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January 2020 / 37 No two customers are alike. By designing a system to custom fit your application, we save you time and money, both during installation and for the duration. Custom Engineered Solutions INDUSTRIAL CONVEYORS 800-325-6377 www.rapat.com issue or the article archive on PBE's website, www.powderbulk.com. Greg Mehos (greg@mehos.net, 978-799-7311) PhD, PE, is a chemical engineering consultant who special- izes in bulk solids handling, storage, and processing and is an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island. He received his BS and PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Colorado and his masters from the University of Dela- ware. He's a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. or rental equipment should be eval- uated at your site. PBE Author's Note: The article "Agglomeration Pro- cesses: Phenomena, Technologies, Equipment" by Wolfgang B. Pietsch from July 2008 is an excellent ref- erence for further investigating agglomeration technologies. Also, design methods for reliable powder feed systems are discussed in depth in the article "Designing Hoppers, Bins, and Silos for Reliable Flow" in Chemical Engineering Progress' April 2018 issue. For further reading Find more information on this topic in articles listed under "Agglomeration" in Powder and Bulk Engineering's article index in the December 2019 In conclusion, powder agglom- eration can be accomplished by a variety of technologies. The end product's intended use often dictates the choice of agglomeration equip- ment. For example, many applica- tions require the agglomerates to return to their initial particle size, which usually eliminates pressure and sintering as possible agglom- eration methods. Some customers require a narrow particle size distri- bution, in which case a tumble- growth process is possible but will require auxiliary-classi cation equipment to sift out the desired particle size. If you're having trou- ble deciding, simple screening tests using a small blender or hydraulic press can provide insight to the most suitable choices. However, once the screening tests have been completed, larger-scale tests should be con- ducted at a manufacturer's facility,