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Owner Interview: How to Grow by Design with Curt Snyder
Re-published by permission from Value Prop and the Revenue Throughput Podcast.
Jose Palomino: Welcome again to the Revenue Throughput podcast. This is Jose Palomino, your host and our guest today is a CEO, owner, operator of a really fascinating company. He’s Curt Snyder, CEO of Lancaster Products based in Lebanon, PA, and they are a solutions company dedicated to improving material mixing and processing. They design and build complete mixing pelletizing and crushing systems for a wide range of industries and different materials and applications.
I’ve known Curt for years, and I’ve seen firsthand how he’s applied some best practices and principles to grow and thrive in a number of highly competitive markets. Well, let’s welcome Curt Snyder to the Revenue Throughput podcast. Hi Curt, glad to have you here.
Curt Snyder: Thanks for having me Jose, I appreciate it.
Jose Palomino: Yes, so Curt, in my introduction I mentioned how I just focused on one business right now. The Lancaster Products that I’ve certainly grew to know you best through initially, could you just provide a brief background how you came to to become the owner of Lancaster product?
What drew you into the world of heavy industrial manufacturing?
Curt Snyder: I had been working in mergers and acquisitions for probably close to 15 years prior, part of that was in aerospace, so it’s fairly complex, highly engineered heavy manufacturing type of product. I had been traveling the world, making acquisitions, and had a young family and quite frankly was tired of being away. So much so, when the opportunity presented itself, I was able to go out on my own and I found Lancaster Products, and Lancaster Products seem to be really interesting. A heavier manufacturing company with proprietary products with some really interesting technology. Also the owner was ready to retire. So, I was able to step in and and take it over about five years ago.
Full Scale Mix Recipe Optimization in Lancaster K4 Mixers
This is the third video in our lab and testing series. The Lancaster Products Lab is equipped with a production-sized K4 mixer to test and optimize mix recipes at full scale. In this video, we are testing a clay type of material for pelletization.
The K4 mixer introduces a third tool, the low-speed plow, which, along with the rotating pan, transports material to the high-speed rotor. You can see how the high shear counter-current movement creates a rolling action which agglomerates the materials into pellets. The K4 mixer has a bottom discharge; the plow allows for the rapid and complete evacuation of the mixing cavity. After the mixer is fully evacuated, the bottom discharge closes, and reseals ready for the next batch.
Prototype Mix Recipe Optimization in Lancaster K3 Mixers
This is the second video in our lab and testing series. The Lancaster Products lab is equipped with a small production-sized K3 mixer to test and optimize mix recipes at a prototyping scale. In this video, we are testing a clay type of material for pelletization.
Looking inside of the mixing cavity, you see the counter-current mixing action. The pan rotates clockwise, and the high shear mixing tool spins counterclockwise. The mixing pan actively transports material to the primary mixing tool. Slowing the action down gives us a good view of how the Lancaster mixing action creates a tumbling that promotes agglomeration by rolling the particles much the same way as a snowball growing larger by rolling down a hill.
Proof of Concept Testing in Lancaster K1 Lab Mixers
Lancaster Products is dedicated to optimizing our customers’ mixing processes and recipes. This 3 part video series will focus on our on-site lab and testing capabilities. In this first video, we demonstrate proof of concept testing with a chicken litter material for a fertilizer product.
We use our K1 lab mixer during these initial tests. We load the K1 mixer with the test material and then program the steps and feeds. After the mixer begins, we add a liquid binder to it to allow the material to agglomerate into granules or larger pellets.
Rotary Table Feeders Turn Batch Processing to Continuous Batch Processing
Rotary Table Feeder in Continuous Batch Process Line
Rotary table feeders act as a critical piece of equipment in Lancaster Mixers continuous batch processing lines. They provide a mechanical conduit to continuously meter and feed materials from each batch of material processed to the next process in line. The cone and cylinder over the table is used as a surge hopper to temporarily store the material batch while the table feeder continuously discharges the material. Their role may seem simple compared to the processing equipment they’re connected to, but is significant to maintaining continuous throughput and ensuring overall system performance.
Lancaster Products’ high shear mixers process materials in batches which allows for tight control over the physical properties of the end product and thus, higher on-size, homogeneous yields. Most batches are processed completely and ready for discharge in a matter of minutes. By positioning a Lancaster rotary table feeder under the mixer’s discharge chute and feeding product downstream to the next piece of equipment, the batch processing is converted to a continuous process.
Improve Throughput Rates and Product Accuracy with Continuous Batch Processing
The Lancaster Products Continuous Batch Processing (system) design enjoys the benefits of both continuous and batch processing.
CONTINUOUS VS. BATCH PROCESSES
Continuous mixing processes are characterized by a consistent flow of material through the mixer where the discharge rate exactly matches the feed rate. The primary benefit of continuous mixing is steady state throughput to feed the next processing operation on the production line.
On the other hand, batch mixing processes typically are not in a steady state flow. Premeasured ingredients are added to the mixer, processed, and discharged in a single batch. The major benefit of batch mixing is the precise control of ingredient ratios, mix quality and product accuracy.
Controls Upgrades for Improved Industrial Mixer Performance
As part of Lancaster Products’ mission to deliver industry’s most effective and efficient materials processing equipment, we constantly evaluate for areas to improve our equipment design. While we often hear from machine operators how well our equipment holds up after decades of use in the most demanding environments, our equipment can benefit greatly from advances in software and technology. As we work to continually modernize our high shear mixers, the advances in controls technology can improve Lancaster Mixers performance and capabilities.
Lancaster Mixers counter current high shear mixing action provides for rapid homogenization along with the ability to granulate and pelletize within tight tolerances. Advanced controls design allows for a more accurate and customizable mixing process resulting in improved yields, rapid mix times and improved product reproducibility.
Maintenance Bulletin: Rotor Wear and Replacement in Industrial Mixers
The high-speed rotor is the primary mixing and pelletizing tool in industrial high shear mixers and in many ways, it is the most utilized part of the machine. But rotor wear is also a good leading indicator of your machine’s overall operating condition as it is a direct result of material processing. Chances are, if the rotor is worn, there is other preventative maintenance to be done.
What Preventative Maintenance Will Prolong the Life of My Mixing Equipment?
Industrial mixers are built to run and withstand a great deal of abuse, however, regular preventive maintenance efforts can help keep your mixer running like new. The two most critical components that can affect the life of your mixer are lubrication and inspection of working tools. Below is an overview of the in-depth information provided in our full maintenance schedule available for download below.
Lubrication: Proper lubrication can encompass multiple areas on your mixer, not just the shaft seals of the mixing tool. Lubrication of all seals as well as drive gears, discharge valves and other locations where bearings are utilized is the best way to extend the life of your mixer. Automated lubrication systems on larger production mixers help maintain proper lubrication intervals, but regular visual inspection should be scheduled to assure the system is working properly.
Mix-Granulating with a Lancaster K-Series High Shear Mixer
Many reasons compel industrial operations to enlarge solid particles for handling. Some objectives may be: enhancing flow properties, recycling, de-dusting, densifying, freezing ingredient distribution, improving mold filling properties, etc. Size–Enlargement in the powder technology context include: agglomerating, pelletizing, granulating and briquetting. This article deals with particle enlargement generally through a snowballing mechanism, with some shear action, but without the application of high pressure or extrusion.
Most powders having the ability to fuse, or slightly dissolve in the presence of a liquid, can be granulated quite easily. Others may be coaxed to form granules by the introduction of some suitable binders. The binders may act as a medium for the solid particles to adhere to each other by modifying interfacial activities. Some may form a matrix to capture the particles. Others may involve chemical reactions to achieve the objective.
Lancaster Products
920 Mechanic Street
Lebanon, PA 17046
Local: 717.273.2111
Toll Free: 800.447.7351
Email: [javascript protected email address]
Office Hours:
Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
