How to Choose Right Flex Auger Screw Conveyor Based on Your Application?

Conveyors are commonly used in assemblies across manufacturing sector. Aside from this, they have various applications across diverse industries. There are many types of conveyor belts, and a flexible screw conveyor is one of them. There are various configurations of these flexible screw conveyors, and to rightly select flex auger screw conveyors can be overwhelming. This post offers pointers on how to find flex auger screw conveyors for your application.

screw auger conveyor

How to Buy Flex Auger Screw Conveyors?

Before you choose the right flex screw conveyor, it is important to know what exactly it is. So, a flexible screw conveyor is a device or belt which can elevate materials such as powders and granules to transfer them to a mixer. This motion is enabled because of the rotating movement of the helical-shaped auger enclosed inside a casing. This conveyor has the capacity to move and elevate such materials in bulk quantities. Here are some pointers which will help you buy the right flex auger screw conveyor for your application:

  1. Flex auger screw conveyors find a large application in the food industry as they are made of 300 series stainless steel, which is quite robust and meets the food grade standards set by FDA.
  2. When buying this conveyor, make sure you collect the required information from the manufacturer, such as its capacity to freely flow the materials, its resistance to abrasion, chemicals, moisture, and other physical parameters.
  3. On the other hand, thoroughly know the materials which are going to be transferred over the conveyor, such as powders and granules. Substances such as powders may create dust. So, check the conveyor’s capacity and features from this point of view.
  4. Check your requirements regarding the discharge rate and flow of material, so that you can decide on the capacity.
  5. Check the controls of the conveyor, such as whether you need a simple on/off mechanism or speed controls with interlocking system as well.
  6. Ensure your product density matches with the load bearing capacity of the conveyor.
  7. Also figure out if you need to use the conveyor on a continuous basis or only as a small part of the process.
  8. The kind of elevation you are looking for and the height to which the conveyor would lift the material is also an important consideration factor.
  9. As far as hardware is concerned, selecting the right auger is important. These include flat wire, round or square-shaped augers.
  10. Flat wire conveyors are the most widely used ones. At times, a flat wire auger may come with a beveled edge which is useful for transferring sticky materials.
  11. Round wire augers are useful for carrying heavy weight materials. While square-shaped auger conveyors are also useful for transferring bulky materials, they are also efficient for elevating irregular shaped objects.
  12. Do check the casing material as augers are enclosed in a casing which may be made of plastic or stainless steel.
  13. Decide on the hopper angles of the conveyor based on your material, as they facilitate a free flow to the mixer.
  14. Check if you would require a center core to be placed inside the helical auger, as this improves the throughput and avoids backflow of the material.

Are you looking for flexible screw conveyors for your application? If yes, ensure you source them from reliable suppliers. JM Industrial is a supplier of high quality used conveyors, used and surplus process equipment, and so on. You can consult their team of experts to rightly choose flex auger screw conveyors for your application.