Online moisture analysis specialist Callidan Instruments reports a spike in sales activity in the US during February and March. Through US Representative KSS (Kanawha Scales and Systems) several of the MoistScan^® online moisture analysis systems have been supplied into a diverse range of industries for a wide range of different applications. One company with numerous facilities throughout the US processes electric arc furnace (EAF) dust generated by the steel industry. EAF dust contains approximately 20% zinc from galvanised scrap melted by steel mini-mills.

The company recently purchased a further 2 MA-500 online microwave moisture analysers for a new recycling facility on the back of the excellent performance of the MoistScan analysers at existing plants. An important part of the value adding process is kiln drying of the EAF dust in the creation of crude zinc oxide and iron-rich material. Knowing the moisture content of the raw feed to the kiln in real time enables plant operators to better regulate the operation of the kiln to reduce energy consumption and to ensure a consistent product of the right target moisture.

KSS has reported many more enquiries in the pipeline after a rather slow 12 months. “This is evidence that activity is coming back into the market,” says Callidan.