In the Aeronautics, Space, and Naval industries, powders are used for advanced, high-value applications. They are employed in technical coatings, fiber impregnation processes, thermal or acoustic insulation, and for replacing current parts with lightweight, durable materials, among other uses.
Thermoplastics, polymers, pigments, resins, composites… The majority of raw materials in this sector are handled in powder form.
Controlling the physical characteristics of powders is crucial to ensure their end-use properties or functional properties : reactivity, flowability, physico-chemical parameters, technical properties, mechanical strength, and more.
These industries face recurring challenges, such as :
- Controlling the particle size of powder resins for dry or wet impregnation,
- Improving the flowability of powders during application
- Ensuring batch-to-batch homogeneity of mixtures
- Controlling sourcing
- Adapting processes for the incorporation of recycled materials…
Based on your unique needs, we can support you in a wide range of areas across your organization
Production
Produce more, produce cheaper
- Optimise production capacity
- Increase production throughput
- Optimise energy efficiency
- Calculate Opex and Capex for plant optimisation
- Optimise process diagrams by integrating unit operations
- Control installations with online particle size measurement to optimise production
- Compensate for energy input from grinders, dryers, fluidized beds
- Optimise separation and sorting of components by nature, composition or colour
- Minimise waste and scrap
- Incorporate recycled material
Revamp
- Customise existing installations : modernise, instrument, etc
- Upgrade or Revamp installations
- Evolve towards Industry 4.0
Instrument, Automate, Control
- Instrument the powder installations
- Monitor particle size in real-time (Insitec, Parsum, etc.)
- Control production through online measurement
Scale-up, Industrialise and Transfer
- Choose the best grinder, mill, microniser, sieve, mixer, blender, granulator, dryer, etc.
- Calculate OPEX and CAPEX for future facilities to optimise equipment choices
- Optimise the purchase of laboratory, pilot or industrial equipment
Produce more consistently, without variation
- Manage analysis and control for optimised plant operation
- Optimise sampling techniques
- Control raw materials (Analytics method)
- Minimise drift
- Optimise cleaning and maintenance cycles
- Optimise the selection of raw materials
- Control equipments using online granulometry to stabilise production
Preserve product quality
Reduce waste and scrap
Ensure batch homogeneity (raw materials, finished products)
Ensure safe operations
Improve installations safety : adapt strategy to product-specific risks (Atex compliance)
Control dust and pulverulent powders emissions
Ensure proper inerting of equipment
Handle micro and nano powders safely
Support the client
Commission powder production facilities
Train teams on powder-specific challenges
Provide training for operating : grinding, micronisation, sieving, drying, mixing, etc.
Assist with project management and owner suppor
Innovation, Strategy, R&D
Innovation
- Sort and Separate components
- Innovate in powders, processes and technologies
- Particle design
- Grow your business by expanding your product range
- Identify new opportunities and solutions through innovation
- Recycle powders
- Incorporate recycled materials
Scale-up and Development : From R&D to Industrial production
- Scale-up from R&D laboratories to pilot and industrial production
- Design and Size installations
- Calculate OPEX and CAPEX for future installations to optimise equipment selection
- Optimise energy consumption for a production line or the entire plant
Research : Powders strategy
- Optimise the procurement of laboratory equipment
- Choose equipment such as grinders or any powder-related machinery tailored to the product and specifications
- Grow your business by diversifying your product portfolio
Analysis, Control and Characterisation
- Control particle size analysis in the laboratory
- Characterise powders (particle size, rheology, specific surface area, porosity, morphology, etc.)
- Ensure batch homogeneity (raw materials, finished products)
- Determine the state of the blend
- Control the properties of use or the end-use properties of powders
- Optimise sampling techniques
- Control the granulometry directly on the production line
QHSE : Quality, Health, Safety and Environment
Quality
- Improve production quality
- Reduce non-conformities through on-line particle size control
- Protect products from oxidation (quality inerting)
- Correct deviations through on-line particle size control
Hygiene
- Optimise the cleanability of equipments and premises
- Control dust and pulverulent powders emissions
Safety
- Ensure installations safety : adapt strategy to product-specific risks (Atex compliance)
- Control the handling of micro and nano powders
- Take the “Process” into account in the Atex strategy
- Use industrial gases as a preventive barrier against explosions (safety inerting)
- Control dust and pulverulent powders emissions
- Control the inerting processes for installations
Environment
- Recycle materials
- Reduce energy consumption of production lines or the whole plant
- Sort, separate, reuse materials (recycling and circular economy)
- Control dust and pulverulent powders emissions
3D printing : a process that has no innovation limit
State-of-the-art industries such as aeronautics or space generate a real need for complex prototypes and additive parts, with a high manufacturing cost. 3D printing offers the ability to significantly reduce production costs, with flexibility and speed, while maintaining the necessary quality of materials and part finishing.
With its expertise in additive manufacturing and knowledge of powders in industrial settings, POUDRES DURABLES is your partner in managing your production capabilities : material optimisation, controlled granulometry, high sphericity, high purity levels, optimal density, yield, recycling, and more.
Our Missions
Audit of « powder » process
Based on its experience in the field of divided solids, POUDRES DURABLES offers its expertise in the implementation of specific solutions. Below are some examples of projects carried ou in the Aeronautics, Aerospace and Naval industries :
- Crushing, Shredding, Grinding, Micronising, sorting : optimisation of the process diagram
- From synthesis to fine powder : optimisation of the process diagram
- Formulation and blending of dry powders : improving flow properties
- Liquid milling and nano-milling : controlling suspensions
- Assistance in selecting the optimal separation technique
- Optimization and control of the particle size of the product
- Support in the acquisition of equipment : from laboratory to industrial scale
- Qualification of Raw materials : sourcing and homogeneity
- Reduce nitrogen consumption on a cryogenic or inerted installation
- Online particle size measurement : from measurement to piloting of the installation
- Moving towards Industry 4.0
Wherever granules, powders, or colloids are involved, we can assist with the characterisation of divided solids (either in your laboratory or online) and with the processes for powder production and shaping (such as atomisers, grinders, micronisers, granulators, mixers, blenders, fluidised air bed, etc).
On-Line Sampling and Measurement, using an Insitec
Our Trainings
POUDRES DURABLES can provide you and your team with unique training courses, designed to address your specific needs within the Aeronautics, Aerospace and Naval industries.
Find out more on our training courses in the field of divided solids :
Process and Production
Innovation, strategy and R&D
Powder analysis, control and characterization
Quality Hygiene Safety and the environment of powders
Overview of the world of powders
