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Windsifting Reaches New Levels

WESTERIA brings the advantages of windsifting technology to a small, mobile machine.


Recycling and resource recovery engineering experts CEMAC technologies are always looking to advance technology to boost Australia’s circular economy.


The newest offering from the German expert in windsifting and materials handling, WESTERIA, is the AirBasic windsifter system. The Airbasic is an ideal plug-and-play solution for many sifting application, and is also used to clean up compost to a high quality product that meets customer needs.


By bringing the advantages of well proven windsifting technologies to a small, mobile machine, the AirBasic is able to clean all forms of wastes including organics, construction, household, slag and even scrap metal.


Organics processor SOILCO has 40 years’ experience in designing, building and operating organics recycling facilities, recovering and transforming organic waste into products to regenerate and give life to soil.


To continue its goal to diversify its operations and meet the challenges of Australia’s dynamic waste and resource recovery sector, SOILCO partnered with CEMAC technologies to install an AirBasic system.



AirBasic

Eric Paulsen, Managing Director, CEMAC technologies says SOILCO installed the AirBasic system to address contaminants across its different sites.


“This machine is a portable, plug and play solution for windsifting materials,” he says.

“SOILCO’s byproducts from composting Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) is oversize material, which tends to be plagued with a lot of contamination due to all sorts of non-organic materials thrown into household green bins.

“Materials such as plastic and FOGO must be reliably separated. The AirBasic achieves the highest possible removal of film and other light contamination, allowing a larger quantity of marketable size fractions then what has been achieved to date."

The AirBasic is available on a hook lift skid or tracks, and it features a patented adjustable and precise nozzle system to ensure optimum separation results.

The main machine is a two-way separation system, with the option to integrate conveyors or other modules, such as the AirLift or DiscSpreader, to accommodate operator needs.


The AirLift vacuum system creates a third fraction by separating ultra-light impurities from the light fraction.


At speeds of up to three meters per second, material is propelled over a bend in the conveyor belt as the AirLift, positioned above, vacuums up any lightweight items, while heavier biowaste stays on the sloped belt. The DiscSpreader material distribution system ensures uniform flow and distribution, independent of the feed type and direction.



In the main part of the machine, an acceleration conveyor belt brings the material up to three metres per second, while the Air jet system ensures high purity of the output fractions through the smallest deviation of the blowing speed.




The SOILCO project was customised to meet the company’s needs and included a DiscSpreader, Airlift and the heaviest power conveyor.


Eric says one of the attractions of the AirBasic is its portability.

“Having a mobile machine like the AirBasic is an optimal choice for companies like SOILCO,” he says.


“The machine arrived on a skid lift for easy transportation and it can be positioned directly behind a screening trommel, which allows the operator to clean up oversized material very easily."

“The lightweight components and compactness of the machine means the AirBasic can be moved from site to site, with the option to be integrated into a processing plant at a later stage.”


Eric says the AirBasic brings new technology to Australia and is an exciting step forward in the windsifting space.


AirStar Evolution

AirStar Evolution is the stationary version of the AirBasic, also known as the big brother of the AirBasic. This year, the entire design of the machine has been redeveloped from scratch to allow even better access to all components. 


The AirStar features an adjustable fan that allows precise control of air speed and is equipped with an extra-wide nozzle opening for a broader and more even airflow, contributing to improved separation. The AirStar is also fitted with an optimised air guidance system to direct air flow into the lightweight chamber. In this machines are adjustment parameters are automatically adjusted by the PLC control, allowing simple program changes by central plant control or touch screen operation.


Eric says one key aspects of the AirStar is the ability to adjust the nozzle angle and pressure controls for separation of different materials.


“All materials recycled on the machine can be saved for the ideal processing settings on the machine,” he says. “Once in the system, these settings can be chosen at any point in time.”


For more information and an opportunity to demo, contact us (03) 8400 6066 or info@cemactech.com.


This article first appeared in Waste Management Review December 2024 edition.

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