IFE Aufbereitungstechnik GmbH

A wide variety of processes require fine grain sizes so that wind sifting, magnetic separation, and sensor-based sorting can run efficiently and connected materials can be recovered. Classification using screening machines is therefore a fundamental processing step in waste recycling and other industries.

However, high fines content, changing temperatures, moisture levels, and material composition result in varying material properties. This makes it challenging to maintain consistently high screening quality at high throughput rates. Plugged grain reduces the throughput through the screen surface, resulting in mis-sized grain in the oversize fraction and clumps forming in the feed material. An increasing layer of material is usually a good indication that it is time to shut down the machine and clean it manually. In some operations, this may be necessary several times per shift.

Multi-deck machines provide relief by increasing throughput, but they have one drawback: once the stroke and speed settings have been made, they affect the dynamics of the entire machine. A difficult compromise must be found between the upper and lower decks. This leads to poor separation quality and inefficient operation.

Modular design for optimized screening results with minimal cleaning effort

The new VARIOframe screening machine from IFE Material Handling manages to resolve this conflict. Thanks to its modular design, the dynamics on the flip-flop deck can be adjusted independently of other decks – during operation, continuously and independently of speed.

This enables a mechanical cleaning process by freeing up the screen coverings (a brief increase in punch). Thanks to the flexible dynamic adjustment, the screen decks can be perfectly modified to the respective feed material and changing material properties. For example, the dynamics can be increased for adhesive material to reduce dust, or reduced to protect the material. In larger machines, the flip-flop deck can be divided into several zones, e.g., for inlet and outlet. This allows the dynamics to be adapted even more finely and further increases the screening quality.

“During the development of the VARIOframe, great importance was attached to everyday usability and economic efficiency. Consistent high screening quality and throughput performance with simple and cost-effective maintenance was our goal,“ says Jakob Bissenberger, long-standing design engineer at IFE, summarizing his work.

Booth B6.139