Botanic Fibers (Lenzing FR) experienced housekeeping issues with their new rayon feeder for their Aeroglide dryer. More than one cubic meter of rayon was being deposited under the feeder per shift. The manufacturer was unable to support the client and Aeroglide engineers could not resolve the issue so Ken was contacted to provide “a new set of eyes” on the problem.
Ken worked with the existing engineering team to quickly identify the root of the problem. However, agreeing upon a solution was a greater challenge as previous approaches had not fostered desired change. By listening to the client, learning from its engineers and thinking out of the box, Ken’s proposed recommendations were accepted. His non-coventional and cost effective solution resulted in minimal product spillage and a very happy client.
Arnime Dry Products asked Aeroglide to expand their fruit and vegetable dryer and Ken was contracted to perform the work.
While there, he noticed that numerous moving parts on the system were failing. In parallel with overseeing the dryer expansion, an overhaul of many components of the dryer system was performed. In some instances tapered roller bearings were utilized to replace conventional ball bearings to accommodate the large and unaddressed thrust loads.
Ken also helped the client improve their preventative maintenance program including enhancement of oil and grease systems that allowed the client to lubricate previously inaccessible bearings.
West Frasier MDF facility utilized our expertise to reduce their particulate emissions.
With the introduction of a non-formaldehyde adhesive (MDI) in the fiberboard, emissions from the cyclones intermittently exceeded permitted levels. We helped WestFrasier understand how the emissions could be reduced with cleaning and provided recommendations for more permanent solutions through several improvements to the cyclone and ducting design.
Ken Shannon, PE
