The machine, a basin type ironer, uses pressurized steam (10 bar) to iron and reduce the thickness of the fabric entering the machine, to the desired value. The steam, supplied by the user company network, is filtered and distributed along steel pipes to the process components (cylinders, vaporizers, basin). The process logic is implemented through actuated valves, pressure and temperature sensors. The condensate produced is drained and collected and then returned to the steam circuit.

In this project, STEM has mainly performed a role of document analysis, to verify the conformity of the product, built and CE marked by the Chinese manufacturer, imported and used by our Italian customer for the realization of air conditioning systems.

Spray drying is one of the elected methods for the production of a dry material from an aqueous solution or suspension, in the pharmaceutical and food sector. The machine uses a flow of filtered and heated air at controlled temperature (blower + electric heater) to evaporate the process liquid, pumped and sprayed through a nozzle of calibrated diameter in the drying chamber. The dry product, powders with diameters from 100 μm down to a few microns, is separated in a cyclone and then collected in a tank.

The machine has been designed internally in STEM on the basis of the specifications formulated by the customer. The main activities were the mechanical design, the choice of materials, the research and selection of commercial components (heater, blower, nozzle), the fluid dynamic calculation and consequent sizing of the parts, the research and management of suppliers up to the realization of the prototype machine.

Since the design phase, STEM has applied the principles of safety integration so that operation, adjustment and maintenance of the machine do not expose the people involved to risks. STEM oversaw the preparation of the technical file of the machine, including the risk assessment and the use and maintenance manual.

The made in China machine was purchased by our customer and imported into Italy.

The customer contacted us to perform a verification of the conformity of the machine with respect to the requirements of the applicable directives (Machines, low voltage, electromagnetic compatibility). STEM’s consultancy involved the analysis of the machine and the technical documentation, producing a series of reports regarding construction work on the machine itself (guards, control systems, electrical equipment, connections between the various units, information and plate with CE mark) and an adaptation of the documentation (risk assessment, instructions, declaration of conformity). Corrective actions must be taken in charge by the Chinese manufacturer, so that our customer can distribute the machine on the Italian and European market.

STEM has also identified the applicable harmonized product standards and reported the tests that must be performed by an accredited laboratory, to validate the compliance of the machine with the Directives.