Client:
Quantity:
Size:
Application:
There are approximately 7.7 billion people on planet Earth and estimates for average annual chocolate consumption come in at just under 2 pounds of chocolate per person per year. Some quick math on that will tell you that humans are consuming about 15.5 BILLION POUNDS of chocolate per year! With this much love for chocolate it is hard not to wonder how chocolate manufacturers worldwide are keeping up with this colossal demand. Most manufacturers would likely tell you that the biggest assets for meeting this kind of demand are reliable employees and reliable manufacturing equipment. Vortex is proud to say that we have been helping satisfy the worlds sweet tooth for several decades. To better understand how Vortex helps satisfy the worlds chocolate cravings we have to first understand what some of the base ingredients are in the world’s favorite sweet treat.
Common Dry Bulk Ingredients found in Chocolate:
• Cocoa Powder – This is the material that is left after Cocoa beans are harvested, fermented, roasted, and then processed into a powder that can be used to manufacture chocolate.
• Sugar – The two most common types of sugar used in chocolate manufacturing are refined white sugar and unrefined cane sugar. Some other sugars that can be found in chocolate can include coconut sugar, palm sugar, and even sugar substitutes (Stevia, Aspartame, Sucralose, etc.)
• Milk Powders – This ingredient can come in many forms including some vegan friendly options (goat milk, buttermilk, non-fat, coconut milk, oat milk, etc.) This ingredient is typically only found in “milk chocolate” products.
• Lecithin Powder – this powder can be derived from a few sources with soy and sunflowers being the most common. Lecithin is added to chocolate in small amounts to decrease the chocolates viscosity and give it a smooth silky texture.
Now that we have a better understanding of what the common dry ingredients are in chocolate, we can examine how Vortex helps handle those ingredients. Below are some descriptions for Vortex equipment that would be suitable for handling these ingredient applications.
DIVERTERS:
Vortex® Wye Line Diverter™: The Vortex Wye Line diverter is designed for dilute phase conveyance (15 PSI or less). These diverters come in a few standard formats including straight leg or wye variations of a 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way option. These diverters when handling the ingredients for chocolate are typically manufactured using stainless steel, as well as food grade polymers and elastomers which is the standard in most Vortex equipment. Another common modifier that is used on these diverters when handling chocolate ingredients is the electropolished blade which helps prevent materials from sticking to the blade and causing actuation issues.
*** WHEN HANDLING STICKY MATERIALS CERTAIN CONDITIONS MUST BE MET FOR PROPER FUNCTION. CONTACT VORTEX FOR MORE DETAIL ***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vortex® Seal Tite Diverter™: This diverter model is a gravity flow flap style diverter that offers a few standard configurations including a 2 way “K-Style”/straight leg or “Y-Style”/ symmetrical format as well as a 3-way option. The Vortex Seal Tite unlike many other flap diverter alternatives offers an access door to the interior of the valve which allows for in-line maintenance. When handling ingredients for chocolate, it is common to require a “sanitary” type of finish on these diverters which typically includes specialty polishing and continuous internal welds to help reduce product build up within the diverter. Vortex offers a few sanitary design options on 6” and larger models.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vortex® Gravity Vee Diverter™: The Vortex® Gravity Vee Diverter™ is a reliable and efficient dry bulk solid material diverter that provides high accuracy by utilizing a dual gate design with independent controls, allowing for both outlet chutes to be activated simultaneously, individually, or completely shut off. For fast and accurate material shut-off, it features a replaceable bonnet seal system which requires minimal maintenance. The Vortex® Gravity Vee Diverter™ is a rugged and versatile diverter that can be used in many industries including chocolate production. Chocolate ingredients are among the most widely used products in the food industry and require precise handling to ensure accuracy and repeatability during production. The Vortex® Gravity Vee Diverter™ is an ideal replacement for conventional bucket diverters and flap diverters used for diverting powdered ingredients such as cocoa powder, sugar, milk powder, and lecithin powder.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vortex® Flex Tube Diverter™: The Vortex® Flex Tube Diverter™ is the ideal solution for conveying chocolate ingredients without the risk of cross-contamination. This system eliminates material cross-contamination and offers continuous conveying with a shiftable design that operates on a flowing column of materials. This diverter also features live-loaded, wear compensating hard polymer pressure plate seals which keep the materials contained and create a dust-tight seal to atmosphere. With its machined full bore orifice, no internal cavities, and no pinch points or exposed moving parts, this flex tube is a great option for your facility.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vortex® Fill Pass Diverter™: Enjoy the benefits of rapid and reliable chocolate production with the Vortex® Fill Pass Diverter™! This versatile system allows you to fill one or more in-line weigh hoppers without losing any material along the way. Featuring spread hopper inlet/outlet stacks, the system ensures maximum air separation while ensuring no loss of product. Experience quality results with improved speed and reduced carryover with this handy tool.
*** WHEN HANDLING STICKY MATERIALS CERTAIN CONDITIONS MUST BE MET FOR PROPER FUNCTION. CONTACT VORTEX FOR MORE DETAIL ***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SLIDE GATE VALVES:
Vortex® Roller Gate™: The Vortex® Roller Gate™ is an ideal solution for handling dry chocolate ingredients such as cocoa powder, sugar, and lecithin powder. It offers a live-loaded seal system that compensates for wear and provides an excellent material seal across the gate and to atmosphere. The seals are replaceable while the valve is in-line, and there are no pinch points or exposed moving parts for safety. Additionally, the Vortex® Roller Gate™ features optional special service inlet which protects rollers and minimizes material contact with the seals. The gate is available in a variety of sizes and configurations, making it suitable for installations above or below gravity-fed hoppers/silos, mixers, and augers/screw conveyors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vortex® Clear Action Gate™: For seamless and efficient processing of dry bulk ingredients like cocoa powder, sugar, and lecithin powder, the Clear Action Gate is an optimal solution. Featuring a sealed body, the gate prevents air loss into upstream equipment while offering an enhanced conveying efficiency and improved blower efficiency. Constructed from specialized metals and polymers for application-specific durability, the Clear Action Gate is designed to seal against pressure from below and can be designed to match up with any rotary airlock in the industry. With no pinch points or exposed moving parts, the Clear Action Gate provides a dust-tight seal across its blade and to atmosphere. It’s also equipped with stainless steel liners which protect its seals from material flow, and an optional air purge assembly to keep fine materials in the flow stream. Additionally, the Clear Action Gate is capable of horizontal or vertical orientation.
*** WHEN HANDLING STICKY MATERIALS CERTAIN CONDITIONS MUST BE MET FOR PROPER FUNCTION. CONTACT VORTEX FOR MORE DETAIL ***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vortex® Orifice Gate™: The Orifice gate is another fine choice for handling chocolate dry bulk ingredients. Specifically designed for dry bulk solids, it is equipped with live-loaded wear compensating hard polymer pressure plate seals, a shimming system for in-line maintenance, and a special service inlet to minimize material contact with the seals. The materials handled include non-abrasive to moderately abrasive powders, pellets and granules. With its narrow profile for limited space applications and overall height of 2 – 3 inches (50 – 75 mm), the Vortex® Orifice Gate™ is both compact and reliable. It comes in standard sizes of 2 – 16 inches (50 mm – 400mm) and is available with flange options that include standard stud bolt pattern, thru-bolt pipe connection, ANSI #125/150, and DIN PN10. The Orifice Gate can be modified for applications handling sticky materials to avoid chattering or binding.
*** WHEN HANDLING STICKY MATERIALS CERTAIN CONDITIONS MUST BE MET FOR PROPER FUNCTION. CONTACT VORTEX FOR MORE DETAIL ***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While the above mentioned Diverters and Slide gates are the most common equipment used to handle the standard dry bulk chocolate ingredients, we also have a variety of Loading and Aerated conveying solutions that may be just what you are looking for. Contact us today to find out more about how Vortex Equipment can help you take control over how materials move through your facility more effectively than ever before and help keep the worlds sweet tooth satisfied!
