New Products
Spee-Dee® Equalizes Hopper Pressure With New Infeed Screw



Sturtevant, Wis. — James P. Navin, President of Spee-Dee® Packaging Machinery, Inc., recently announced the addition of the new Spee-Dee Digitronic® Variable Speed Infeed Auger to the company’s family of dry fill measuring equipment. "This is Spee-Dee’s creative solution to one of the greatest challenges our packaging customers face — variation in hopper head pressure," Navin stated. "These deviations are the normal changes resulting from the hopper level increasing and decreasing."

According to Timm Johnson, Spee-Dee Vice President, Sales/Marketing, the innovative Spee-Dee Digitronic Variable Speed Infeed Auger with sanitary clamp style bulkheads provides a breakthrough for food processing facilities. "Our customers have been very vocal in their requests for methods to optimize efficiency and produce more accurate fills," Johnson revealed. "This adjunct to the already extremely accurate line of Spee-Dee Digitronic Auger Fillers is ideal for filling cans, bottles or pouches. It is so versatile, in fact, that it can be utilized with any container that can be filled with an auger."

Johnson explained the basics of the new technology. "The Infeed Auger is a short feed screw that mounts directly to the Spee-Dee Digitronic Auger. It receives dry product from the bulk supply and conveys it to the dispensing auger hopper. By controlling the speed and delivery rate of the infeed auger, we keep the product and pressure levels in the hopper constant. This constant pressure overcomes the problem of hopper level variations and significantly enhances fill accuracy and repeatability."

The Spee-Dee® Digitronic® Variable Speed Infeed Auger consists of three main assemblies: the motor and gearbox assembly, the electrical control assembly and the tube and auger flighting assembly. The tube endcaps are held by Tri-Clover Tri-Clamps® and Damar Cinchseal™ face seals are standard. The typical unit includes a 6" diameter screw, 2' long. Based on a facility’s or product’s unique volume requirements, screws up to 8" in diameter and up to 10' in length are available. Portable models set on casters may be preferred for particular applications. Both cleaning and changeover to other products are quick and easy because the Infeed Auger uncouples and swings away to allow complete and efficient cleaning.

The unique Spee-Dee Infeed Auger, which becomes an integral part of a Spee-Dee Digitronic Auger Filler, may be purchased as an optional upgrade on new equipment or may be retrofit on an existing unit.

Spee-Dee® Packaging Machinery, Inc. is a premier quality manufacturer of equipment to measure and fill dry products in consumer size containers (bags, bottles, pouches, cans and cartons). Spee-Dee is the only company to supply both auger and volumetric fillers, and the only company that supplies servo drives for auger and cup fillers. Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery serves a global base of clients in diverse market segments, including the food, chemical, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Now in its third decade, the company boasts a star-studded client roster of industry giants and Fortune 500 companies. A history of innovative electrical and mechanical design and programming, coupled with advanced technology and unparalleled customer service, support Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery’s position as an industry leader.

For more information, please contact Timm Johnson, Vice President, Sales/Marketing, Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery, Inc., 1360 Grandview Parkway, Sturtevant, WI 53177, toll free 877-375-2121, 262-886-4402 or fax 262-886-5502. Send e-mail to info@spee-dee.com, and visit Spee- Dee Packaging Machinery’s Web site at www.spee-dee.com.