Bulk Materials Handling Committee

The Bulk Materials Handling Technical Activity Committee (TAC) provides a focus for technology transfer, the exchange of information and ideas, and the dissemination of best engineering knowledge and practice in the bulk materials handling industry.

The storage, handling and processing of bulk and powdered materials is an important and integral part of many modern industrial processes. A number of years ago it was estimated that materials handling in all forms represented one seventh of UK GNP. Several recent surveys have shown that about 50% of the products handled by industry are in bulk or powder form on a volume basis, representing about 30% by value.

The Bulk Materials Handling TAC meets three times per year and organises seminars, conferences, lectures and training, represents the IMechE membership in the bulk industry and aims to provide high quality information. Click here for a list of upcoming events.

Chairman's Note
The multi-billion pound Bulk Materials Handling business sector covers the design, supply, manufacture and support for equipment used in the moving of bulk commodities with a strong emphasis on engineered solutions. The industry serves a wide range of end user sectors including chemicals, plastics, minerals, mining & quarrying, pharmaceutical, power generation, cement, water treatment, iron and steel, oil and gas, food (including flour and grains) and animal feeds.

The Bulk Materials Handling TAC aims to provide a platform for the transfer of technical information and advice covering  many disciplines, some of which are listed below:
• Bulk Materials Storage
• Bagging and Bag Handling Systems
• Consultancy and Testing
• Mechanical Conveying and Conveyor Systems
• Pneumatic Conveying
• Feeders
• Powder handling and Storage
• Dust Collection and Control Systems
• Crushing, Grinding and Granulation
• Sizing and Sorting Systems
• Sieves and Sifters
• Magnetic Separators and Metal Detectors
• Mixers, Blenders & Blending Systems
• Process Instrumentation, weighing  and Control
• Sampling Equipment
• etc

Committee Members

Over the last decade the Committee has organised approximately two bulk handling seminars a year on topical subjects such as hopper/silo design, pneumatic conveying, belt conveying, sampling, blending/segregation, attrition and degradation and ATEX.

Chairman

Mr Graham C Leason, Director & Consultant Engineer, Tech-A Ltd

Vice Chairman

Dr Eddie McGee, Technical Director, Ajax Equipment Limited

Members

Prof Mike Bradley, Manager, The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, University of Greenwich

Mr Alan Jackson, Alan Jackson Engineering services Ltd

Mr Ralph Charles Knight, Consultant Engineer, R K Bulk Handling

Nigel Mainwaring, Technical Director, Russell Finex Ltd

Prof Don McGlinchey, The School of Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University

Mr John Pethullis CEng MIMechE, Director & General Manager, Portasilo Ltd

Mr John Whitehead, General Secretary, SHAPA

Prof Ugur Tuzun, University of Surrey

Ian Atkinson, C Spenser Ltd

Mr Allan John Davies, Publisher/Editor, Salisbury Sarum Ltd

Prof Mark Jones, Consultant

David Russell, Research Facilitator, Food Processing Faraday Partnership Ltd

Mr Nigel Beard, Acetate Products Ltd

Mr David Brown, Consultant, Director, Kelk Engineering Ltd

Mr Giles Large, Consultant