Hydronix Limited

Economies of Scale - when big is better

Collinson plc supplies cost effective silos and conveyor systems for the bulk storage and handling of dry pet food.

Whether throughput is large or small, available space can be maximised, giving greater efficiency and improved health and safety when moving product between processes. Materials are stored in hygienic conditions and protected from contamination.

Silos are available in galvanised steel or Plastisol coated galvanised steel for outdoor locations, and in flexible fabrics for indoor locations.

Plastisol coated galvanised steel silos are available in a choice of 5 standard BS colours, with models to hold from 10 to 76 tonnes. Cone angles of 45º, 60º and 67º are offered to suit the flow characteristics of the contents.

Flexible fabric silos are ideal for indoor storage, especially if access is limited, as they can be erected in situ amongst existing plant. Now you can make use of space from floor to ceiling! Models to hold from 3 to 50 tonnes are available in a selection of high strength fabrics, either permeable or impermeable. All the fabrics are rot resistant, anti static and flame retardant.

A comprehensive range of materials handling equipment is offered, including spiral and screw conveyors, trough conveyors, pneumatic conveyors and elevators.

Contact Collinson for further details. Tel. +44 1995 606451

Web: www.collinson.co.uk. E-mail: mail@collinson.co.uk

Pegasus® Paddle Mixer from Dinnissen significantly improves the taste of cat food

The Pegasus® Paddle Mixer from Dutch company Dinnissen Process Technology makes it possible to significantly improve the taste of cat kibbles. The secret is quite simple: it allows you to add liquid as well as dry palatability enhancers - precisely and evenly - to each individual kibble. This is very important for cat food in particular, as cats have the habit of inspecting their intended meal, kibble for kibble, before actually starting on their meal.

The cat - a very finicky kibbles consumer

SPF-DIANA specializes in developing palatability enhancers for manufacturers of dog food and cat food. It also has an in-house department which does research into the taste preferences and eating behaviour of dogs and cats. Especially for that purpose, the company has a panel of 400 animals available with a wide range of characteristics. Loïc Bramoulle, at the Application Development Department of SPF-DIANA, has this to say about improving the taste and attractiveness of cat food: "Cats have a much keener sense of taste and smell than humans. Cats are therefore extremely finicky and suspicious when it comes to their food. They sniff at every kibble and inspect it quite critically before deciding whether to eat it. Cats will immediately recognize and systematically refuse a kibble or other food with a smell not to their liking. They simply leave the kibbles they don’t like behind in the feeding bowl and pick out the ones that appeal to them. Such behaviour is very typical of cats and is one of the main reasons why their owners regularly decide to try a different brand the next time."

Taste of every individual kibble is important

Loïc Bramoullé continues: "When it comes to manufacturing cat food, the quality of the ingredients and the use of proper palatability enhancers are of course extremely important for making tasty products. But ensuring that the enhancers are added to the food in the right way is just as important. It’s critical to distribute and dose the enhancers very evenly. Producers who use the proper palatability enhancers but add them to the kibbles in a haphazard fashion or wrong concentration achieve a significant lower effect. In our research centre, we have demonstrated time and again that kibbles with an even distribution of palatability enhancers are consumed much more readily. That is also why we invest time and energy in helping manufacturers to ensure that the enhancers are added properly and an optimum result is achieved." Peter Raeven of Dinnissen Process Technology believes: "The Pegasus® Paddle Mixer is an efficient tool in achieving this goal."

Flavour enhancers added precisely and evenly to each individual kibble

With the Pegasus® Paddle Mixer from Dinnissen, a fixed and precisely weighed quantity of food is introduced into the sealed batch coater, where - in contrast to continuous operation systems - the entire process takes place: liquid and dry palatability enhancers are added to the kibbles. This has the great advantage of allowing very precise control of the optimum conditions needed for the entire process. For each batch, the exact quantity of fat, liquid and dry palatability enhancers needed can be weighed out and added, and the process conditions - including temperature, kibble rotation speed, residence time of the food in the mixer, and total processing time – can be precisely controlled. The result: an extremely precise and even distribution of the palatability enhancers over the product. In addition, the strength of the bond between the palatability enhancer and the kibble can be optimized, and each individual kibble can be coated with a tough protective layer to ensure that the palatability enhancers also remain intact during transport. The palatability and appeal of the food is therefore significantly improved, and the food is much more readily consumed.

The Pegasus® Paddle Mixer offers various other technical advantages. The liquid additives are sprayed per batch and not continuously. After each batch, the nozzles are blown clean, minimizing the risk of blockage. The same is true of the injection system for dry ingredients located in the coater: it can be protected so that blockage is prevented. Peter Raeven of Dinnissen Process Technology advises producers in many cases to equip the Pegasus® Paddle Mixer with vacuum functionality by adding the Pegasus® Vacuum Coater, allowing producers to further upgrade the flexibility and quality of their production process. "This combination allows producers to ensure that liquid additives are sucked deep into the kibble. It also enables them to optimize the binding process between other additives and the outside of the kibble."

The Pegasus® Paddle Mixer from Dinnissen has already been successfully used in a variety of situations. Dinnissen develops and delivers complete manufacturing processes for feed manufacturers, which means that the benefits from combining the Pegasus® Paddle Mixer with the Pegasus® Vacuum Coater are available in practically any situation imaginable. For more information about the Pegasus® Batch Coating System from Dinnissen, go to: www.dinnissen.nl or call +31 (77) 4673555.

Hydronix Limited are world leaders in microwave moisture measurement technology. Hydronix sensors were originally designed for use in the harsh environment of the concrete industry and have an excellent reputation for accuracy and reliability in many industrial processes.

Hydronix digital microwave moisture sensors are used at several stages during the production cycle of compound animal feed from the goods-in process through mixing, pelletising and in the cooler. The Hydro-Probe II sensor measures in flowing materials in bins and on conveyor belts, while the Hydro-Mix V sensor measures in mixers, blenders and coolers. For high temperature applications the Hydro-Probe SE provides the perfect solution.

Hydronix digital microwave sensors have a fast response providing 25 readings per second. All signal processing and calibration can be performed internally within the sensor and a variety of analogue or serial outputs may be selected including continuous averaging, or averaging over selected time periods. Remote communication with the sensors is possible using diagnostic software which can be downloaded from our website free of charge. Up to 16 sensors may be linked on one twisted pair cable.

Hydronix microwave moisture sensors are used worldwide in animal feed processing allowing manufacturers increased production and reduced wastage to produce a high quality product.

Further information is available on the website www.hydronix.com, or please e-mail to info@hydronix.com letting the company know your particular application.