Fox Venturi Eductors in Pet Food Plants
Fox venturi eductors are widely used for pet food conveying at dozens of plants in the US and globally. Many of the largest pet food manufacturers rely on Fox to supply conveying systems for pet food that will operate maintenance free for many years. Fox venturi eductors are used for pneumatic conveying of dry pet food at various stages in the manufacturing process. This can include spill from belts, conveying from screeners, hopper eductors to convey from 25-pound bags, and injecting additives or minor ingredients into larger convey lines. Typical pet food conveyor line sizes for blowing kibble, ingredients, spices, and packing room reclaim range from 3 inch to 8 inch. They are available in standard 316 stainless or CIP, easy-to-clean sanitary, food-grade venturis with Tri-clamp ends.
Conveying from packing rooms: Many of the very largest pet food plants in the US have installed a Fox hopper eductor directly in their packing rooms. Pet food from damaged bags is then dumped in a waist-high hopper. Using air at only 3 – 4 psig from a small, quiet regen blower, located right in the packing area, undamaged pet food is conveyed back to the packing tower with minimal or no degradation. Convey velocity is carefully controlled by the venturi eductor to transfer pet food that can be repackaged for sale. The conveying eductor used in packing rooms is Clean-in-Place (CIP) for daily sanitation & clean-out, as well as enabling quick clean-outs, avoiding cross contamination when different products are being packaged.
Widely used for 40 years in human food plants, Fox venturi eductors, can be used to pneumatically convey dog and cat food ingredients from screw feeders, extruders, bulk bags, or bag dump hoppers. Unlike rotary airlocks, there are no seals, shafts, or rotors. Many have been installed and operating for twenty years or more with no maintenance.
