Diverter Valve Improves Flow And Quality Of Pre-Colored Resins

By Vortex Valves

It is said that every dark cloud has a silver lining. The managers at Little Tikes Commercial Play Systems Inc., a rotational molder of playground sets, might agree. A fire four years ago at the company's Farmington, MO, plant disrupted production, but provided an opportunity to upgrade the facility's design and operation. In one area especially, materials-handling, Little Tikes revamped and improved its resin-coloring and feeding system.

A key component of the system is the multiport Wye Line Diverter from Salina Vortex Corp., Salina, KS. This is a pneumatic valve assembly that channels pigmented polyethylene via PLC-controlled sliding blade diverter valves, from two sources to 12 silos on the plant floor for storage prior to molding.