KWS Manufacturing

Twin Screw Feeder for Metering Wood Shavings American Wood Fibers in Marshall, TX

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General Description

American Wood Fibers (AWF) is the largest producer of wood shavings, wood flour and other natural fiber products in the US and is committed to developing products that will enhance the quality of life for people, pets and livestock. AWF products are used as bedding for pets and livestock, clean burning pellet fuel for heat, and fillers and enhancers for many industrial markets. AWF partners with local wood products companies located in the timber regions and utilizes the wood waste produced in the making of finished lumber products.

At the manufacturing facility in Marshall, Texas, AWF needed a screw feeder to control the flow of wood shavings from a hopper to a bagging system. Wood shavings are difficult to store and meter because they interlock or mat together. AWF was working with Central Mechanical to help solve the problem and improve the bulk material handling systems at the plant. Central Mechanical specializes in the design, fabrication and installation of conveying and material handling systems. Central Mechanical and KWS have had a successful, long-term relationship and together have solved many material handling problems.

Design Parameters

  1. Bulk Material – Wood Shavings
  2. Product Density – 10 to 30 Lbs. per Cubic Foot
  3. Conveyor Capacity – 2,200 Cubic Feet per Hour
  4. Duty – 24 Hours per Day, 7 Days per Week
Twin Screw Feeder for Metering Wood Shavings at American Wood Fibers in Marshall, TX
Twin Screw Feeder for Metering Wood Shavings at American Wood Fibers in Marshall, TX

KWS Advantages

The existing screw feeder was a source of continuous problems. After testing samples of the wood shavings, KWS offered a new screw feeder design that would evenly feed the bagging system. KWS designed the screw feeder with twin screws to prevent the wood shavings from bridging and interlocking in the hopper. The twin-screw design provided a much larger opening for the wood shavings to transition from the hopper to the screw feeder. KWS is staffed with 9 degreed Mechanical Engineers and three Professional Engineers who met the challenge to design and manufacture the new twin-screw feeder.

Special Features

KWS designed and manufactured a twin-screw feeder with independent drive units. Each of the twin screws is reversible and can meter wood shavings to a bagging system on each end of the screw feeder. One bagging system is currently in use while the second system is for future expansion.

The new KWS twin-screw feeder was designed and manufactured with a unique pitch design to provide consistent flow to the bagging system while being fully reversible. Since the wood shavings tend to interlock, KWS added breaker bars on each screw at the discharge to facilitate even flow into the bagging system. A strike-off plate at the leading edge of the discharge controls flow.

Each screw was powered by individual drive units and controlled by variable frequency drives (VFDs) so the output speed of each screw could be varied independently. Integral drive units with C-face motors eliminated the need for V-belt drives and potential maintenance issues.

Testimonial

"The AWF Maintenance Manager is very happy. The screw feeder is working as intended."

John Weigel, Operations Manager – Central Mechanical Systems

Twin Screw Feeder for Metering Wood Shavings at American Wood Fibers in Marshall, TX - KWS Twin Screw Feeder for Metering Wood Shavings at American Wood Fibers in Marshall, TX - KWS
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