Maintenance costs. Repair Costs. Product Recall Costs — we recently discussed how these three items all factor into the long-term functions a screener can offer your operations. These are easy to envision, but the overall cost of a specific cyclone screener is not always as simple to quantify.  

We will put forth our best effort to further discuss the qualities of a cyclone screener that justify its cost (whether it be initial price or operational costs down the line): 

Screeners should be suited to a company’s requirements

The cost, or more specifically the initial price, of a screener, is ultimately dependent on choosing a machine that caters to a company’s unique needs. Admittedly, there is a wide range of prices, qualities and capabilities available to those in the market for equipment that separates foreign material from desired product. Some common concerns or areas when selecting the perfectly-suited device include: 

• How easy it is to clean and inspect a screen 
• Facility space requirements 
• Functionality for breaking apart small lumps in product

These are, of course, mostly applicable to cyclone screeners. Deck-style screeners offer their own set of functions. For those that might not understand the benefits of either sifting style, we’ve tackled the main differences between a deck and a cyclone screener here. 

Essentially, each has its own place in various material handling operations. Making multiple cuts while classifying particles into different size groups is essentially the key idea when opting for a deck screener. Ensuring that your screener can break apart small lumps and that you won’t be required to make certain extra purchases (such as safety gates) represents pertinent advantages that cyclone screeners offer. 

Beyond the initial decision between deck and cyclone screeners that a company must make, specific screener models will best cater to other factors. Ease of inspection and whether a screener will fit a low-profile facility are two to consider, but more specific questions can ultimately shed light about how much a screener will cost any facility in the long run.   

Questions to ask about the total cost of operational efficiency

A variety of factors influence the total cost of operational efficiency for a screener. These can best be expressed by questions operators should ask themselves about specific screener models before purchasing: 

• How long can I expect the screener I purchased to run in the factory? 
• What is the cost of replacing a screener that doesn’t last more than a couple years? 
• Am I risking any shutdowns or reject product by not being able to easily check the screen on a regular basis? 
• What are the potential advantages inherent with a self-dosing screener and not requiring a separate feed screw? 

Specifically, AZO consolidates metering and screening with the DA model. By design, this screener model includes extractable slide rails that make changeovers easy. Little effort is required to change a screen or inspect the screw and rotor due to this special extraction device as well as “quick disconnects.”

All in all, the screener price is a broad spectrum dealt with by both consumers and business professionals. Still, if you’re clear about certain operational and philosophical imperatives than you should be able to understand generally the price that is the best fit for your operations. “Robust” or “high-quality” screeners may be in the upper price range, but they offer unique benefits (such as lasting 40+ years) that we’ve discussed a few times. At AZO, we pride ourselves on including dependable customer service to back those benefits as well.

And hey -- since the founder of AZO was the inventor of the first cyclone screener on the market, we’ve had experience in this industry since 1949. Clients often come back to us with special requests, so if you have any questions about cyclone screening equipment or ingredient automation as a whole, feel free to contact our qualified sales team. Our screener buying guide can also help you specify, justify or maintain the right screener for your operation.