Spirulina harvesting challenges addressed by Virto-Cuccolini SHT range

As it has been possible to observe with more than 30 active installations worldwide, Virto-Cuccolini Spirulina Harvesting Range (SHT) is supporting final product’s quality in many ways.

The performance of SHT range is based on proven results which can be summed up as following:

– Spirulina cells’ integrity after sieving: Virto-Cuccolini’s vibrating sieving equipment has great care of the product particles, which proved to remain whole after passing through the sieving process and therefore keeping nutrients content unchanged, versus other harvesting methods available in the market

– Harvesting efficiency: our harvesting range typically covers from 30 down to 7 µm (end of harvesting campaign); moreover, the specific construction shape of our sieves is guaranteeing a high efficiency of the system (harvests are 15-30% higher than other types of vibrating sieves), thanks to the effective vibration of our sieving section

In addition to the above, while spirulina cultivation is getting great amounts of attention, it is fundamental to keep in mind that harvesting efficiency, and therefore product quality, can be properly obtained in combination with a processing time that is proportioned to the need of fine sieving spirulina cells. This is a fact within any mechanical sieving process in any context.

To check the above points, Virto-Cuccolini is available to make small renting units available for testing the process and checking the difference.

Would you like to test the performance of the new Virto-Cuccolini SHT line for Spirulina harvesting? Contact us using the form below.

At Algaeurope 2022, International Congress held in Rome on Dec 13^th to 15^th, Virto-Cuccolini, in partnership with Liqoflux, Dutch plant engineering firm with great experience in the algae and microalgae sector, promoted the new range Spirulina Harvesting Technology (SHT), a cost-effective and safe solution for small and large Spirulina culture volumes. You can see a few pictures of the venue below:

Would you like to know more about our competence in spirulina harvesting? Contact us by filling in the form below:

SHT – Spirulina Harvesting Technology is the new Virto-Cuccolini line for the collection of spirulina.

Developed over the last 24 months together with spirulina producers from various parts of the world, the new Virto-Cuccolini SHT line is designed to meet all the needs of those who have to collect spirulina from small to large flowrates, with single systems or integrated with cultivation water recirculation solutions.

Three VLB vibrating screens are available in 3 different stand-alone sizes: 800 (small productions), 1200 (intermediate productions) and 1500 (large productions).

The flowrates, within these categories, may vary based on the desired cutting point: for an evaluation, Virto-Cuccolini is at your complete disposal.

The complete station is based on a 1200 size screen and includes both the suction pump of the product to be screened and the one for the recirculation of the cultivation water.

The systems of the SHT line are available in Aisi 304 stainless steel for fresh water and Aisi 316 for water with higher salt content.

To contact the Virto-Cuccolini staff and ask for more information on the new SHT – Spirulina Harvesting Technology line, you can use the form below, specifying your request!

As we could observe over time, Virto-Cuccolini vibrating screens have always been synonymous with quality as used screens too.

Among the reasons that customers give for choosing one of our used sieves compared to those of other brands, we have for example the fact that, obviously if well maintained, a Virto-Cuccolini screen can last even twenty or thirty years. We can also confirm this through the requests for spare parts that reach our Aftermarket Division!

If you are planning to buy a used Virto-Cuccolini industrial sieve, here are some simple recommendations:

– Check that the identification plate with the serial number is present; it will be useful to require us information where necessary

– Check the year of production: if it is prior to 2000, it is necessary to check with our Aftermarket Division that the spare parts are still available

– Preferably, buy our vibrating screens from companies specialized in the resale of industrial used items, because they carry out the necessary checks before their purchase and can advise you on the possible use of the sieve; Virto-Cuccolini’s Aftermarket Division staff can also support you in this verification based on your new application

– Before starting to use your used Virto-Cuccolini screen, our Aftermarket Division is available to give you the necessary assistance to find out how it should be used, to receive user and maintenance manuals and other advice for the right adjustment

To contact our Aftermarket Division, write to: aftermarket@virtogroup.com indicating the serial number of the screen in question (and possibly attach a photo).

One of our most well-known quality points as far as our sieves design is concerned is the way we provide that your Virto-Cuccolini C-Line sieving equipment is perfectly sealed, with the aim to avoid product leakage and dispersion inside the sieve.

Why is sealing so important in sieves’ design?

There are many reasons for preventing the product from leaking through the seals of the mesh support ring and/or through the deck borders:

– food product may create mustiness in case it gets stuck in some dead-end areas in the sieve

– high-value product could be dispersed if the sealing system is not working properly

– in solid-liquid separation, a leaking design could cause loss of liquid product, apart from damages caused to the sieve itself or to the surrounding area

During our 30-year long experience in the ceramic industry – where we had the occasion to learn how to sieve powders, granules, pastes and liquids under particularly challenging production objectives – we conceived our sealings and our general sieve design by taking care that the product is never leaking (of course, if maintenance is done correctly!) or dispersed inside the sieve.

Maintenance of Virto-Cuccolini C-Line sealings is easy:

– gaskets (available in silicon, EPDM and Viton) can be easily replaced

– they are basically of 2 types: one embracing the mesh supporting ring (and holding the mesh cleaning system, when included); and one sitting underneath the deck to protect the mesh in the contact areas

Sealing is finalized by the active presence of the installed decks and of the external fixing ring so that sealing adherence is made perfect, that dead areas with product residues are avoided, and that – in the first place – the product in the sieving area is never really getting in touch with the sealing area!

Replacement of gaskets is suggested at least once a year, especially if the replacement of mesh rings is frequent due to the change of cut point necessary to your sieving process.

Would you like to discover more about our sealing system and other technical aspects of Virto-Cuccolini sieves’ range? Contact us by using the below form and we will be happy to give you more information!

Are you planning to include a Virto-Cuccolini sieve within your plant?

Let’s go through some important tips concerning installation and use within a plant so that you can get out the best from Virto-Cuccolini sieving equipment and avoid later issues.

A vibrating or tumbling sieve is a piece of equipment which – differently from any other comparable processing equipment – needs to move.

Of course, a sieve must be firmly installed on the ground or on a suitable structure, studied to exclude resonance phenomenon both when the sieve is running dry or with the product. In case such a phenomenon appears, please consider reinforcing the structure accordingly.

Apart from the bottom part of the sieve, which hosts fixation holes (in its basement or frame), the rest of the sieve structure is moving during the sieving process by vibration or tumbling.

Therefore, the sieve needs to be installed in a suitable area in which no other rigid structure is present around the sieve in a position that may interfere with the sieve’ movements.

Analogously, all inlets and outlets must have a flexible connection, in a minimum measure covering 1.5 times the diameter of the inlet or outlet (i.e. diameter 200 mm requires a flexible connection D200 with a minimum height of 300 mm). This means that feeding and discharging equipment shall remain at a reasonable distance from the sieve. Moreover, flanges are not suitable for connection; nothing shall hang from the outlets but the flexible connection alone.

The sieve is supported by springs; in case the springs are bending or inclined, this means that something is interfering with the sieve stability (maybe some other piping) and a check around the sieve is required.

Moreover, around the sieve, there must be enough room to allow periodical checks and maintenance. Consider for instance that the mesh supporting ring, whose dimensions are equal to the diameter of the sieve, may need to be disassembled from the machine to allow mesh replacement. With medium and big diameters and depending on the height at which the sieve is installed if not directly at the ground floor, lifting equipment may be needed to carry out this replacement.

Another important concept to remember is that a sieve can never be used as a buffer. Meshes and their supporting ring are not engineered to support weight, but just a time-limited passage of product through the mesh. Product weighing on the mesh may cause the mesh to relax or even mesh breakage, apart from being a major disruption within the range of allowed vibrations, potentially damaging so the structure of the sieve.

Should you have any questions concerning sieves installation, do not hesitate to contact Virto-Cuccolini and receive guidance!

With more than 20.000 sieves installed worldwide, Virto-Cuccolini has recently decided to reorganise their spare parts and assistance sales by creating a specific Division dedicated to After-Market support.

Based on the feedback received during decades, a sieve is more frequently than not a “forgotten” unit after installation, especially when the process is continuous.

“Unless the user is focussed on the sieve’s process for some practical reason – like the need to replace the mesh size due to handling different products or product’s cut points within a process, or a frequent cleaning of the unit for hygienic purpose in food or pharma industries – unfortunately, most of the maintenance operators are forgetting to check sieve’s conditions periodically”, says Katia Motta, Virto-Cuccolini’s CEO and Head of the newborn After-Market Division. “This may be experienced as a good sign – the sieve is not requiring much attention, needs only a few spares and is statistically less subject to failure. Therefore it may be seen as a “maintenance manager’s best friend”; on the other hand, there is a downfall when the right maintenance timing is missed, and typical wearing parts fail, as, of course, in the end, they are supposed to.”

With supply chains experiencing troubles and long overseas shipping times this year, a failing wearing component may stop a sieving process for some time if the spare part is not available on site.

“All of typical wearing spare parts within our current range are available on stock here in Reggio Emilia so that we can support our Customers even in times of trouble. However,” Miss Motta suggests, “maintenance should not be left to the case. All in all, there are just a couple of things that are required to be checked on a sieve: the conditions of the mesh, of the two main gaskets and, if installed, of cleaning system media (balls, cylinders). The mesh, of course, is the heart of the process, and at the same time, it cannot be but a wearing part due to its elasticity; it needs special care also from the point of view of sieving process feeding (always continuous, batch product falling on the mesh shall be avoided in any case!). A mesh already installed on a spare ring is always the best solution to reduce maintenance time to a very minimum.”

The frequency of maintenance checks can vary based on Customers’ processes.

“And that’s where we suggest paying attention: there is no rule valid for all cases, since maintenance frequency depends on the specific process characteristics, and ultimately, on use frequency”, explains Miss Motta. “If your sieve is working 24h/day for a safety sieving, of course, it is going to require a maintenance check as soon as there is a production stop, and typically a replacement of main spares once every 3-6 months. If working for less time than that, and the sieved product is not particularly abrasive, a 6-months check can do.”

Virto-Cuccolini’s sieves are offered with a wide range of options covering all industries’ requirements.

“A Virto-Cuccolini sieve is always “your sieve”. With the unit’s Serial No. available, we have access to the original manufacturing documentation and are always ready to support our customers with the right answers. Just drop us a line at aftermarket@virtogroup.com, and we’ll be back to you as soon as possible.”

Would you like to receive our specific maintenance suggestions for your sieving process? Contact us by using the below form, and we’ll be happy to assist you!

VTP sieve for pneumatic conveying was born last year at Virto-Cuccolini during the pandemic, as a sign of the resilience of the business despite the unprecedented global scenario, navigating in uncertainty.

During these 14 months, the VTP series received a good response from the market, with sets of VTP sieves being bought by plant manufacturers to complete their pneumatic conveying systems.

Following our Customers’ request, we add a new item to the VTP family: the pharmaceutical version, called VTPF.

VTPF is also enlarging the VPF pharmaceutical sieves’ family, offering a new safety sieving function together with safe handling of pharma ingredients.

Are you looking for a suitable solution for pneumatic conveying in a pharma environment? You can find out more by contacting us through the below form!

The Virto-Cuccolini team has worked hard in recent months to achieve their goals when the market starts again after the pandemic!

We deserved a little break, from May 29 to June 02 at the Italian Republic Day (June 02).

We will be operational again on June 03, 2021.

If in the meantime you need our support, you can write to us using the form below.
See you soon!

Meshes are the heart of the sieving process.

As fundamental as they are, they also happen to be quite delicate and need special care.

Once a Virto-Cuccolini sieve or screen leaves our factory, meshes are out of the manufacturer’s responsibility exactly as it happens with tires when you buy a new car. A tire puncture can happen to anyone.

So, we asked ourselves: “How to support our Customers in such a way, that they can learn and apply mesh protection measure easily?”

We came up with creating this booklet: “Care and maintenance of sieving meshes, the core of the separation process” in 6 languages (Italian, English, Spanish, French, German and Russian), with an overview of all tips and instructions to take care of your meshes.

Starting from this month of March 2021, this booklet will accompany our use and maintenance manuals to make sure that sieves’ operators are well aware of the care required by meshes within the sieving process.

And should you need any further support, of course the Virto-Cuccolini team is available for any question! Drop us a line using the form here below and we’ll be happy to contact you.