Atritor Limited

In its facilities in Coventry, UK, Atritor produces a broad range of drying and milling equipment to serve the process industries. We are active across the spectrum of minerals, chemicals, pigments, pharmaceuticals, energy and waste processing operations.

From its earliest days, when it developed the "Atritor" Dryer-Pulveriser for the cement industry, the Company has sought to produce high quality equipment specifically for the production of fine, dry powders. The fact that we continue to maintain machines that have been in service for more than sixty years is testament to the quality of our products. In this modern age, our fully integrated quality system is audited to the strict requirements of 1SO9001.

As a process engineering company we bring to you the benefit of eighty years of unique experience in this sector. We design and build turnkey plant specifically tailored to suit your needs, for all industries. Primary machinery is manufactured in our own foundry and machine-shops and we work closely with associates and specialist suppliers to provide allied equipment.

Our modern pilot plant is equipped with the full range of our products to evaluate and optimise process parameters for system design.

Atritor history:
In the early 1920's a relative of Alfred Herbert, owner of one of the biggest machine tool companies in the world of the same name, headquartered in Coventry, devised a unique new concept to fuel rotary kilns at his cement works. The idea was to be able to continuously feed lump coal from an exposed storage pile, into a machine where it would be dried, pulverised to a large proportion less than 100 microns, simultaneously classified, and blown into the kiln burner by an integral internal fan at rates of up to 10 tons per hour.

Having only a cement company, this cousin had no means of turning his idea into a reality and so he turned to Alfred with the blueprint and asked him if he could make such a multifunctional machine, and make it robust enough to withstand the rigours of coal pulverising, which was known to be potentially highly abrasive. The machine was developed ultimately with high chrome iron castings providing the wear resistant grinding media, cast in Alfred Herbert's own foundry, which is still in operation at Atritor. After some initial prototype adjustments the machine was introduced to the kiln and boiler firing market and quickly became a global success; the machine was named, the Atritor .

The 'Atritor' was marketed worldwide for over 50 years during which time the technology of simultaneous milling and drying was expanded mainly in the chemical, mineral and waste product sectors. The modern 'Atritor' remains a core product of the company. The transition into Food and Pharmaceuticals began in 1980, when Atritor Ltd was formed and proceeded to extend its product range and expertise.

The Cell Mill (above), with optional integral classifier, is suitable for finer grinding and drying applications than the Atritor. This introduction of this mill/dryer increased the range of applications in minerals and chemicals and also proved to be particularly suited to food ingredients; wheat gluten, cocoa, starch, soyameal, carageen being
a few examples.

The introduction of the DCM air classifier mill has proved equally successful in many industries. It is used extensively for the grinding of bulk pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical DCM as shown above, is manufactured to appropriate GMP requirements: in this case Ra 0.4µm, mirror finish, and CIP design.

In 1990 Atritor purchased the intellectual rights for a range of spiral jet micronising mills. These have been supplied to many industries, especially food and pharmaceuticals and are custom designed to suit the specific client requirements. These range from a simple stand alone microniser and collection sock, to special design micronisers as shown, for locating inside an isolator for active pharmaceutical ingredients.