Installing a gas booster isn’t just a matter of connecting pipework and flicking a switch. In manufacturing environments where precision, safety, and compliance are non-negotiable, getting the installation and commissioning process right is essential.

This guide takes you through every stage of a successful gas booster installation, from pre-install checks to commissioning, maintenance, and troubleshooting. We’ll walk through best practices, legal requirements, and common mistakes to avoid, making certain your system is standard-compliant.

Click Here:  Essential Guide to a Gas Booster Installation in Modern Manufacturing – Gas Boosters by Secomak

Here’s an informative guide to help you understand how to choose not only the correct size of gas booster, but an insight to the overall package type.

How to Choose the Right Secomak Gas Booster for Your Needs

Thank you to all of our customers, suppliers and distributors throughout 2024. We look forward to working with you again in 2025 and wish you all a merry Christmas.

During December and the holiday season, we experience a higher demand in combination with potentially longer shipping times. The last day Secomak is shipping orders is 19/12/2024 which means there is still time to place an order if you have an urgent requirement.

Secomak is excited to announce that we will be represented at Pack Expo 2024 in Chicago by our long-standing USA distributor, Static Clean International. The event, taking place from November 3rd to 6th, booth #S-1402 in the South Hall of McCormick Place, where we’ll be discussing our latest innovations in drying and heating technology.

While we won’t be bringing physical machines to the show—given the recent worldwide launch of our DryGuide Essential at the PPMA Show in the UK—Pack Expo still offers a fantastic opportunity to meet our team and learn about our ground-breaking solutions. We’ll be highlighting the DryGuide series, including the DryGuide Essential, which has already garnered industry recognition for its compact design with a high performance. The new DryGuide Essential is ideal for medium-speed production lines, helping customers optimize packaging processes with minimal space requirements.

The timing of Pack Expo, just after the launch at PPMA, means we will be focusing on in-depth discussions, presentations, and consultations with attendees rather than physical demonstrations. However, the Secomak team, alongside representatives from Static Clean International, will be available to discuss the technology behind our machines and how they can enhance efficiency and productivity on your production lines.

Jim Patterson, owner of Static Clean International, commented: “We’re delighted to collaborate with Secomak again at Pack Expo 2024. Although the machines won’t be on display, the insights and solutions they provide will be invaluable for companies looking to improve their drying and heating processes, alongside Static Clean’s static control expertise.”

Visitors to our booth will have the chance to:

• Explore the innovative DryGuide range: Learn about the cutting-edge technology behind the DryGuide Essential, including its recent award win at PPMA 2024 for Innovative Packaging Machinery.
• Engage with expert teams: The Secomak and Static Clean teams will be on hand to discuss your specific requirements and offer tailored advice on integrating our solutions with your existing processes.
• Discuss future projects: We’ll be happy to talk about potential collaborations, upcoming projects, and how our products can help you achieve your efficiency goals.

Although we’re not bringing our machines this time, the opportunity to meet with industry professionals and explore drying, heating, and static control solutions makes Pack Expo a must-attend event for us. We look forward to connecting with existing customers, partners, and new contacts to share ideas, hear your challenges, and offer insights on the latest developments in the industry.

We invite all attendees to visit us at booth #S-1402 to learn more about Secomak’s range of solutions and explore how we can support your packaging and production needs. Let’s continue the conversation from PPMA and keep the momentum going!

Please click here to receive your complimentary show passes. 

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago this November!

Automate UK PPMA Show 2024 was kicked off in style with Rory Scapens and Juan Gonzalez unveiling our brand-new drying machine, the DryGuide Essential. This compact yet high-performing machine has been in development for nearly a year, and its debut at the show was something we had eagerly anticipated. Designed as the “younger sibling” to our most popular drying tunnel, the DryGuide, the Essential was created for slightly slower production lines but delivers the same excellent performance.

One of the standout features of the DryGuide Essential is its compact size. Don’t be fooled by its smaller footprint—this machine is a powerhouse. Despite its reduced dimensions, it integrates a new innovation: a direct drive version of our 587 Turbo blower, which enhances efficiency and performance. Developed from the ground up throughout 2024, we were thrilled to finally reveal this solution, and the feedback we received from attendees made the wait worthwhile. Hearing positive reactions from potential customers and partners underscored the value of the innovations we’ve incorporated into this new dryer.

On Wednesday, we took things a step further by hosting a special ‘Meet the Engineer’ day. Joining the sales team on the stand were our Engineering Manager Luke Maher and the lead Design Engineer for the DryGuide Essential, David Clucas. It was a fantastic opportunity for customers and suppliers to get an inside look at the technical expertise and passion behind our latest product. Luke and David enjoyed chatting with attendees, discussing potential opportunities, and gathering direct feedback from people across the industry. This face-to-face interaction helped to build stronger relationships with those interested in our drying and heating solutions. It was a valuable chance to hear about specific challenges and ideas directly from the people who face them every day.

That same evening, the spotlight shifted to the Automate UK PPMA Awards dinner, where we were shortlisted for two prestigious industry awards. The first nomination was for our DryGuide Essential in the “Innovative Packaging Machinery – Multi-Purpose System” category, recognising the unique combination of versatility, efficiency, and compact design that sets this dryer apart from others. Our second nomination was for the “Partnership of the Year” award, which recognised our collaboration with the SKF Group on developing a Long-Life blower bearing.

We were honoured—and to be honest, a little shocked—when the DryGuide Essential was announced as the winner of the Innovative Packaging Machinery award. The competition was very strong, so to be recognised by the judges in such a competitive category was a major achievement for our team. This award is a testament to the hard work and innovation that went into the DryGuide Essential’s development and a real high point of the week for us.

On the final day of the exhibition, we hosted another successful event at our stand: the ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, featuring our Purchasing Manager Jo McGregor and Purchaser Carol Daley. This event was designed to celebrate our relationships with suppliers, both old and new. As much as we take pride in our in-house innovations, our success is also built on the strong partnerships we maintain with key suppliers across the UK. The purchasing team enjoyed meeting these partners and discussing future opportunities, as well as showcasing the results of their hard work on the new DryGuide Essential. While the sales team was responsible for a lot of pre-show pressure (sorry about that!), Jo and Carol did an incredible job of highlighting the importance of collaboration in bringing this new machine to market.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Automate UK PPMA for another outstanding exhibition. The show offered us the opportunity to have some incredibly valuable discussions with customers and suppliers, both long-standing partners and new contacts. For those who visited our stand, we deeply appreciate your time, interest, and insights. Our team will be reaching out this week to follow up on the many exciting projects discussed.

Additionally, we’d like to recognise those who worked behind the scenes to make this show a success. A special thank you goes to Brandon Pazitka of Freshly Brewed Marketing for the excellent work on our stand design, branding, and website. We also extend our gratitude to MARTECH3D for their fantastic support in creating the DryGuide animation that was a focal point of our exhibit. And, of course, a huge thank you to all our colleagues at Secomak, whose teamwork, dedication, and expertise made this event such a success.

As we look to the future, we’re excited to build on the momentum from the Automate UK PPMA Show and continue delivering innovative, high-performance solutions for our customers. Keep an eye out for updates from our team as we follow up on the great conversations started at the show!

Early in September we announced our delight at being shortlisted for two prestigious industry awards that would be presented during the PPMA show 2024.  We take even further pleasure to say that we are the Award Winners … 

Our latest drying solution, the DryGuide Essential, has been awarded the “Innovative Packaging Machinery – Multi-Purpose Technology” title, recognising the company’s commitment to cutting-edge innovation in the packaging industry.

Developed from the ground up throughout 2024, our new drying solution, the DryGuide Essential has been purposely designed to meet the evolving demands of modern packaging lines.  Already rewarded as standout solution for container drying applications, it is the latest addition to our DryGuide family. It is to be considered as the younger sibling to our most popular drying solution ever, the DryGuide. Whether working with cartons, bottles, cans, or other containers, this advanced drying machine offers unparalleled efficiency when compared to other drying methods and is can be seamlessly integrated into your production facility.

Key Features of DryGuide Essential:

• Efficiency: Our advanced 11kW direct drive fan combined with integrated VSD controls, delivers exceptional efficiency. The maintenance free design eliminates downtime ensuring continuous production.
• Effective Drying: Our DryGuide technology is fixed in the most effective position to dry containers of different shapes & sizes. Your drying application has never been easier!
• Ergonomic Design: Our commitment to forward-thinking design is highlighted by our brand-new sliding door design, integrated drip tray & external filter access.
• Effortless Installation: Designed with installers in mind, our compact machine features adjustable legs, and a top mounted blower, allowing ease of integration into your production line.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for Secomak, a company with over 90 years of experience in the design, development and manufacture of air movement and drying systems. Becoming Award Winners  for the “Innovative Packaging Machinery” award reinforces Secomak’s reputation for delivering industry-leading solutions that address the real-world challenges faced by packaging professionals.

Compact but high performing.

Extensively developed, the DryGuide Essential is a compact machine that is 20% smaller than previous models, perfect for any production line. Incorporating our innovative direct-driven centrifugal fan, energy efficiency is at the core of the development, providing a sustainable approach. Optimum drying is achieved with adjustable, toolless settings for different container sizes, all tested thoroughly in Secomak’s facility. This machine reduces operational costs without compromising quality and promotes sustainability through significant energy savings and reduced material waste.

Secomak’s Director of Sales, Anthony Hughes, commented:
“We are incredibly proud to receive this award. The need for a new solution was first identified by Sales 12 months ago to meet the ever-changing demands of our customer. The development of the DryGuide Essential reflects our core values and commitment for innovation and dedication to providing customers with reliable, versatile, and efficient drying solutions. This award is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our engineering team.”

About Secomak

With a legacy spanning over 90 years, Secomak continues to be a leader in air movement and drying technology. Wey specialise in designing equipment that improves production efficiency across numerous sectors, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and industrial packaging. Secomak’s solutions are trusted by manufacturers worldwide to ensure high-quality results with minimal downtime and energy consumption.

For more information about DryGuide Essential and Secomak’s full range of packaging solutions, visit www.secomak.com.

In the build-up the PPMA Show 2024, we had been teasing that we at the we will be unveiling a brand-new machine, we are now delighted to introduce the new DryGuide Essential drying unit to our portfolio. Our very own Rory Scapens, Key Account Manager and Juan Gonzalez, development engineer had the honour peeling back the curtain and revealing our latest innovation.

The DryGuide Essential has been designed as the younger sibling to our most popular drying tunnel ever, the DryGuide. It is not a replacement aimed at different customer base with slower production demands. It is also our most compact dryer yet, designed specifically for ease of installed on existing production lines but don’t be fooled by the size because it delivers an incredible performance. Its efficient too, integrating another innovation, a direct drive version of our 587 Turbo blower. After nearly a year in development we were so excited to finally reveal the solution, and the feedback received made it worth the wait.

The key attributes of the DryGuide Essential are:

Effective Drying 

The DryGuide Essential features our latest evolution of the DryGuide technology, ensuring that no matter the container, drying is achieved with ease and maximum efficiency technology.

Engineered Design

This latest version of DryGuide technology utilises our extensive knowledge of air flow dynamics and reputation for drying. The key principle of DryGuide Technology is the angle the airflow exits the drying fixtures towards the surfaces of containers is fixed in the optimum position for both effective and efficient drying. This minimises operator error when first installing and commissioning the machine, as well as when making format changes or adjustments after cleaning. This guarantees that each container is dried every time.

Tool-less design

A key feature of Secomak’s drying machines is a tool-less and no change part design. Whilst the Essential is targeted at a lower cost, this principle has been retained. Downtime is dramatically reduced when making format changes, with no change parts required. Adjustments can be made in seconds with our tool-less mounting system requiring only a simple release of a kip lock handle. Scales & markings have been incorporated to ensure that settings are repeatable to guarantee effective & efficient drying.

Efficiency 

Sustainability is a buzzword amongst lots of companies by this is very much a consideration of our design. By incorporating our drying technology within the product guidance system, it ensures there is a minimal distance between the airflow and container, resulting in an improved performance and a reduction in energy consumption.

Efficient blower technology  

At the heart of our drying technology is a electrically powered centrifugal blower, as fan & blower manufacturer for nearly 100 years, it will not be a surprise to say that we understand air. We have incorporated another innovation within the DryGuide Essential, utilising our latest blower technology, with a maintenance free direct drive fan.

Combined with an integrated variable frequency drive (VFC) and our Air Minder controls. The DryGuide Essential offers maximum energy efficiency and reliability eliminating downtime and ensuring continuous & uninterrupted production. The blower speed is adjustable during commissioning resulting in a reduction in absorbed power to dry the container. Operating automatically, with the blower only running when there is production demand via external signals, resulting in further energy reduction.

Effortless Installation 

Designed with integrators, OEMs and end-users alike, DryGuide Essential can be effortless installed into any production line. Our compact design features adjustable legs and a top mounted blower delivered fully assembled and wired. Therefore, just add power to experience the high-quality drying.

Ergonomic Design

Our commitment to forward-thinking design is highlighted by our brand-new sliding door design, integrated drip tray and external filter access.

Summary

The unveiling of the DryGuide Essential at the PPMA Show 2024 marks an exciting addition to our product range. As the compact, cost-effective sibling to the popular DryGuide, it offers unmatched efficiency and adaptability for production lines with slower throughput. Featuring advanced airflow dynamics, tool-less adjustments, and energy-saving blower technology, the DryGuide Essential delivers optimal drying performance with minimal energy use. Its ergonomic, easy-to-install design makes it the perfect solution for seamless integration, and the overwhelmingly positive reception highlights its potential to transform drying processes across industries.

Over the last few months, you would have seen announcements from us, teasing information that we will be launching a brand-new drying machine at the PPMA Show 2024.

We’re now extremely excited to announce, the DryGuide Essential.

A baby brother, or sister, to our most popular drying machine ever, The DryGuide. The DryGuide Essential has been meticulously developed from the ground up, sharing no parts with its larger sibling.

However, do not fear, our key principle, and what sets us apart from our competitors, is of course our DryGuide Technology. This technology has carried over to our new machine, but with a twist.

So, you might be wondering, why Essential? What does this mean? Let us briefly take you through our core features & benefits and why they were so critical when we were developing the new dryer.

Efficiency –

Utilising our second new development for PPMA Show 2024, our most popular and efficient fan, the 587T has been condensed and engineered into a direct drive version. Reducing installed power to 11kW as well as being virtually maintenance free. The blower is also paired with a take on our award-winning Air-Minder controls found on our Mistral V dryer. With a Variable Frequency Drive, the blower will automatically turn on or off when there is production, further reducing energy consumption.

Economical –

Reduced installed power and less absorbed power, results in lower energy consump

tion to dry your containers. That isn’t where this machines economical credentials end, oh no, aimed as mid-range offering & geared towards production lines of <50,000 per hour, the DryGuide Essential has an attractive & competitive purchase price. As referenced above, the new blower design is virtually maintenance free too, therefore the total cost of ownership is reduced.

Effortless –

Drying should be effortless. Well, that’s our view. Our DryGuide technology “with a twist” fixes the angle of airflow in the optimum position. Guaranteed to dry packaging containers of all shapes and sizes, whilst being suitable for any application.  Another effortless benefit is, adjusting between container sizes, with air angles fixed, all that is required is a simple height and diameter adjustment. This is quick and easy, requiring no tools or change parts and with scales / markings for repeatable settings. Effortless indeed.

Ergonomic –

We have listened to our customers and therefore kept the machine operators at the forefront of our development discussions. Therefore, the DryGuide Essential has been ergonomically designed to meet our customer demands. One  of our key features of the original DryGuide was its compact designed gull wing doors, this was not lost on our engineers. For the new DryGuide Essential we have developed an ingenious brand-new sliding door design, ensuring it occupies a small footprint with its compact design, whilst meeting all customer stringent safety demands.

Easy –

Why make it hard when it can be easy? Designed with adjustable frame and top mounted blower, delivered preassembled and electrical wired, ensures the machine can be easily installed into any production line with ease.

Designed, manufactured and sold from our UK HQ, enquiring about our latest machine will be the easiest email you’ll send all week.

So, there is a brief introduction into our DryGuide Essential. There is so much more to explore about this machine, and we will release further details on its features and benefits in the coming weeks.

If you want to learn more about the machine, we strongly recommend attending the PPMA Show at the Birmingham NEC this September, where our DryGuide Essential will be making its global debut on the biggest stage (stand A92).

Breaking news, we have been shortlisted…. We are delighted to have been nominated for not one, but two prestigious industry awards by Automate UK at the upcoming PPMA Show 2024.  We couldn’t be prouder of the team at Secomak, it means so much to have our hard work rewarded. As a nearly, 100-year-old engineering company, design and innovation is at the heart of all we do. Being recognised by the industry and Automate UK, cements our commitment to pushing the boundaries within in the packaging machinery sector.

Innovative Packaging Machinery

The first award we have been nominated for is Automate UK’s “Innovative Packaging Machinery”, for our ground-breaking new drying machine. With its global launch taken place at this year’s PPMA show, we have kept many details of the machine secretive. Developed from the ground up, our new offering is set to tackle the key customer demands for; efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. To be recognised so soon since development for an industry innovation award, demonstrates our team’s creativity and deep-rooted industry knowledge and understanding of customer’s requirements. We can’t wait to unveil our new drying machine during at show, fully representing our core values and being “Distinct by Design”.

Partnership of the Year

In addition, we are honoured to be nominated for Automate UK’s “Partnership of the Year” award along side SKF Group for our collaborative work to pioneer the future of sustainable bearing technology. Neary 5 years in the making, our partnership has been instrumental in the development of our new “Long-life Bearing assembly”.  This development significantly extends the operational life of our machinery, reduces downtime and lowers associated maintenance costs. Always striving to deliver the quality, without compromise, we aim to align with similar industry leading experts. The SKF Group epitomise this, and together it has enabled us to achieve remarkable results, this nomination is a testament to the strength and success of our collaboration.

Looking Forward

The nominations by Automate UK, are a reflection on our ongoing commitment to innovation and a testament to the hard-working Secomak team. We would like to thank all those who have made these achievements possible. We will await in anticipation to the winning announcement and regardless of the outcome, we are immensely proud to be recognised among the best within the industry.

The winners will be announced during the upcoming during the PPMA Show, if you haven’t already done so make sure you plan to visit the show.

Stay tuned for more updates we look forward to seeing you there!

We are delighted to announce that we will once again, be exhibiting at the PPMA Show 2024, the UK’s No.1 event for the very latest in processing and packaging machinery, robotics & industrial Vision.

This year’s show promises to be our largest event, with not one, or two, but three exciting new developments being launched at the show.

On Tuesday the 24^th September we will have a worldwide launch of a brand new drying machine that has been developed from the ground up, with no part of the design featuring in any other of our machines to date.

Rory Scapens, Key Account Manager explains why the PPMA show 2024 was chosen as the premiere for the new machine.

“At the beginning of its conception, I had always envisaged that the PPMA show 2024 being the ideal launching pad. As the UK’s biggest exhibition for packaging and processing equipment and being a UK manufacturer, what better place announce the newest drying machine in our portfolio. Drying plays such an important role in packaging processes, I felt it was only right to showcase our new developments first to the exhibitors and visitors at PPMA Show 2024”.

Whilst for now many of the details of the machine remain under wraps, it promises to be a major success. We have listened to our customers and understood exactly what the key requirements of a dryer catering for the challenges of producing in 2024… Efficient, Exciting, Ergonomic, Engineered, Economic.

The new dryer will feature another one of our latest innovations being launched at the show, a direct driven version of our most successful blower, 587 Turbo. Our 15kw 587 centrifugal fan is our highest performing blower from both a performance, efficiency & reliability perspective. With a precision machined aerodynamic impellor, it offers unrivalled performance and energy consumption. The direct drive version is no different, utilising the same core technology. However, the direct drive version is more compact at 60% of the size, fewer moving parts means the new blower is almost maintenance free.

The final development being showcased is a major upgrade on the above mentioned 587 Turbo blowers, that have been the mainstay of the ever popular DryGuide drying machine. After many years of development, we have significantly redesigned the impellor and bearing housing utilising a completely new and never seen before in a centrifugal fan, bearing concept. The development has been meticulously engineered together with the support of SKF Bearings and will provide a significant step forward in performance paving the way for other new and exciting future developments we have up our sleeves. The major benefits of our new “Long Life Bearings” are:

1. As the name suggests, an increased lifespan. The original design was already incredibly reliable, but the new design takes it to the next level with a life expectancy of 45,000 hours +. We are so confident in the performance that we will be offering 3-year warranty as standard.
2. Potential for increased performance. The new design can operate at approximately 35% faster without impacting reliability. This increase in speed will provide larger air volume and pressure delivery
3. Reduced maintenance The long life bearings are sealed for life and maintenance free
4. Backwards Compatible . The new bearing assembly can be installed in any existing 587 model, and therefore is available to all existing customers.

During 2024 all new orders of the DryGuide machine will feature the Long Life bearing without additional costs.

Whilst the PPMA show has predominately been a platform for the Secomak sales team, this year we have expanded our showing and are running two mini events alongside our machine launch. As a proud UK engineering company with our equipment designed, developed, and manufactured in house, we will be giving customers the opportunity to Meet our Designers. Luke Maher, Engineering Manager & David Clucas, Design Engineer will be at the show on Wednesday 25^th. This is unique opportunity to propose your challenges & opportunities directly to our incredibly talented engineering team.

Whilst most of the production is covered internally, we of course rely on a majority UK supply chain network and will be inviting suppliers new & old to a Meet our Buyers day on Thursday 26^th. Joanne Mcgregor, Purchasing Manager together with Carol Daley, Purchasing Assistant, will be hosting the meet the buyer event.

If you are interested in booking a meeting with either the engineering team or our buyers, please contact the team at sales@secomak.com or +442087321300 Option 1 for sales.

We look forward to welcoming you to the PPMA Show 2024, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham for the 24^{th of} September to the 26^{th of} September. Please click here to register for your free tickets.