manufacturing Archives - HAF Equipment

November 10, 2024November 15, 2024

Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT)

Engineer conducting factory acceptance test in food material handling equipment facility

by Erik Sutton and Aaron Gilles

Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) is a more in depth process than you may realize. This article covers the importance of FATs, as well as the ins and outs of a Factory Acceptance Testing Facility. Continue reading to learn more about how an exceptional FAT benefits the raw material handling equipment that makes up your manufacturing process.

What is a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)?

A Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) is a process in which a manufacturer tests a machine or system before it is delivered to the customer. This process is done to ensure everything has been made and is working properly and all of the customer’s requirements are met.

Why Do a Factory Acceptance Test?

There is value to performing a Factory Acceptance Test for the customer. An FAT has many benefits that can significantly improve the overall success of a project. Performing a thorough test in a controlled environment helps detect any potential hazard with the equipment. This improves safety and reliability. A FAT equipment qualification also ensures that the equipment meets the specified requirements and functions before the equipment is shipped. This step helps in identifying and correcting any issues before installation. This reduces the risk of delays and further costs.

The purpose of factory acceptance testing is to promote better communication and collaboration between the manufacturer and the client. Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) provides an opportunity for both parties to understand the system’s operation and performance, leading to enhanced trust and satisfaction.

Lastly, it can result in cost savings. Early detection and resolution of issues means fewer on-site modifications and less downtime. This ultimately contributes to more efficient and economical project execution. Overall, factory acceptance testing is a critical step in ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency in industrial projects.

What is a Factory Acceptance Testing Facility?

A well-designed factory acceptance testing facility hosts an array of equipment, processes, systems and services, all specifically designed to ensure the highest standards of quality and performance. HaF Equipment offers a testing facility for customers to visit and utilize. Their engineers and technicians are working, researching, and enhancing the testing facility on a daily basis. Safety protocols are strictly adhered to, ensuring that every product leaving the facility meets stringent industry regulations. Each HaF team member plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and reliability of the equipment and material being tested. Some examples of equipment HaF designs and supplies to its customers include:

Filter receivers
Robotics
BBU
Pneumatic Blenders
Dense-Phase Transporter
Bag Break Station
Bulk Bag Filler
Screw Feeder
Wet Dust Collector
Navigator

HaF Can Help!

Organizing and executing FATs is one of the many services HaF can provide to support its customers and help execute projects to grow their businesses. CONTACT US to learn more about how HaF can support you.

HaF Equipment is a raw ingredient and material handling equipment manufacturer whose systems are designed to focus on partner success and excellence across various verticals and applications, from the food industry to pharmaceuticals and plastics to tires and rubber. HaF is a USA-based company supporting businesses worldwide. We are committed to our customers’ success through service with integrity and purpose. Factory Acceptance Testing helps bring an added benefit to their success.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Erik Sutton
Erik Sutton has been a Design Engineer for HaF Equipment for over one year. He received his degree in mechanical engineering.

Aaron Gilles
Aaron Gilles has been with HaF Equipment for two years. He is the Shipping and Receiving Specialist.

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October 11, 2024October 30, 2024

Quality Control Process

Equipment being built in Haf Equipment ensuring quality control

By Ansley Williams and Patrick Utecht

Quality control at HaF is a crucial aspect of our production process. Ensuring that each piece of equipment is manufactured to HaF’s elite standards is imperative. HaF strives to have all of our equipment operating at optimal performance levels to prevent costly errors, reduce waste, and maintain product consistency. In order to fully understand the critical role that quality control plays in manufacturing, it is important to know the details of this essential process.

What is Quality Control?

Quality Control is an integral part of the manufacturing process. However, the manufacturing quality control process looks a little different at HaF compared to other companies. Some companies use statistics to determine how many parts they need to inspect from a batch. This limited inspection gives the company confidence that there will only be an acceptable amount of defective parts without shaking the customers’ confidence in their product. At HaF, however, every single piece of equipment is checked to ensure it arrives at the customer site exactly the way it was designed. This standard of excellence in the quality control process is still maintained even if components were fabricated outside of HaF.

Who is Involved in the Quality Control Process?

HaF Equipment is passionate about having the whole team involved throughout the entire quality control process. Design engineers, project engineers, and service engineers all inspect each piece of equipment before it ships out. Even the sales engineers have a hand in the inspection process. We ensure our team actually interacts with the equipment they design, which gives them a deeper understanding of the equipment they work with every day. The team members involved sign off on their equipment after inspection. This step in the manufacturing quality control process holds the project team accountable for the work they have done.

How Do We Perform Quality Control at HaF?

The quality control process at HaF begins with inspection sheets. These quality control inspection sheets are prepared for each piece of equipment that HaF designs, manufactures, and ships out. By using these forms, HaF ensures that everyone performs a quality control inspection in the same way. This is helpful for providing consistent data even when multiple project teams are assessing several different types of equipment. In addition to providing internal accountability, these reports are shared with the customer. HaF’s level of quality control is completed for both fabrication and assembly.

Fabrication

This is where all individual components are created, prior to assembly, and are checked to make sure they match the engineer’s design, function properly, and use the proper materials

Do the critical dimensions of the equipment match what is on the drawing?
Are the welds free of pits, cracks, and crevices?
Are the welds destained and continuous?
Do the gaskets seal properly?
Are components painted where they are supposed to be?
Do finishes match what is called out in the drawings?

Assembly

This is where all components are checked to make sure they are present on the equipment, assembled correctly, and functioning properly.

Are all components present and assembled in the correct orientations?
Do compressed air components function and seal properly?
Do electrical components power on and work correctly?
Does the bolt finish match the construction grade?
Are fasteners all tightened down properly?
Are pipe fittings sealed properly?
Are washers included where specified and required?
Are all necessary safety stickers adhered in the correct places?

HaF is Dedicated to Customer Success

Team HaF understands the importance of quality control. That is why if a team member notices something is not covered in the quality control form — the form is changed! HaF does not operate at status quo. The manufacturing quality control process is ever evolving, so our team challenges themselves to be better than the day before! We value the success of our customers and want to bring them the very best equipment. HaF starts the quality control process as the equipment is in fabrication and follows it through to assembly. If something in fabrication or assembly needs to be corrected, action is taken immediately to confirm the equipment has met the elite level of standards HaF has in place. At HaF the quality control process is a team effort. Everyone is expected to be involved and responsible for the duration of the project.

ABOUT HaF

HaF Equipment offers turnkey services for projects big and small. Our team understands the concerns of our customers and takes the time to listen. We develop a plan and communicate along the way. If you need someone you can trust and want to eliminate the stress of managing all the details of your next project, HaF is Ready To Connect.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Ansley Williams
Ansley Williams is a Design Engineer for HaF Equipment. She has been working as an engineer in the material handling industry for one year, and received her masters degree in mechanical engineering in 2022.

Patrick Utecht
Patrick Utecht is the Design Engineering Manager for HaF Equipment. He has been a driving force of innovation for HaF Equipment for over 19 years.

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December 1, 2023July 11, 2024

The Crucial Role of Precision and Accuracy in Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing

Pharmaceutical production line - Precision and Accuracy in Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing - HaF Equipment

by: Jared Beaupre and Ben Kozmik

Success hinges on every measurement in manufacturing. Accuracy and precision in material handling equipment are essential to achieving success. They must be a top consideration when deciding which equipment to choose. HaF Equipment, a leading industrial equipment manufacturer, understands the pivotal role these factors play and ensures their focus on the reliability, safety, and performance of their products.

Understanding Accuracy and Precision in Material Handling Equipment

Accurate measurements reflect how closely a value aligns with the true or actual measurement, while precision indicates the consistency and reproducibility of a measurement. In the context of material handling equipment, such as feeders, weighing, and metering devices, achieving accuracy and precision is paramount for seamless operations.

EXAMPLE: Imagine you are throwing darts at a target. If all your darts hit the bullseye, your throws are accurate and precise. However, if your darts consistently land on the same spot, but that spot is different from the bullseye, then your throws are precise but not accurate. Conversely, if your darts are scattered all over the target, they are neither accurate nor precise.

The Importance of Tolerance in Measurement

Tolerance, allowing for deviations from specified values, is a critical concept in manufacturing and engineering. For HaF, setting agreed-upon limits within feeding systems ensures everyone involved understands the parameters, fostering successful collaboration in system design and functionality.

Tolerance is crucial in ensuring that components fit together accurately and adhere to specified standards in manufacturing. Without tolerance, minor measurement discrepancies could result in unsuitable or hazardous products. By accommodating a certain level of deviation, manufacturers can produce top-quality products that meet the required standards while allowing for some variability in the manufacturing process.

Rotary Airlocks: Factors Influencing Accuracy and Precision

When designing systems that include rotary airlocks as metering devices, HaF acknowledges the multitude of variables that can significantly influence accuracy. By prioritizing the evaluation of factors like pocket size, rotor speed, and blow by air, HaF ensures the attainment of the desired accuracy rate through meticulous sizing and design, taking into account variables such as leakage, particle size, material, pocket full percentage, rate, bulk density, flowability, and head pressure.

Challenges in Precision Manufacturing

Challenges in precision manufacturing extend to various components, such as screw feeders and load cells. Using different types of screw feeders introduce variability, affecting both precision and accuracy. Load cells, susceptible to factors like balance points, supports, rigidity, air force, and flex connections, necessitate careful calibration with certified test weights. Storage silos, subjected to environmental elements like wind and rain, can cause movement, which can change pressure around silos, and require consideration of variables affecting load cells.

Precision in Manufacturing Across Industries

Precision manufacturing is a universal need, extending beyond material handling to aerospace, medical devices, electronics, and automotive industries. Even slight deviations from specifications in these sectors can have profound implications for safety, performance, and reliability. By leveraging advanced technology and processes, manufacturers can achieve greater product accuracy and consistency, resulting in improved performance, reliability, and safety.

HaF’s Commitment to Operator-Centric Equipment

Precision and accuracy are the cornerstones of success in the competitive landscape of material handling equipment manufacturing. HaF Equipment stands as a testament to the commitment to these principles, offering products and comprehensive solutions that ensure the highest standards of quality, reliability, and safety.

For your current or upcoming project, trust HaF to deliver excellence. Contact HaF today to experience the difference accuracy and precision in material handling equipment can make on your operations.

By keeping our finger on the pulse of the tire industry, HaF Equipment is ahead of the curve. The manufacturing of our equipment focuses on operator-centric designs and our proven processes for success to support our major markets, making HaF Equipment more than just a great equipment manufacturer. Our systems are equipped with advanced automation features that minimize human error and increase overall production speed further. We are your partner in excellence, committed to your success through service with integrity, purpose, and ingenuity. By designing innovative solutions for bulk material handling, we meet today’s manufacturing challenges head-on to break through the status quo.

HaF has the expertise and experience to accommodate a wide range of needs when it comes to material handling and equipment manufacturing. We’re Ready to Connect with you and offer a customized solution and discuss your specific project needs.

Contact a HaF account manager today to discuss your options.

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Are There Risks of Using Wood Pellets in Manufacturing?

by Maria Buss and Will Aldrin

As the world looks for ways to become more environmentally friendly, many industries are turning to renewable energy sources. Manufacturing is one of them.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using renewable energy sources in manufacturing. One of the most promising renewable energy sources is wood pellets in manufacturing. Wood pellets are a type of biomass used to create heat and power. Manufacturing plants that use wood pellets can reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. In addition, there are other advantages of wood pellets being used in manufacturing.

Wood pellets are biomass, a renewable resource, so they can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Wood pellets are relatively inexpensive and easy to transport.
Wood pellets have a high energy density and can create a lot of power without taking up much space.

However, there are some disadvantages of wood pellets being used in manufacturing, and if you’re a wood pellet manufacturer, or a manufacturer using wood pellets as an energy source, here are some things you should know.

Wood pellets as an alternative fuel source for manufacturing

Challenges for Wood Pellet Manufacturers

As a renewable and sustainable energy source, wood pellets in manufacturing have been gaining popularity in recent years. But there is a downside to this otherwise environmentally friendly fuel: it can damage manufacturing equipment.

Wood pellets are made by compressing sawdust into small, hard nuggets. This process creates a lot of heat and friction, which can cause wear and tear on equipment. In addition, the high pressure needed to compress the sawdust can result in corrosion and other problems for manufacturing equipment. Therefore, the equipment used must be designed to sustain these especially harsh conditions.

Sawdust is very fine, sometimes almost like a powder, and there can be challenges from plugging and buildup. As with any manufacturing that involves powder, special considerations need to be made when handling wood pellets. Otherwise, particles can easily get trapped in the nooks and crannies of equipment, causing equipment damage and potentially becoming airborne, contaminating the air.

Disadvantages of Wood Pellets Being Used in Manufacturing as An Energy Source

While there are several advantages of wood pellets being used as a fuel source, manufacturers must be aware of the potential for damage to their equipment. Proper maintenance and care can help minimize the risk of problems, but it’s important to be aware of the potential issues before switching to wood pellets.

Wood pellets can be difficult to store and handle.
Wood pellets are made from compressed sawdust and other wood waste products, creating powder-like dust. The dust from the pellets can build up on surfaces and eventually cause problems with the equipment.

HaF Equipment’s H-Series is ideal for manufacturers using wood pellets as an energy source and for wood pellet manufacturers.

The H-Series is high-quality pre-engineered equipment. This line of Ready-To-Go equipment features “Tool-Free Quick Take-Apart” which is designed for dependability, efficiency, and the capability for it to be easy to clean.

HaF’s Ready-To-Go Equipment includes:

If proper material handling of wood pellets or other biomasses is a critical part of successfully processing your products for commercial use, HaF Equipment is Ready to Connect.

Contact a HaF account manager today to discuss your options.

What is a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)?

Why Do a Factory Acceptance Test?

What is a Factory Acceptance Testing Facility?

What is Quality Control?

Who is Involved in the Quality Control Process?

How Do We Perform Quality Control at HaF?

HaF is Dedicated to Customer Success

Understanding Accuracy and Precision in Material Handling Equipment

Challenges in Precision Manufacturing

Challenges for Wood Pellet Manufacturers

Disadvantages of Wood Pellets Being Used in Manufacturing as An Energy Source

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System Integration

Pneumatic Conveying

Mechanical Conveying

Bulk Bag Unloaders

Ready To Go Equipment

Feeders

Air Pollution Control

Dust Collection

Liquid Handling