Separators

What vibrating separators are and where they are used

The vibrating separator, or vibra-screen separator, is the most widely used equipment for mechanical size-based separation in industry. We undertake the study, design, and supply of equipment for a wide range of mechanical separation applications, with the AMKCO Europe B.V. vibrating separators being our primary tool.

Operating principle: A pair of unbalanced weights, one at the upper and one at the lower end of the motor shaft, converts rotary motion into three-dimensional (3D) motion. By adjusting the angle between the weights, the operator controls the flow of product over the screen and its residence time. This unique feature enables reliable liquid filtration in continuous operation, which conventional separators cannot guarantee over the long term.

AMKCO separators are used with one to four successive screens, with openings from 11mm to 30μm, and nominal diameters from 18″ (46 cm) to 72″ (183 cm). They are applied to both solids (scalping of oversize, de-dusting, classifying) and liquids (filtration, de-watering).

Applications by industrial sector

Dairy industry

AMKCO vibrating separators are installed in milk processing plants for clarification of raw milk from foreign bodies and sludge (up to 35,000 l/h), as well as for cheese fines recovery from whey: a 48″ separator with a 43μm screen typically yields 60–90 kg/h of cheese, giving a payback period of typically a few months, depending on the application.

In addition, they are used for the rapid and safe draining of whey cheese (such as ricotta and myzithra) and the removal of lumps (de-lumping) from powdered products. Models with CIP (Cleaning-In-Place) capability can clean the screen and all product-contact parts without disassembly, together with the rest of the production line.

Waste treatment & water recycling

Vibrating separators are widely used for wash water clarification in vegetable processing lines (e.g. artichokes, carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes) and fruit (e.g. apricots, cherries, apples, peaches), enabling reuse of water and reduction of consumption. They are also applied in the paper industry for white water clarification and in the canning industry for effluent handling.

Herbs & spices

PES has an installed complete oregano cleaning system: a toothed roller removes sticks and elongated foreign bodies, while a four-deck separator (5 fractions) classifies oregano into five particle sizes at a total capacity of 300 to 500 kg/h. Equivalent separation applications exist for cinnamon (bark separation), mustard (seed separation), pepper, and various spices (classifying into different particle sizes).

Chemicals & pharmaceutical powders

In the chemicals and plastics industry, AMKCO separators are applied for separation of polyethylene pellets, clarification of PVC powder, particle size separation of aluminium powder, and filtration of paints. In the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, filtration of solutions typically requires very fine-mesh screens. AMKCO separators cover this with screens down to 30μm.

Olive mills & vegetable oils

In vegetable oil processing, AMKCO separators are used for filtration of palm oil and sunflower oil (up to 30,000 kg/h), for the removal of olive pomace fragments from the de-stoning process, and for olive mill effluent clarification (katsigaros). The ability to operate continuously under adverse conditions, such as high solids content or sludge, makes the vibrating separator well suited to these applications.

Examples of AMKCO vibrating separator applications in industry

AMKCO vibrating separators have been used across industry for several decades. A selection of documented application examples is presented in the table below.

Why industries choose AMKCO separators

Adaptation to demanding applications

Every installation is different. Our experience across many specialised separation applications, from cheese fines recovery and oregano cleaning to effluent filtration, allows us to quickly and correctly select the most cost-effective system for each problem. Test separators are available for rapid application verification at minimal cost.

Low maintenance cost

The simple construction with minimal moving parts (essentially only the motor and the unbalanced weights) keeps maintenance costs exceptionally low. AMKCO has been active in the sector for many decades, with the result that the reliability of its construction is proven across hundreds of installations worldwide. The small space and installed power requirement reduces the overall operating cost.

24/7 operation with minimal downtime

AMKCO separators are designed for continuous industrial operation under adverse conditions. Special screen-cleaning devices (cleaning rings, rubber balls and ultrasonic systems) prevent mesh blinding and maintain consistent performance even with sticky or wet materials. This translates into minimal downtime and high availability of the production line.

Fine-mesh screens down to 30μm

Thanks to the inertial forces generated by the three-dimensional motion, AMKCO separators achieve reliable filtration even with 30μm screens, which simple vibrating separators cannot sustain in continuous operation. They are proven reliable self-cleaning filters, and screens are available in stainless steel, polyester, anti-static, or other materials depending on the application.

Frequently asked questions about vibrating separators

What is the difference between circular and linear motion? Circular vibrating separators (such as the AMKCO A series) produce three-dimensional motion via unbalanced weights, which ensures uniform material distribution and reliable liquid filtration. Rectangular separators produce linear or elliptical motion and are preferred only in very high solids throughput applications, such as flour clarification at a capacity of 60 t/h. Circular vibrating separators, however, have a much wider range of applications compared to rectangular ones.

How many screens can I have in one separator? AMKCO separators are available with one to four successive screens, allowing separation into up to five fractions in a single machine. For example, the model A60S-4-88888 classifies oregano into four particle sizes (4/3/2/0.5mm) at a throughput of 300–500 kg/h.

What screen opening size do I need for whey filtration? For curd recovery from whey, the typical screen is 43μm: a 48″ separator with this screen processes up to 22,500 l/h and typically recovers 60–90 kg/h of cheese. For milk clarification from foreign bodies, a 100μm screen is sufficient at a throughput of up to 35,000 l/h.

Is ATEX certification required for separators? In applications with organic materials that generate explosive dusts under sieving conditions (e.g. flour), equipment certified to ATEX is most often required. Contact us to evaluate the requirements of your specific application. AMKCO offers models suitable for ATEX zones on request.

Can I rent a separator for testing before purchasing? Yes. AMKCO offers a separator rental option for rapid separation testing in your application at very low cost, prior to any investment. We also have test separators that can operate at your premises for demonstration purposes.