Smart Elbow® deflection elbows eliminate plugging, cut costs

The problem?

These same pellets and resins are abrasive, and the long-radius sweep elbows installed in the conveying system were continually being worn away by the material moving through. L.E. Koehler, assistant plant manager, was replacing worn-out elbows every two to four months in order to keep the lines running efficiently, but maintenance costs and plant downtime were steadily chewing away at profits.

Koehler was actively researching alternatives to the long-radius sweep elbow when he discovered Hammertek’s Smart Elbow design design. “I had been reading about the Smart Elbow deflection elbow. Hammertek guaranteed a minimum of three times the life of conventional elbows. So we put a test elbow in the (conveying) system to replace a long-radius elbow that had worn out within two months.”

After more than a year of service, the original test elbow shows no sign of wear.  The results were so compelling, Rensselaer Plastics has since upgraded its system with a dozen 3- and 4-inch Smart Elbow models to handle the pneumatic conveyance of materials between resin silos, compound silos, mixers and extruders.

As the remaining long-sweep radius elbows wear out, they’re replaced with Smart Elbow products.

Koehler estimates the company has saved thousands in replacement costs alone — and downtime expenses have been greatly reduced.

Rensselaer also reported another unexpected benefit in using the Smart Elbow deflection elbow: “angel hair” clogs have been virtually eliminated. The presence of these fine fibers usually indicates material degradation and can clog filters and plug conveying lines.

To find out how HammerTek Smart Elbow deflection elbows can save your company expensive repairs and downtime while increasing efficiency and productivity, visit us at HammerTek.com.