drives, belt conveyors and components throughout the extraction process. In this way, Voith says, the TurboBelt DriveControl can handle vast lengths, vertical curves and more than 12,000 tons per hour. The intelligent system features an autonomous belt conveyor startup and stopping procedure, even for regenerative conveyors. In addition, it extends the belt’s service life by reducing mechanical stress and dynamic impact. To maintain reliable conveyor performance, TurboBelt DriveControl also features active load sharing, one-drive off and hot stand-by declutching function.

The system logs all operational data, and the coupling can adjust its control behavior, for example, in accordance with previous empirical values to accommodate a specific load situation. Based on the required torque for the belt and the basic startup parameters, the coupling automatically calculates the optimum fill level and fills or drains the working circuit accordingly. The stored information can be used for self-diagnosis and remote maintenance and no coding or programming skills are required on the part of the operator. 

International Stainless Steel Forum’s annual conference set for late May in Chicago.

The Brussels-based International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) will conduct the 2019 edition of its annual conference in Chicago May 23-24.

The event’s Open Panel Session on May 23 will feature Jim Lennon from Macquarie Securities, with a presentation on nickel and the probable impact on its supply, demand and pricing from the rapidly emerging battery market.

Also, Andrew Purvis, the director of safety, health and environment of the Brussels-based World Steel Association, will talk about the risks involved in process safety management. The session’s third speaker will be Scott Jennings, a former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush who now is a partner at Louisville, Kentucky-based RunSwitch PR and a CNN Contributor. His presentation is being designed to provide insight into politics and the the economy of the United States.

On Friday May 24, the ISSF says there will be an opportunity to visit the North American Stainless plant in Kentucky for those who wish to book a flight from Chicago to the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky airport on the afternoon or evening of May 23.

Surprise inspections among methods to limit output, which has soared in early 2019.

China’s government says it will begin to take measures to rein in its steel output, which in the first two months of 2019 grew by 9 percent compared to the first two months of 2018.

On online news article from Xinhua, which is considered a government-controlled news organization, says China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will conduct random inspections in regions that it considers “prone to illegal steel production activities.”

The Xinhua report further states that “methods such as satellite remote sensing and electricity use monitoring will be used to check unwanted steel production,” citing comments from a MIIT inspector.

Maintaining profitability among steelmakers is cited by Xinhua as a primary motive. Many steelmakers are state-owned enterprises (SOEs), whose interests are commonly protected by central government ministries.

China’s steel output in the first two months of 2019 checked in at more than 149.5 million metric tons, a 9.2 percent increase from the 137 million metric tons produced in the first two months of 2018. Those figures are provided by the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) to the Brussels-based WorldSteel Association.

Pressure to keep China’s economy on a sufficient growth track may have contributed to an earlier government decision to de-emphasize pollution-related output cuts in the 2018-2019 winter compared to the previous winter. The lack of an environmental crackdown may have allowed producers to churn out steel at a higher level in early 2019 compared to January and February 2018.

Company says its PET food trays are easily recyclable.

Clearly Clean Products LLC has announced it will open a new manufacturing Plant in Frackville, Pennsylvania, which is about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

The Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania-based company refers to itself as a recyclable food tray manufacturer, with its product line including what it calls 100 percent recyclable roll over-wrap trays, vacuum-sealed packaging (VSP) trays and recyclable modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) trays. The food trays can be used for meat, poultry, seafood, produce and deli products and can be customized in terms of size, shape and color.

In Frackville, Clearly Clean intends to purchase and renovate 80,000 square feet of manufacturing space to install a thermoforming plant. The project will initially create approximately 25 new jobs, and that number could grow to more than 125 as the company further expands its line operations and builds out its tooling, says the firm.

Clearly Clean says its “crystal clear” food trays are recyclable in part because of a peelable barrier layer that provides a “sustainable alternative.”

Numerous city and county bans on polystyrene foamed plastics, combined with consumer pressure and corporate commitment, “are fueling the demand for eco-friendly packaging and accelerating the sustainability timelines of many organizations,” says Clearly Clean.  It says its PET (polyethylene terephthalate) trays offer a recyclable, smooth-edged tray option to grocery stores, food processors and packaging distributors.

“We are excited that companies are realizing the benefits of Clearly Clean’s patented smooth-edged, recyclable trays, which are three times the strength of polystyrene, are environmentally friendly, and help mitigate leakers,” says Millard Wallace, a managing partner at Clearly Clean.  “We are also excited that this strong demand allows us to bring additional economic opportunities to Schuylkill County [in Pennsylvania0.  Clearly Clean is rapidly expanding and has been hiring for practically every position, from lawyers to engineers and production line workers.”

Clearly Clean says that over the past 12 months it has added multiple big-name clients and grown by 550 percent, and is poised to grow at an even faster pace in 2019.

“Clearly Clean needed a large facility that would accommodate our additional assets and personnel,” says Jeff Maguire, a managing partner at Clearly Clean. “We decided on Frackville so that we were in the vicinity of our Orwigsburg plant -- yet able to recruit from a broader geographic region.”

Environment, waste and recycling trade fair is Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.

The theme “Less Carbon, Less Waste • Green Innovation” has been chosen for the 14th Eco Expo Asia. The event, organized by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd., the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will take place Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 at the AsiaWorld-Expo facility near Hong Kong’s airport.

The organizers say the event will showcase a wide range of products and solutions focused on environmental protection and waste management, reduction and recycling.

Organizers held a luncheon in late March to provide a preview of the expo. At that event, Wong Kam-sing, secretary for the environment of Hong Kong, said the government has put considerable effort into the development of waste management infrastructure projects in recent years.

Wong pointed to WEEE·PARK, the government’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Treatment and Recycling Facility, and to O·PARK, which he described as Hong Kong’s first organic resources recovery center, designed to convert food waste into energy. The government will build the second O·PARK soon and plans to have more relevant facilities to face the challenge of Hong Kong’s food waste, Wong says.

The environment secretary also said Hong Kong’s government is looking into several new initiatives that can improve waste management. “We have submitted the Waste Disposal (Charging for Municipal Solid Waste) Amendment, Bill 2018, to the Legislative Council,” he stated. “We are going to review the plastic shopping bag charging level and exempted items. We are also applying reverse vending machines that can help to collect and recycle plastic beverage bottles. In addition, after the super typhoons in recent years, we are working on a new scheme to see how to make the best use of yard waste.”

At Exo Expo Asia, “The Startup Zone” will return in 2019. “Startups from around the globe can leverage this opportunity to showcase their latest innovative products and solutions and to meet with potential buyers, manufacturers and investors,” says Benjamin Chau, HKTDC deputy executive director.

More information on the event can be found here.