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Maximize Your Pfi Bucket Elevator Performance With the Right Bucket Options
Keeping your food production line running smoothly requires regular maintenance, and that includes your bucket elevators. Over time, buckets wear and tear, needing replacements to maintain optimal performance. But replacement buckets aren’t just about fixing wear and tear. Your needs can evolve too.
Read on to learn about the many bucket options available for your PFI Bucket Elevator.
PFI: YOUR BUCKET EXPERTS
Having built our reputation as Meyer Industries, we now offer seamless compatibility across the entire PFI product range, including legacy Meyer machines.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR BUCKET OPTIONS
We offer a wide range of buckets to suit diverse applications and food processing requirements:
Materials:
- Polycarbonate (standard)
- Polyethylene
- Stainless steel
Features:
- Ribbed
- Colored
- Metal-detectable
- Split
PFI has a wide range of bucket sizes to match your specific needs. Bucket widths include 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 48 inches. Depths vary based on the model and width, ranging from 2 ⅝” to 6”.
It’s important to note that PFI buckets are specially engineered to work exclusively with PFI and Meyer bucket elevators. This guarantees seamless fit and optimal performance.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| Bucket Type | Key Features | Ideal Applications |
| Polycarbonate | Impact-resistant, standard material | Most food processing applications |
| Polyethylene | Low heat deflection, chemical resistance, quieter operation | Applications with heat sensitivity and sound reduction needs |
| Stainless Steel | High-temperature resistance | High-heat settings, product/customer requirements |
| Ribbed | Enhanced product release | Sticky materials (gummies, etc.) |
| Colored | Color differentiation | Separating products, aligning with customer branding |
| Metal-Detectable | Ensures safety compliance | Food processing with metal detection policies |
| Split | Keeps products separate | Conveying multiple products at once |
HOW WE DETERMINE THE PERFECT BUCKET FOR YOU
To ensure optimal performance, PFI considers several factors when recommending the right bucket type for your needs:
- Throughput Requirements: Your bucket elevator’s dimensions and speed determine its potential throughput.
- Product Type: The product characteristics influence the ideal bucket material. Our polycarbonate buckets excel in most cases and offer a versatile solution. For irregularly shaped products, we may recommend oversized buckets with greater depth. This ensures secure transport and reduces potential spillage
- Bucket Fill: A general rule of thumb is not to fill buckets past ⅔ capacity, although specific products may work better with oversized buckets to accommodate their shape.
HOW MUCH DO BUCKETS COST?
Bucket type and size are the two biggest factors influencing the overall cost. Understanding these differences helps you make a more informed decision:
Material: Stainless steel buckets carry the highest price tag due to their custom fabrication. Polycarbonate, our standard material, is the most affordable, thanks to bulk molding. Specialty buckets, like ribbed or split versions, may also have a premium due to lower production volume.
Size: Bucket size has a relatively minimal impact on individual bucket prices. However, larger bucket elevators require more buckets, affecting the total cost. For example, the price to purchase replacement buckets for a 20-foot bucket elevator ranges approximately 10-15% depending on the width of the buckets.
For detailed quotes tailored to your existing elevator or a new need, don’t hesitate to contact our team.
PFI BUCKETS DELIVER OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE
Unlock your bucket elevator’s full potential with the right PFI buckets. As the OEM for PFI and Meyer bucket elevators, our replacement buckets are guaranteed for a perfect fit, maximizing performance for both your legacy Meyer machines and your new PFI equipment.
Click below to explore our innovative Bucket Elevators and learn how they optimize efficiency and productivity.
