Many raw materials tend to create lumps during transporation and storage. The product loses his ability to be processed easily. Pneumatic conveying systems may get disturbed, feeder deliver inaccurate recipes, and mixers cannot distribute the ingredients to a homogene concentration in the mixing chamber.

Instead of using the “hammer-method” and reduce the size of the agglomerates manually, Gericke offers a size reductor or delumper, known as Nibbler, for the reliable and quick particle size reduction into the desired form.

Gericke Nibblers treat the raw material gently, and reduce blocs, lumps and agglomerates. Rotating paddles push the material through a screen. 3 or 4 paddles are fixed onto a rotating shaft. The rotation and angle of the paddles sweep the product against the serrated screen with the reduced particles passing through the holes. Size reduction is achieved by a cutting action (not grinding) and the breaking effect of brittle materials. The Nibbler works with a low peripheral tip speed avoiding the heating up of the products, as it would damage spices, frozen berries or vegetable. The gap between the rotor blade and screen is adjustable. Gericke Nibblers are available for the integration into different ATEX zones.

Typically Nibblers are used just after sac tipping stations, container or Big-Bag emptying stations. Another important field of application are recycling loops where broken products are passing the Nibbler and reintegrated into other processes. In melting applications, e.g. of chocolate blocs, large surface areas reduce the melting time and energy. This is as well a perfect example, how the Nibbler increases the process efficiency.

Nibblers are manufactured in different sizes, varying from inlet sections 200x200 mm up to 300x800 mm. The large sizes are frequently used to reduce the size of filter cakes of presses into powder or granules.

Screen sizes are available from 1,5 to 25 mm. Test machines for trials are ready in our customer centre or mounted on mobile frames for testing in your factory.

Gericke produces also versions for Pharmaceutical industries, this Nibblers are equipped with metallic sealing, are completely dismountable and apt for Autoclave sterilisation.