Hammermill improves company's size reduction operation
A company that produces saponin-rich products from fibrous plant materials installs a new hammermill to increase its production capacity.
Desert King International, San Diego, produces various saponin-rich products that are used as emulsifiers, wetting agents, foaming agents, or dispersing agents in products made by other companies. Saponins are naturally occurring compounds found in the stems and trunks of such plants as the Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria. After harvesting the plants, the company dries and grinds the fibrous stems and trunks to a 60-mesh powder and extracts the saponins from the powder. However, reducing the material was problematic because the companys size reduction equipment was slow and had limited output capacities, making overall production costs higher than desired. The company needed to find equipment that would improve the size reduction operation, increase production capacities, and decrease production costs.