Today's market calls for more recipes, in smaller quantities, on very short notice. These demands result in the need to add to the range of standard products, while still maintaining minimum inventory and operating costs, and a "just in time" manufacturing philosophy. Additionally, more stringent performance specs increase the need for accountability. These challenges are best met by employing FMC B&T's blending systems.
The main function of a blending system designed by FMC B&T is to produce the scheduled production volume, within specification at near zero reblends and sufficient automation to keep labor costs at a minimum. This can be accomplished by selecting a blending system best suited for the plant's production needs. The system may incorporate an individual or integrated approach combining one or more of the following blending techniques:
- Automatics Batch Blending (ABB)
- In-line Blending (ILB)
- Simultaneous Metered Blending (SMB)
To determine the most appropriate system for your specific blending applications, B&T's multi-disciplined engineering team considers these important factors in the initial phase:
- Production Capacity or the total annual blend volume
- Total number of blend formulasproduced
- Finished Product Storage Capacity for blended products and the value of bypassing holding tanks to blend directly to filling or bulk loading
- Total number and volume of base oils and additives in bulk storage
- Number and storage requirements of drummed additives
- Component characteristics such as viscosity and blend temperature
- Number of blend family groups and the safeguards necessary to avoid contamination
- Quality control requirements, blend testing procedures and the degree of difficulty correcting blends once made
- Energy cost factors
- Labor cost factors
- Operational versatility to be able to quickly adapt to changes in blend formulas or product range with little cost of downtime