Solids Dortmund 2027

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

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Glossary

1

Bulk solids

Granular, powdered or pelletised materials handled in loose form rather than as discrete packaged units. At SOLIDS Dortmund this covers the powders, granules and bulk commodities that exhibitors convey, store, dose, weigh and process.

2

Bulk density

Mass per unit volume of a loose bulk material, usually expressed in kg/m3 or g/l. Bulk density changes with consolidation and aeration, so it directly affects silo design, conveying rates and dosing accuracy shown at the show.

3

Flowability

The ease with which a powder or granulate flows under gravity or applied stress. Poor flowability causes bridging, rat-holing and inconsistent feed in hoppers, dosing lines and packaging machines - a core theme for bulk-solids equipment suppliers at SOLIDS Dortmund.

4

Cohesion

The internal attractive forces between particles that resist flow and cause caking or arching. Cohesion is influenced by moisture, particle shape and storage time, and is measured in shear-cell tests used to specify hopper outlets.

5

Segregation

The tendency of a blended bulk material to separate by particle size, density or shape during filling, conveying or discharge. Segregation control is central to the mixing and handling equipment presented at the fair.

6

Pneumatic conveying

Transport of powders and granules through pipes using air velocity and pressure - dilute-phase, dense-phase or vacuum systems. Exhibitors at SOLIDS Dortmund show pneumatic conveying components alongside mechanical alternatives such as screw and belt conveyors.

7

Mechanical conveying

Movement of bulk solids by screw conveyors, belt conveyors, bucket elevators, chain conveyors or vibrating conveyors. Selection depends on capacity, abrasiveness, temperature and layout constraints discussed with suppliers at the show.

8

Dosing and weighing

Controlled gravimetric or volumetric feeding of bulk ingredients into a process or package. Accuracy, repeatability and changeover speed are the buying criteria for the loss-in-weight feeders, weigh hoppers and bag-filling lines exhibited.

9

Sieving and screening

Classification of powders and granules by particle size using vibrating screens, rotary sifters or ultrasonic sieves. Used for quality control, de-dusting and security screening of bulk materials.

10

Mixing and blending

Combining multiple bulk ingredients into a homogeneous product using ribbon blenders, ploughshare mixers, conical screw mixers or continuous blenders. Mixing quality and cleanability are key evaluation points at SOLIDS Dortmund.

11

Dust explosion protection (ATEX)

Measures to prevent and contain explosions of combustible dusts in silos, filters, conveyors and dryers. In Germany this follows ATEX directives and DGUV rules; suppliers at the fair present explosion vents, isolation valves and grounding systems.

12

Caking and moisture control

Caking is the agglomeration of particles into lumps caused by moisture, pressure or temperature cycling during storage. Solutions include dryers, conditioners, anti-caking additives and controlled-atmosphere silos shown at the event.

13

Silo and hopper design

The geometry of storage vessels - outlet size, hopper angle, wall friction and insert design - must match the material's flow properties. Mass-flow and core-flow designs are compared at SOLIDS Dortmund to avoid ratholes and erratic discharge.

14

Particle size distribution (PSD)

The statistical spread of particle sizes in a bulk sample, typically measured by laser diffraction or sieve analysis. PSD drives flow behaviour, compaction, dissolution and dustiness, and is a routine QC parameter in powder processing.