A recently installed can drying demonstration facility, at Air Control Industries’ Chard premises, provides the company with a means of demonstrating to customers the efficiency of its CanDrying Tunnel system plus its ability to meet the Code of Practice draw-up jointly by the MPMA (Metal Packaging Manufacturers’ Association) and BLRA (Brewers’ and Licensed Retailers Association) relating to can drying. The new 10m x 2m conveyor-based demonstration facility runs at speeds of up to 80,000 cans/hr and will accept all standard can sizes used in the soft and alcoholic drinks markets. As well as offering visual evidence of drying, ACI also provides test facilities to verify drying standards achieved. ACI’s CanDrying Tunnel system are employed currently on Stella Artois, Coca-Cola and Red Bull lines around the world – plus many others.
Based upon a tunnel configuration, the ACI can drying system features specially configured slots that direct air to remove water efficiently whilst driving it downwards and out of the enclosed area. Also, the enclosed environment ensures the water is contained and the drying air performs more effectively than with conventional ‘open’ alternatives. Noise attenuation is another benefit of the enclosed design. ACI’s CanDrying Tunnels are simple and quick to install; they simply rest on brackets attached to the conveyor. The system also permits height adjustments to cope with different can heights to be performed easily, even by a single operator.