This project is a typical application of milk powder mixed pneumatic conveying technology in the food industry. The customer is a well-established food processing enterprise located in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, which specializes in the production of high-quality dairy and nutritional powder products. To meet the growing demand for efficient, hygienic, and contamination-free material handling, the company chose Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd. (headpowder) as its engineering partner. The core objective of this project was to design and implement a food-grade clean conveying system that integrates both positive and negative pressure pneumatic conveying for the safe and precise transfer of milk powder from storage to mixing and packaging lines.
The food enterprise in Changsha had been using traditional manual or mechanical conveying methods, which resulted in issues such as dust generation, product cross-contamination, high labor costs, and inconsistent material flow. With the increasing demand for food safety and clean production, the customer needed a fully enclosed, automated conveying solution that could handle milk powder – a fragile, hygroscopic, and easily contaminated material – without compromising its physical properties or hygiene standards. The key requirements included: zero leakage of powder, easy cleaning and maintenance, the ability to handle both low and high flow rates, and compatibility with existing mixing and packaging equipment. Additionally, the system had to be designed to prevent moisture absorption and bacterial growth, ensuring the highest level of food safety compliance.
Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd. proposed a customized milk powder mixed pneumatic conveying system that combines the advantages of both positive pressure and negative pressure (vacuum) conveying. This hybrid approach, often referred to as positive-negative pressure mixed conveying, is particularly suitable for food-grade applications where material integrity and cleanliness are paramount. In this system, the milk powder is first drawn from storage bins using a vacuum (negative pressure) source, which gently lifts the material without causing excessive attrition or dust generation. The powder is then transferred through a series of strategically placed diverters and filters into a positive pressure conveying line, where it is pushed by compressed air towards the mixing and dosing stations. This mixed conveying method ensures that the milk powder remains free-flowing, avoids segregation, and maintains its original particle size distribution. The entire conveying path is made of stainless steel with smooth interior surfaces and quick-release clamps, allowing for easy disassembly and cleaning as per food industry standards (e.g., USDA, EHEDG).
The food clean conveying system designed for this project incorporates several advanced features that guarantee hygiene and efficiency. First, all components in contact with the milk powder are constructed from 304 or 316L stainless steel, with surface finishes better than Ra 0.8 μm to prevent product adhesion and bacterial growth. Second, the system includes a high-efficiency dust collection and filtration unit (HEPA-grade) that captures any fine particles, ensuring that the workplace environment remains dust-free and that no product is wasted. Third, the positive and negative pressure circuits are equipped with pressure sensors, flow meters, and automatic control valves, allowing for precise adjustment of conveying speed and material-to-air ratio. This is especially important for milk powder, which can become compacted or damaged if conveyed at too high a velocity. The system also features a built-in CIP (Clean-in-Place) function, which enables automated cleaning without disassembly, reducing downtime and labor costs. Furthermore, the material handling pipeline is designed with minimum bends and dead zones to avoid powder accumulation, a common cause of contamination in food processing.
The project was executed in phases, starting with a detailed site survey and process flow design by the engineering team at Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd. (headpowder). After the design approval, the equipment was manufactured at the company's facility in Shandong Province, China, and then shipped to the customer's site in Changsha. The installation and commissioning were completed within the agreed timeline, with on-site training provided to the customer's operators. Since the system went into operation, the food enterprise has reported significant improvements in production efficiency and product quality. The milk powder mixed conveying system operates at a capacity of 3 tons per hour, with a conveying accuracy of ±0.5%. The enclosed nature of the system has eliminated dust emissions, while the positive and negative pressure combination ensures that the milk powder does not experience any thermal degradation or moisture pick-up. The customer also noted a reduction in product loss from approximately 2% (with the old manual method) to less than 0.1%, resulting in substantial cost savings. Moreover, the system's automated control and CIP features have reduced cleaning time from 4 hours to 30 minutes per shift, allowing for more production runs per day.
Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shandong, China, is a leading provider of custom pneumatic conveying solutions for the food, dairy, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. With years of experience in designing and manufacturing milk powder mixed conveying systems, the company has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges associated with handling cohesive and delicate powders. The company's engineers work closely with each client to develop a tailored solution that meets specific throughput, hygiene, and budget requirements. Whether the application involves food-grade clean conveying, high-temperature material handling, or explosion-proof environments, headpowder can deliver a reliable and cost-effective system. The successful completion of the Changsha project is just one example of the company's capability to implement complex mixed conveying systems in real-world food production settings. For more information about similar projects or to discuss your own material handling needs, please contact Manager Zhang via WeChat at 15662777102. The professional team at Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd. is always ready to provide technical consultation and project support.
After six months of continuous operation, the food enterprise in Changsha has expressed full satisfaction with the performance of the milk powder mixed pneumatic conveying system. The system has not only improved production efficiency but also enhanced the overall hygiene level of the workshop, which is critical for passing food safety audits (such as HACCP and ISO 22000). The customer is now planning to expand its production capacity and has already contacted Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd. for a second phase of the project, which will involve the integration of additional conveying lines for other powdered ingredients. This repeat business underscores the trust and confidence that the customer has placed in headpowder's technology and service. For any food processing enterprise seeking to modernize its material handling process, adopting a positive and negative pressure mixed conveying system designed by Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd. is a wise investment that yields long-term benefits in terms of product quality, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
For inquiries about milk powder mixed conveying, food-grade clean conveying systems, or positive-negative pressure mixed conveying solutions, please feel free to reach out to the project manager. Contact: Manager Zhang, WeChat: 15662777102. Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd. looks forward to collaborating with you on your next project, delivering innovative and reliable pneumatic conveying solutions from its base in Shandong, China.
Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd.
156-6277-7102（Zhang manager） 
0531-83386006 
Jinan City, Shandong, China Province 
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