What’s trending in screening?

Smart screening tools, such as Flex-Mat ID Enabled, simplify screen media reordering and provide operators access to media information through an app. Photo: Major

Screening technology hasn’t changed too dramatically over the course of the aggregate industry’s history. But the smart tools some manufacturers are now unveiling represent a significant change in screening operations.

Major, a manufacturer of high-vibration wire screens, is among those rolling out new tech to take screening operations to the next level. The company highlighted some of its latest developments at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020, offering a glimpse at the future of screening for aggregate producers.

“Smart products are a trend,” says Lars Bräunling, director of product technology at Major. “It’s about ease of doing business.”

Major highlighted a pair of smart products in particular at ConExpo-Con/Agg, including an RFID technology that tracks and stores screen media data such as panel dimension and customer-defined details that give producers access to key information for reordering.

According to Major, the technology improves convenience and productivity for operations using Flex-Mat with ID Enabled installed. The tech helps producers avoid costly mistakes that can result from measuring incorrectly and ordering improperly-sized screen media.

All Flex-Mat screen media is embedded with the ID Enabled microchip, Major says. Producers can also easily access product info through the company’s app, so there’s no need for producers to have an additional reading device handy, according to Major.

“Our customers’ efficiency is always top priority, which encourages us to continue to push limits and be at the forefront of innovation in the industry,” says Bernard Betts, president of Major. “We are introducing ID Enabled technology as a way to help customers track screen media specifications and improve accuracy during reordering, ultimately resulting in a more consistent end product.”

Another technology

Major’s app-controlled vibration analysis sensor enables readings of screenbox vibrations within seconds, generating a report that can be sent or reviewed. Photo: Major

At ConExpo-Con/Agg, Major also highlighted a sensor technology that delivers vibration measurement data for producers to use to review results and fine-tune a screen without shutting down equipment.

The app-controlled vibration analysis sensor enables readings of screenbox vibrations within seconds, generating a report that can be sent or reviewed. The simplicity of the system’s design ensures valuable and actionable data without shutting down a plant to calibrate the sensor.

“Our focus is on making our customers more profitable and productive,” says Peter Bauer, Major’s R&D and innovation manager. “This technology does that by putting a wealth of screen performance data into the palm of their hand. The simplicity of our system makes it extremely accessible and allows dealers and their customers to make educated decisions to improve performance and profits.”

Smart tech in screening isn’t necessarily a manufacturer-driven fad, though. As Betts describes, some producers are challenging screen media manufacturers to visualize the future and push limits.

“People don’t just want the product,” he says. “They expect quality, but they want more. They want connection in the field and people to show up when things go wrong. And when they order something, they want it to show up.”