HOSOKAWA AlpineExpo 2015

The HOSOKAWA AlpineExpo 2015, which took place on the premises of the Augsburg-based company on June 17 and 18, was again well attended by users of process technology. It provided a wide range of information about technologies and processes for the manufacture and processing of fine powders and bulk materials. About 300 guests from around the globe followed the invitation to Augsburg on the two days in June (Fig. 1). With more than 50 % of the participants coming from Europe, North and South America and Asia, the internationality of the in-house exhibition was clearly perceptible and a strong indication for the fact that the combination with the ACHEMA which took place in parallel is a model of success.

In two auditoriums (Fig. 2), the visitors enjoyed a comprehensive lecture program with speakers from research (TU Braunschweig, FAU Nürnberg-Erlangen, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hochschule Ostwestfalen Lippe, University of Edinburgh), from industry, from the 8 co-exhibitors (Allgaier Process Technology GmbH, Atlas Copco, AZO Gruppe, Endress+Hauser, GEA Westfalia Separator Group, Haver & Boecker OHG, MikroPul GmbH, Mogensen GmbH & Co. KG) and from the host. With altogether 59 presentations, the visitors had the opportunity not only to find out about the latest developments in particle technology, but also to learn in application-specific presentations about special tools for later use at their own workplaces.

Furthermore, the visitors at the outside area (Fig. 3) and in the assembly hall, which was converted into an exhibition hall, had the opportunity of getting to know a part of the product range of the Hosokawa Micron Group and of the co-exhibitors (Fig. 4). Guided in-house tours through production department (Fig. 5) and technical center (Fig. 6) provided a glimpse behind the scenes of Hosokawa Alpine. For example, in the technical center, up to 500 tests ordered by clients and run on approx. 3000 m² with about 60 individual machines and complete systems each year, are aimed at finding the optimum system layout and at the determination of process technological guarantee values. The tests can be carried out on both production, laboratory and pilot plant scale.

“We aim at continually optimizing running processes. This applies both to our range of mechanical process technology and the measurement and automation technology for our systems. We want to offer our customers maximum user friendliness, faultlessness and operational reliability - and of course more efficient operating procedures, higher product quality and lower costs,” explains Bertram Brenner, member of the board.

An example of this is the measurement of the particle size distribution and the particle size determination by means of the Alpine Optisizer successfully launched in 2011. On-line determination of the particle size distribution in a production system makes it possible to continuously monitor the process and adjust the process parameters. The measured data provided by the Optisizer can be transmitted automatically to any control system, thus ensuring optimum process management. This results in higher system performance at simultaneously lower energy consumption and continuous monitoring of the product quality. Within the scope of the enhancement of this device, the user-friendliness of the user interface was improved last year. The Optisizer^® was equipped with OptiView, the newly developed user interface, which provides the user with intuitive handling. Not only is the measuring device used in the Alpine technical center (Fig. 7), but it is also available as rental device.

Based on the expert lectures and live demonstrations, visitors of the exhibition stands were provided with varied possibilities for talks and stimulated discussions around the future trends in particle technology (Fig. 8). The well-filled beer garden as well as the restaurant marquee were also perfect for taking a break and for making and cultivating contacts (Fig. 9).

“We can say with great pleasure that our visitors were able to extract high benefit from the wide range of information offered. Based on this, we consider the exhibition to have been a complete success for us and – more important – for our guests, too. This fact was also reflected in the extremely positive feedback we have had up to now.  We are already thinking about the next AlpineExpo, which, based on the current stage of planning, will take place again in three years’ time,” says Jörg Brinker, the main organizer of  AlpineExpo 2015.

www.hosokawa-alpine.com