Kice Industries Blog

While rotary airlocks, which operate at low speeds, aren’t overly complicated equipment, and normally require minimal maintenance, they nevertheless are very critical for the efficient operation of a pneumatic conveying system. Rotary airlocks utilize very tight machined internal clearances, which are necessary to maintain the proper pressure or vacuum differential for providing consistent feeding rates… Learn More

  Our trade shows schedule is gearing up to hit the ground running in 2022.  We hope that the locations and dates allow for many customers and prospects to get a chance to speak with our representatives. To understand the Kice difference, meet us in person at one of these industry events. Whether it’s industrial… Learn More

Common Problems That You Can Avoid by Going with Kice With the number of products that require processing, separation, and conveying through plants and factories, air control systems provide us a unique solution for a multitude of goods and materials. Some of the most common products that utilize pneumatic conveying and industrial air systems include… Learn More

Breaking Down the Differences Between Pneumatic Systems and Mechanical Systems When companies need to move bulk material, the question always boils down to whether it’s best to use pneumatic systems (aka industrial air systems) or a mechanical conveying system. Although pneumatic conveying and mechanical conveying are both designed to do the same thing – move… Learn More

Increasing Efficiency with the Power of Air Here at Kice Industries, we do business with several companies spanning several different industries. Regardless of whether they work in food, chemicals, plastics, or other commodities, most of these companies that process products all have one common problem: they need to isolate the high-quality product so that it… Learn More

Breaking Down Two Major Dust Control Systems Before dust can be controlled, it must be contained first. Most often, this means making sure equipment is “tight” and gasketed properly. Equipment that emits dust should have suction vent connections and/or suction hoods attached. These connect to a manifold, which then connects to a separator (cyclone and/or… Learn More

Breaking Down How Central Vacuum Systems Benefit Your Operation “What is a central vacuum system? And how does it benefit my operation?” These are just two of the many questions we get about central vacuum systems here at Kice Industries. The Kice industrial central vacuum is a centralized solution for several industries. It is a… Learn More

Controlling Dust: Reducing Dust Emissions and Improving Dust Emissions Control to Prevent Workplace Incidents Dust explosions in the grain and milling industries usually start inside process equipment such as mills, dryers, mixers, classifiers, conveyors, and storage silos and hoppers. Dust explosions can cause catastrophic loss of life, injuries, and destruction of facilities and company assets.… Learn More

The Most Common Issues Encountered When Installing Pneumatic Systems As you’re probably already aware, pneumatic conveying is the process of using compressed air or gas to transfer bulk materials such as powder, pellets, or other granular material from one point to the next. Essentially, pneumatic conveying is material handling that’s powered by air and conveyed… Learn More

posted: June 14, 2021 Jeff Kinnunen – Regional Sales Manager.   Kice announced today the appointment of Jeff Kinnunen as its Regional Sales Manager, based out of Minneapolis, MN. In this role, Kinnunen will be responsible for the oversight of sales throughout Minnesota, North and South Dakota, West Iowa, and Northwestern Wisconsin territories, providing support… Learn More

posted: May 11, 2021   Kice Industries announced it has introduced a new baghouse filter to its product line, the Kice GR Filter. “We are excited for this new and improved design which will result in lower energy consumption and extended filter bag life,” said Drew Kice, President and CEO, Kice Industries. “It will provide… Learn More

Kice Industries, an industry-leading provider of pneumatic conveying, dust control, and aspiration systems, is proud to be celebrating its 75th anniversary as a company. Solutions Across Multiple Industries Kice Industries has solved material handling challenges for customers in many industries, including milling, plastics, food, wood pelleting, bio-fuels, oilseed processing, and recycling. This versatility enables Kice… Learn More

This past year presented the Kice community with some unprecedented times and new ways to support employees during the Covid19 pandemic. Interview with Kice HR Director, Lori Swilley       What was it like for Kice and the HR team right when this pandemic started to emerge? What type of education, collaboration, and training… Learn More

posted: February 16, 2021 Edgar Arreaza – Technical Sales Manager.   Kice announced today the appointment of Edgar Arreaza as its Regional Sales Manager, based out of Houston, TX. In this role, Arreaza will be responsible for the oversight of sales throughout south Texas and south Louisiana territories, providing support for this customer base for… Learn More

With removing hulls, an important step to take into account is the preparation of the beans and noting that several well-controlled processes are necessary for maximum reduction of fiber in the meal with minimum loss of fat to hulls.  Much has been said about this process, and many systems have been devised which accomplish the… Learn More

The Coors Distribution center in Wichita wanted an efficient way to remove empty aluminum cans for recycling purposes from 40-foot enclosed dumpsters located around the city and bring them to their collection facilities. The cans were then removed from the truck by hand with rakes and shovels. Kice proposed the idea of pneumatically removing the… Learn More

  As the spiraling airstream inside a cyclone collector reaches the stock outlet of the collector and begins to reverse itself so as to travel up toward the air outlet, a vortex is created which extends down beyond the stock outlet. Because of this, it is important to include a length of tailpipe (or better… Learn More

Build Business Dynamic Models with Accurate Information and Live Data Our Kice IoT initiative provides you the ability to react and make decisions quickly. We can collect data, provide remote alerts and analytics through a web-based dashboard via a cloud-based server. With customized dashboards for each site, we can collect data on equipment through 4-20mA… Learn More

Test Lab Assures Quality Products Tailored to Customer’s Requirements   An essential part of any system manufacturers’ operation is the test facility. At Kice, our test facility is utilized for testing our customer’s products in proven equipment and testing new equipment and ideas. The Kice lab has a pressure system available to run pneumatic conveying… Learn More

3/26/2020 update: KICE IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL Kice Industries remains fully operational at this time. Many of the industries that we serve are deemed to be “critical infrastructure segments” by the President and the Department of Homeland Security. As such, we are taking all available precautions which may enable us to remain open. The majority of our office… Learn More

posted: March 16, 2020 Sarah Lawson – Technical Sales Manager, OK/N. TX   Kice announced today the appointment of Sarah Lawson as its Technical Sales Manager, based out of Ponca City, OK. In this role, Lawson will be responsible for the oversight of sales throughout the Oklahoma and North Texas territories, providing support for this… Learn More

To maintain the high degree of quality necessary for semolina flour (the foundation for pasta products), ADM’s durum mill in Minneapolis used large volumes of air. The air was filtered before discharge so efficient baghouse filters would be critical. The old filters ADM had used were mechanically cleaned using a sequence of valves and a… Learn More

posted: February 10, 2020 Marshall Bird – Vice President, Sales   Kice announced today the appointment of Marshall Bird as Vice President of Sales. In this role, Bird will assume all sales responsibilities related to managing the growth of Kice’s extensive line of product and service offerings. “Kice Industries is a multi-industry industrial air system… Learn More

Test Application Rate: Up to 800 lbs. per minute (13.5 lbs. per minute) using a 6DT8 Multi-Aspirator Bulk Density: Estimated at 32-35 lbs.per cubic foot, loose Product: HDPE regrind Size: 5/16″ (8mm) Note: Product to be dry, granular and free-flowing Product to be lifted from existing Rapid Granulator discharge. Principle: Product lifted through existing evacuation… Learn More

In 1986 Kice worked with a well-known spice manufacturer to develop some new technologies and advantages for the spice milling industry. A critical part of controlling the quality of the finished products was the ability to control the grinding and grading steps in the milling process. The milling process was done in stages: cleaning, grinding,… Learn More

Dust explosions in the grain and milling industries usually start inside process equipment such as mills, dryers, mixers, classifiers, conveyors, and storage silos and hoppers. Dust explosions can cause catastrophic loss of life, injuries, and destruction of facilities and assets. Maintaining the Solution An important item that affects the continued performance of a dust control… Learn More

Designing the System In 1982, King Milling had reached its production limits due to a lack of space in the mill. A remodeling project was planned to gain operating space. King Milling also wanted to incorporate a means of inventory control and install a high-speed bulk system at the same time to eliminate the need… Learn More

Customer:  Grain Elevator – Western KS Application: Open drag belt from bucket leg to tripper Product: Kice fan, cyclone, spouting, layout and install Challenge:  Cut down dusty conditions in gallery area.  Enclose belt with hood and apply dust control Results: Dramatic improvement in dusty conditions. Closing: The customer is very happy.  The results were beyond… Learn More

Bulk Unloading System for Railcars Kice was approached to design a bulk unloading system for railcars so it could be used to unload plastic resins and pellets. A pneumatic system conveyed the bulk material from the railcar into a storage bin. It was then transferred into either an 800-pound tote box or 55-pound bags for… Learn More

If you are wanting to change the rotation on a Kice FA fan, it is important to note that unlike a FC fan housing and rotor which can be changed, the FA housing and rotor are directional. Another caveat to note is to go to bottom horizontal. There is a fitment issue unless specially set… Learn More

posted: September 24, 2019 Alejandro Cardenas – Regional Sales Manager, Mexico   Kice announced today the appointment of Alejandro Cardenas as a new Regional Sales Manager. In this role, Cardenas will be responsible for the oversight of sales throughout the Mexico territory, providing support for this customer base for the diverse product lines offered by… Learn More

Our QuickShip team has received some calls from customers asking about removing and re-installing Kice bolt-on access doors on Kice cyclones and filters. Follow these instructions to help ensure a smoother removal and installation. Removing the door: Remove the hex nuts and washer and save for later Using a flat blade, pry open the door,… Learn More

A coordinated line of fittings that covers practically every fitting requirement in typical applications, Kice’s Speed Spout is designed to meet rigid requirements for sanitation and long life. The system includes over 550 types and sizes (typically 2”-8”) of standardized parts. Each is designed to meet rigid requirements in both gravity and pneumatic conveying lines.… Learn More

The Kice Weld Assistant program was formed as a result of the high demand for experienced welders in the local job market. Our program allows individuals who lack real world on the job skills in the welding field, an opportunity to gain experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. As a welding assistant, the individual will… Learn More

  The Love Box Company was looking to save money while improving operating procedures. They came to Kice looking to achieve this with the help of a bulk starch storage and handling system. Because Love Box Company used such large quantities of starch, they were able to take advantage of a bulk system. They were… Learn More

Lucas Dugan – Design Engineer   What is your engineering background?  I have a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Wichita State University. Here at Kice I design specialized equipment while also providing engineering support to various other departments. What do you find most rewarding about a career in engineering?  The most rewarding parts of my… Learn More

OSHA requires that all fixed ladders installed on and after November 19, 2018, must be equipped with a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system. Per Code of Federal Regulations 1910.28(b)(9)(i) (B), an employer must have a personal fall protection system or ladder safety system for ladders extending over 24′. However, to help… Learn More

Project Management – Gaining Effeciency and Effectiveness Over the years, project management has become integral to companies in various industries. Today’s process facilities face challenges like never before, as all projects are expected to be completed as efficiently, quickly, and cost-effectively as ever. More and more companies are starting to outsource their project management function… Learn More

In simplest terms, a Multi-Aspirator is a much more efficient way of separating or classifying materials (without any moving parts). By using the differences in terminal velocities of specific products, Multi-Aspirators use air to separate and classify materials by size, shape, and density. The entire system is based off the material’s size, density, and shape… Learn More

posted: July 2,2018   Kice Industries today announced it has introduced a new offset vane feeder to its product line. The new design will result in shorter lead times and lower costs. “There are no transitions with the new design, it can bolt directly to an aspirator and provides a seal to protect against product… Learn More

ChickenVeyors were developed by Kice decades ago. The concept was ahead of its time. Performance was handicapped by the small capacity of the old wood and plastic coops, then used almost universally, and the wasted effort and time involved stacking and unstacking them. Developing the Prototype At the time, Kice built only a few prototype… Learn More

  Kice Industries today announced it has introduced a flat bottom sweep to its product line. It is suitable for use in NFPA compliant filters avoiding the requirement for tall hopper sections. The unit incorporates a sweep-arm with an FDA compliant neoprene wiper, and a simple bottom-mounted direct drive motor assembly for reliable operation and… Learn More

posted: April 16,2018   Kice Industries today announced it has introduced a new compact filter to its product line. The new compact filter is for direct mounting to bins, drags, legs and other equipment where access or mounting options are limited. “This new filter features an integrated fan and cleaning system that is designed for… Learn More

posted: March 29,2018   Kice Industries and Sangati Berga announced the signing of an agreement to form a strategic alliance between the two companies. The agreement includes joint distribution, sales and promotional efforts for new and existing grain milling projects in the United States and Canada. “Bringing together over 100 years of combined experience in… Learn More

Filter replacement intervals can differ from application to application. But if you are diligent about replacing your filter bags, you can help improve the efficiency of your process. General Rule on when to change Kice Filter Bags (Note: Refer to printed and/or electronic manuals for full details.) 1) Check filter bag pressure differential weekly by… Learn More

Design and Sizing are Key Factors in Moving Material Effectively and Efficiently Besides good grain cleaning and dust control, one of the key components that greatly helps in delivering effective and top-notch housekeeping results in a milling facility is a central vacuum system. First, it’s important to keep in mind that a dust collection system… Learn More

Come one, Come all. 2021 Kice Trade Show Schedule   We are gearing up to hit the ground running in 2021 with our trade shows schedule.  We hope that the locations and dates allow for many customers and prospects to get a chance to speak with our representatives. To really understand the Kice difference, meet… Learn More

There are many reasons why “aspiration” should be considered for product separations, and there is one essential reason that Kice Multi-Aspirators® should be the aspirator used. It is much more efficient. An extensive selection of styles and sizes allow Kice to handle literally thousands of different applications. Usage Case Study – Insect Damaged Kernels  … Learn More

The positive displacement blower is often the heart of many types of pneumatic conveying and process systems. Often, such an important piece of equipment is forgotten until it fails. Once the blower has failed, the maintenance personnel must scramble to get the system back online. Some simple procedures can often prevent damage to the blower… Learn More

The key to long and trouble-free airlock operation is good maintenance practices. Periodically inspect the rotor for damage caused by foreign material and for proper rotor placement within the airlock body.   Inspect the bearings and the drive chain for excessive wear. Finally, service the gearmotor or speed reducer as specified by the manufacturer. The… Learn More

Anyone who carries out confined space work needs to be familiar with the standards and regulations for performing work in these environments. Kice Equipment in Confined Spaces   Some of the equipment Kice Industries manufacturers may include confined spaces. As defined by OSHA, a confined space has: Limited means of entry and/or exit Is large… Learn More

The Kice testing lab is an integral part of our engineering and design team. Through testing and analysis, we can accurately identify the characteristics and physical properties of a product and, based on your requirements, determine its pneumatic conveying characteristics. This is accomplished by running the product through special aspirators, conveying systems, grading, grinding and… Learn More

Combustible dust explosions are a risk in many areas of a facility. Facilities can create dust particles that can become airborne and dispersed throughout the plant. It’s when these particles are in a combustible environment that they represent a significant risk for an industrial accident. The serious hazards associated with handling fine dust and powdered… Learn More

Whether sizing new equipment, replacing old equipment, meeting government recordkeeping regulations, or wanting to improve facility efficiency, learning to measure air velocity is an important aid. Plus, it need not be a daunting task, because air measuring kits are readily available and equipped with all the necessary tools needed to do an accurate and thorough… Learn More