Polski
Sensors in Bearings and the Rotoflo Acquisition: Two Moves Reshaping Bulk Solids Handling
This week in the bulk solids industry brings together two distinct but complementary trends: sensor-based predictive maintenance and consolidation in the storage technology supplier market. Here's what GKM Siebtechnik and Dinnissen have in store.
01 · Maintenance
GKM Siebtechnik bets on predictive maintenance for drum screeners
German manufacturer GKM Siebtechnik has integrated its KTS series drum screeners with Schaeffler's OPTIME condition monitoring system and the FAG OPTIME C4 smart lubricator [1]. In practice, this means an end to relying solely on periodic inspections — wireless sensors continuously track vibration, shock, and bearing temperature, and as soon as something starts to deviate from the norm, an alert goes straight to the operator's mobile app.
This is a textbook example of predictive maintenance moving into territory that was previously governed by "just in case" inspection schedules. For plants processing bulk solids, where an unplanned screener shutdown can bring an entire line to a halt, this kind of continuous insight into machine health translates into real savings in time and money. GKM Siebtechnik goes a step further still, offering an optional remote data analysis service performed by its own specialists — so it doesn't just supply the sensors, it also helps interpret what they're showing.
02 · Mergers & Acquisitions
Dinnissen acquires Rotoflo, rounding out its offering from silo to dosing
From the Netherlands comes news of a consolidation move: Dinnissen Process Technology has acquired the intellectual property rights to the Rotoflo system, previously offered by Severfield [2]. The technology enables controlled, vibration-free discharge from silos — regardless of whether the contents are a free-flowing powder or a notoriously difficult-to-discharge product. One notable feature is the Multi-Flow Outlet module, which allows a single silo to simultaneously feed up to four independent receivers.
The acquisition fits a trend that's been visible in the market for some time: larger systems integrators are picking up proven, niche solutions from smaller players rather than developing them from scratch. For Dinnissen, this expands its portfolio to cover a complete pathway — from storage, through discharge, to dosing — letting the company present itself to customers in the chemical, food, and advanced materials industries as a "one-stop shop" supplier. That's a convenient solution for plants that would rather work with a single technology partner than piece together an installation from different vendors' building blocks.
Summary
Summary
Both stories this week point to where the industry is heading: machines are getting "smarter" and reporting on their own condition, while technology suppliers are consolidating expertise and patents to offer complete solutions rather than standalone components. If you'd like to see similar innovations live, talk to engineers, and see how new technologies perform in practice — join us at SOLIDS Expo Poland – Targi Technologii Materiałów Sypkich. It's the best place to stay up to date with what's happening in the world of bulk solids.
Invitation
Want to see for yourself what predictive maintenance and modern silo discharge systems look like in action? Visit the booths of leading manufacturers and talk to the engineers who design these solutions every day. SOLIDS Expo Poland is where the bulk solids industry comes together to share knowledge and technology.
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