In the world of industrial screening, there is a persistent myth: that ultrasound is the universal solution to any separation difficulty. It is true that this technology can be a valuable aid under certain conditions – but it is by no means guaranteed to be the best answer – the most efficient and/or the most cost-effective – in every case.

The reality: a well-designed vibration already does a lot

Our traditional C-Line sieves, thanks to our standard vibration system backed by over 30 years of experience with 300 different industrial applications, can achieve up to 90–95% separation accuracy, depending on the physical criticalities of the product and the adjustments that are possible. For many applications, this level of performance is more than sufficient, without the need to resort to additional systems.

When the product is particularly critical or very fine, our X-Line multifrequency technology pushes accuracy even further, reaching separations down to 10 microns and 95–99% separation precision, drawing on the wide variety of vibrational waves available (the characteristics of the product still need to be carefully evaluated).

The secret? It lies in process design

The heart of the matter is not so much the technology itself as the way screening is organised and all the assessments that allow us to build a solution fully optimised for the process.

Correctly assessing the particle size distribution (PSD) of the product and ensuring a uniform feed are, in any case, crucial steps for achieving optimal results. Added to this is understanding the dynamic behaviour of the material under the effect of vibrations: every product reacts differently and requires a dedicated approach.

When cleaning makes the difference

For cohesive or sticky powder products, it is often enough to introduce an overmesh cleaning system, which helps the most stubborn particles pass through the mesh and keeps it constantly clean. Ultrasound may instead prove an effective solution when particles have an irregular shape and tend to get stuck in the mesh openings, and perhaps traditional cleaning with balls is not entirely effective. Certainly, the cost of ultrasound cannot be justified as compensation for poor vibration performance in some sieve designs that are too heavy and not very reactive.

Ultrasound as a tool, not a shortcut

Ultrasound therefore remains a useful but not universal technology. It must be evaluated taking into account not only the type of product, but also the ATEX characteristics of the process and any impact on the overall system.

Analysing each application together with our team makes it possible to identify the most efficient solution, balancing performance, safety and cost.