Qlar opens pneumatic conveying test center in Bangalore, India

Qlar has opened a pneumatic conveying test center in Bangalore, India, aimed at improving system design and performance for bulk material handling applications.

The new facility features a 680-meter conveyor line, making it the first test center of its kind in Asia capable of supporting full-scale dense-phase conveying tests under realistic operating conditions. According to Qlar, the center is designed to help customers in the metals, cement, and energy sectors evaluate material behavior and optimize conveying systems before implementation.

The test center spans approximately 539 square meters and supports analysis of a wide range of materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, cement, and fly ash. Future testing capabilities are expected to include performance materials and chemicals. Engineers can measure key parameters such as particle size distribution, bulk density, flowability, air consumption, energy use, and required conveying pressures.

According to Qlar, materials undergo initial laboratory characterization before being tested in full-scale conveying systems. These tests evaluate performance across varying feed rates, pressures, and venting conditions. The resulting data is used to determine conveying pressure requirements, air demand, velocities, and achievable throughput ranges, providing a technical basis for system design and project planning.

Rajesh Pathak, Managing Director of Qlar India, said the facility is intended to improve project transparency and reduce uncertainty by enabling realistic simulation of long-distance conveying conditions. Dr. Jörg Ulrich, CEO of Qlar Group, added that global demand for reliable conveying data continues to grow, positioning the new center as a key resource for customers in Asia.

Qlar also stated that the facility will support job creation in mechanical and electrical engineering roles. In addition to testing performance, the center will focus on improving efficiency by optimizing air consumption and reducing energy requirements across conveying processes.