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CONE MILLS

LOW ENERGY SIZE

REDUCTION FOR THE
PHARMACEUTICAL,
FOOD AND CHEMICAL
INDUSTRIES

kemutec
Specialists in Powder Processing Technology

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THE CONE MILLING CONCEPT AND ITS BENEFITS
Cone milling is a low energy size reduction concept
ideal for fatty, heat sensitive, sticky, moist or otherwise
difficult to grind products. It alleviates the noise, dust
and heat problems associated with traditional milling
techniques at a stroke.
A gentle grinding action, capable of control within fine
limits, maintains a close particle size distribution with
minimal fines generation.
Because the residence time required to process
product is very short, heat generation is negligible,
and build up is drastically reduced - even for moist or
sticky products.
The inherent benefits of cone milling are rapidly
becoming universally accepted. Kemutec engineers
have developed a range of machines to meet the ever-
growing demands of todays
pharmaceutical, chemical and
food industries.
kemutec
Specialists in Powder Processing Technology
cone mills
Material to be processed is gravity fed into the milling
chamber. The low velocity Grinding Rotor forces the
feedstock into a vortex flow path. The individual
particles of unground product are centrifugally
thrown out to the wall of the conical grinding
chamber against which they then rise in a spiralling
path. The action of the Rotor against the grinding
chamber wall imparts high shear on the product. A
very large percentage of product is reduced to below
the cone aperture size on initial impact. This is
instantaneously discharged into the mill discharge
chute. The chute is designed to give maximum free
space to exiting material, thus preventing the
possibility of build up.
A small percentage of larger unground particles
continue their path up the conical wall within the
product vortex undergoing further size reduction in
the process. The very largest may eventually reach
the top of the vortex where they re-enter the in-feed
streamto repeat the cycle.
User benefits
High efficiency - Virtually all the energy
input is utilised in the size reduction
process.
Gentle grinding action - Permits
uniform size distribution, resulting in the
minimum of fines.
Low heat generation - essential when
milling fatty, sticky or heat sensitive products.
Low dust levels - No need for air filtration. Keeps
installation costs to a minimum.
Low noise - No costly acoustic protection. Mobile
units can be used in any location.
Flexibility - Free standing mobile units, standard
models as part of process systems and special,
bespoke units as an integral part of other capital
equipment.
Ultra-Hygienic Designs

Cleanability was a high priority during the design of

the new mills. Generous radii, large accessible gaps
between components, mostly tubular stainless steel
support frames and cast mounting blocks for fittings,
all contribute to maximum hygiene.

All models can be cleaned with high pressure hoses;

Novel Rotor Adjustment
electric interlocks are housed in enclosures or
beneath the covers they protect, and access covers
Much of the appeal of cone mills is the flexibility of the
and motor shrouds are sealed with easy to remove
grinding media - which can be changed easily, quickly
U section silicone seals.
and safely, with the minimum of disruption to
production. Another patented innovation is the easily
Constructed of 316 grade stainless steel,
adjusted rotor/cone clearance. The retaining nut is
the new KEK Cone Mills are available
simply loosened and the rotor turned to another
in a variety of finishes including
position. The rotor drive dogs pick up on a series of
bead blast, crack and
alternative castellations on the rotor, all of which
crevice freewelds and mirror
are machined to a different depth. The
polished finish.
retaining nut thread is orientated to ensure that
it cannot come loose during operation.
The bearing housings - critical
components in any mill - are
second to none. All bearing
housings are bench run-in before
final assembly into the mill, and
are designed to run under fully
submersed conditions. Provision is
included for air-purging where
required.

High Integrity Grinding Media

Each cone is formed from a pre-

punched development, totally
eliminating all part or blind
apertures. Complex fixing
flanges and cone caps have
been eliminated, ensuring that
cones are easy to remove, handle, clean and
replace. The rotors are one piece components,
bead blast or mirror polish finished as required.
Innovative Cone Retention
Engineering
At Its Best
There are no
operations which require three hands; theres
no guess work as to how tightly gaskets should be
compressed; and swing bolts may be allowed to
swing without fear that theyll mark highly polished
surfaces.

Changing cones could not be easier. Captive swing
bolts release the hinged milling chamber which
swings down complete with the cone - which can
simply be lifted out and replaced.
Weve paid all the attention to safety and easy
transportation you would expect from Kemutec. The
innovative features and quality design found in this
new generation of KEK Cone Mills will set them apart
from the competition for years to come.
 cone mills
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THE RANGE

Kek manufactures a wide range of Cone Mills from machines, each model in the range is capable of
the worktop mounted 75 Model through to the 680 being customised to suit each customers individual
capable of a process rate up to 10 tph. Although we requirements.
offer a comprehensive range of standard design

The current range

Model Cone Use Top Top Under Under In-line Grinding

D ia d rive n d rive n drive n drive n mo dule
direct belt direct belt only
drive drive drive drive

75 75mm Lab
120 120mm Lab/pilot
170 170mm Pilot/production
220 220mm Pilot/production
340 340mm Production
540 540mm Production
680 680mm Production

Customizing options - Drives

Our extensive applications experience over the comprehensive range of drive options from
years, during which we have responded to the ever which we select the best for your requirements.
changing needs of our customers, has resulted in a

Top driven belt drive

The standard for hopper feed

installations
Offers the option of speed
change via pulley sets
The most versatile arrangement

kemutec
Specialists in Powder Processing Technology
 Top driven direct drive

An alternative for hopper feed

installations
Compact
High torque, slow speed
applications

Top driven module

Bare shaft
For connection to customers
power units
Ideal for fitting directly to the
outlet of a drier

In-line under-driven belt drive

No drive shaft to restrict inlet

Accepts larger feed stock
High speed grinding action, ideal for dry granulation

In-line under-driven direct drive

No drive shaft to restrict inlet

Accepts larger feed stock
Slower speed grinding action, ideal for
wet granulation
 cone mills
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THE RANGE CONTINUED

Remote location in-line under-driven

direct drive

As in-line under-driven direct drive, except that the

drive is located separately from the milling chamber
Ideal for clean room operation
A practical solution for explosive environments

In addition, we offer KEK Cone Mills for

hazardous area operations which include:-
Flameproof electrics
Hydraulic drives
None-sparking materials of construction
Inert gas purging

Customising options - Milling Chamber Housing

Again through our extensive applications experience, and installation requirements. We are always willing
we have developed some key construction options to develop our Cone Mills further in pursuance of our
to satisfy individual process, operational, cleaning customers operational challenges.

Swing away discharge

chute

Top drives only

Easy cleaning
Rapid cone changes
Easy rotor clearance adjustment
Ideal for mobile machines and
bagging-off applications

kemutec
Specialists in Powder Processing Technology
 Side access discharge chute
Hinged or
removable Hinged or removable access door on discharge
access door chute
Discharge chute is accessible for easy cleaning
The cone can be easily removed or replaced
The rotor is easily accessible for adjustment
Ideal for fixed or in-line installations

Mast mounted Cone Mills

In-line
Cone Mill can be swung off-line to the side process
Facilitates raising or lowering for cleaning or Rotatable
grinding media changes mast
Enables Cone Mill to be replaced by a make-up
piece when product does not require processing

Rise and
fall mast

Pull through Cone Mills

In-line vacuum conveying systems

Continuous dust-tight operation
Less risk of contamination

In addition, our comprehensive range can readily

accommodate any of the following process
requirements:-

Fully mobile Cone Mills

Explosion containment up to 10 bar
Explosion suppression systems
Fully flushable CIP
Spray ball CIP
 cone mills
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APPLICATIONS

Granulation
a. Pharmaceutical Wet Granulation

The need To process wet mass product from a High Speed

Mixer and produce small nodules with a large surface
High shear area to weight ratio to maximise the efficiency of the
mixer onward drying process

The solution Kek in-line Cone Mill with under-driven grinding media

The benefits Full bore opening provides no restriction to incoming

product
Sealed gearbox providing hygienic, slow speed drive
ideal for the wet granulation process

Kek in-line Cone Mill (direct under-

driven) slow speed in-line process

Move IBC to drier feed

Collect in IBC

b. Pharmaceutical Dry Granulation The need To grind or granulate product after the drying process
(see Wet Granulation above). Prior to tableting

The solution Kek belt drive Cone Mill with over-driven grinding media

The benefits High speed grinding through belt drive to provide

high impact milling action
Sealed drop through installation ideal for
enclosure within a downflow booth
Ideal for mobile machines and bagging-off
installations

kemutec
Specialists in Powder Processing Technology
 Fluid bed
drier
Kek belt drive
Cone Mill high
speed drop
through process

Downflow
booth
c. Other granulation applications Inflatable
Detergent ingredients and tablets seal
Babyfood flakes
Spice de-agglomeration Drum
collection
Graphite
Sugar grinding
Brown (demerera) sugar de-agglomeration

Hand tip biscuits

Adjustable gate
Belt conveyor
Kek belt drive Cone Mill Biscuit and confectionery re-work
The need To grind reject or scrap product and to recycle back into
the original process as a small percentage of the total
volume, or to produce material which is the basis of a
product in its own right

The solution Kek belt drive Cone Mill with over-driven grinding media

Mobile bin The benefits In-line dust free operation

Low energy, short residence time Cone Mill action
ensures minimal heat transfer into product obviating
Ground
Groundbiscuit
biscuit fat melt
Fine ground product achieved in one pass and ideal
for adding back to the original process

Typical bakery/confectionery re-work applications:-

Cream biscuits Other applications
Agglomerated boiled sweets
Chocolate bars Pharmaceutical tablet reclaim
Bread crumbing Detergent tablet reclaim
Rusk milling Mint crystal grinding
Biscuit grinding for dessert bases Milk powder de-agglomeration
 cone mills
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KEMUTEC

Kemutec

Kemutec is well established as a leading
manufacturer of dry bulk solids processing and
handling equipment of outstanding quality. Our
specialist technologies are particularly suited to
applications in the food, pharmaceuticals, plastics
We have modern, purpose built ISO 9001 accredited
manufacturing facilities. We place particular
emphasis on surface finishing, whatever the material.
Mirror polishing of crack and crevice free equipment
constructed from stainless steel is a particular
speciality, reflecting our commitment to excellence
across the full product range.

Packaged engineering

In addition to the manufacture of individual machines,

our extensive experience makes us well placed to
design, manufacture, install and commission
processing packages including the associated
pneumatic (or other) conveying systems, support
structures and controls.

and chemicals industries. Besides cone milling, they

include other size reduction techniques, mixing/
blending, sifting and solids flow control.

Partnership with customers and emphasis on

service are the corner-stones of our success. Our
engineers work directly with customers to design and
build equipment for specific applications each based
on proven experience in the technologies in which
we excel.

kemutec
Specialists in Powder Processing Technology
Technology Centre

Our policy is to ensure that our customers have the

best opportunity to test our equipment in a location
and framework which enables them to make a
realistic assessment of its suitability for their
particular needs.

Accordingly, we operate two comprehensively

equipped technology centres one of which is
located at our UK headquarters and the other at our
North American base in Bristol, Pennsylvania where
trials on customers materials can be carried out with
a representative from the customer in attendance or
not, as the customer chooses.

Both sites are equipped with both production and

pilot size Cone Mills where short to medium duration
tests can be carried out in a controlled environment
which allows full characterisation and recording of
the trial results.

and beater options. Each machine has an electronic

variable speed control with speed indication. To
complete the monitoring program, we provide
load meters and hours run indicators too. Trials
machines are available to meet the European and
North American standards for operation in hazardous
environments where solvents or explosive powders
may be present.

After Sales Service

Hire facilities
As an alternative to trials within our technology
center we are able to undertake trials at customers
premises. This is particularly desirable where the size
reduction process needs to take place while the
product is in a specific condition or where it is of a
nature requiring a high degree of containment. We
offer test units complete with a full range of cones
At Kemutec, we believe that the trials and delivery of
equipment are just the beginnings of what will
become a long term relationship. To ensure the
smooth operation of our customers production, not
only is our equipment robustly designed for longevity
but we offer planned maintenance schedules and
hold a comprehensive stock of wear parts and other
key components.
 OUR OTHER PRODUCTS

Kemutec has its own sales office in the USA and has a comprehensive network of representatives throughout the
industrialised world, all able to provide applications engineering, sales and service.

KEK UNIVERSAL MILLS KEK KIBBLERS

For the fine grinding of food, pharmaceutical and Designed to accept lumps up to 150mm dia. and
chemical materials of up to 3 Moh hardness to within reduce them down to 2 or 3 mm within a narrow
the range of 30 to 500 micron mean particle size. particle size distribution and with minimal fines at
rates ranging from 2 to 25 tonnes/hour.

KEK CENTRIFUGAL SIFTERS GARDNER MIXERS & BLENDERS

Compact, high efficiency sifters for throughputs up We offer an extensive range comprising laboratory
to 100 tph. Most have cantilevered drive shafts mixers, ribbon mixers, ploughshare mixers,
reducing the number of bearings and seals - offering continuous mixers, reactors, processors, double
major benefits for hygiene and cleaning. cone blenders and drum blenders.

Our skilled and experienced, professional engineering Talk to us, to find out how we can help you to achieve
staff are well qualified to discuss, analyse, evaluate greater productivity, new processes and increased
and produce a cost effective solution to meet your profitability.
powder processing and handling requirements.

Kemutec Kemutec Also Supplies:

130 Wharton Road Kek Centrifugal Sifters
Bristol, PA 19007 GKM Tumbler Screeners
Telephone:215 788 8013 Kek Univesal Mills
E-mail:Sales@KemutecUSA.com Kek Cone Mills
Kek Kibbler Lump Breakers
Website:www.KemutecUSA.com
PPS Air Classifier Mills
Gardner Mixers and Blenders

kemutec
Mucon Valves and Discharge Aids

Specialists in Powder Processing Technology