This is the first K show that Wolfgang Horn, managing director at Zeppelin Systems (Stand 9B41), can remember where his clients have come prepared to buy product directly from the booth. “Thanks to our acquisition of [materials handling machinery manufacturer] Reimelt Henschel last year, we’re seeing decision makers from other areas than our traditional clientele come to the show with concrete projects, needing immediate equipment delivery,” says Horn. Turnkey systems are hot, he says.

Horn reports that while the stand welcomed fewer visitors this year compared to K 2007, the quality has improved. “Companies aren’t sending masses of employees anymore. Only those making decisions seem to be coming this year, something we experienced even on the weekend and on the public holiday,” he says. A lot of interest generated among show attendees was for the company’s new horizontal cooler, EFF, for material mixing. This is achieved in a large-surface, double-wall plate vessel that gets good heat transfer using water, steam, or oils.
 

The company’s new rotary feeders, the medium-pressure CFM (to 1.5 bar) and the high-pressure (up to 3.5 bar) feeder CFH, both promise a 25% improvement in performance with no decrease in the conveying function. To help solve problems of large-sized (500m3 or more) silos that can result in the transport costs over long distances exceeding the price of the silo itself, Zeppelin introduced its Panel Tec design concept combining welding and bolting of silo parts for fast assembly onsite.
 

After Zeppelin produces individual silo roof, cone, and cylindrical shell segments, additional flanges are welded to the segments to facilitate and accelerate assembly onsite. Since these segments have a 2m maximum height, transport to the site can be in standard containers. After all silo segments are bolted together at their final destination, the joints in the silo interior are welded for a tight fit. Horn also told KSD that the company opened an expanded R&D and testing center targeting mixing technology in Kassel, Germany three months ago.