Frequently Asked Questions

KERONE manufactures an extensive range of industrial dryers including microwave heating dryers, radio frequency (RF) heating dryers, infrared (IR) dryers, hot air dryers, flash/pneumatic dryers, spray dryers, fluid bed dryers, rotary dryers, tunnel dryers, tray dryers, drum dryers, freeze dryers, heat pump dryers, tower dryers, and many specialised systems.

• Microwave & RF Dryers — volumetric, energy-efficient drying
• Spray Dryers — liquid-to-powder conversion for food & pharma
• Fluid Bed Dryers — uniform granular drying for pharma & chemicals
• Rotary Dryers — high-capacity bulk material drying
• Tunnel Dryers — continuous production line drying
• Freeze Dryers — heat-sensitive material preservation

A spray dryer converts a liquid feed (solution, suspension, or slurry) into a dry powder by atomising the feed into fine droplets and exposing them to a hot drying medium — typically air. The droplets evaporate almost instantly, producing a fine, free-flowing powder with controlled particle size and moisture content. KERONE spray dryers are widely used in pharmaceutical, food, dairy, and chemical industries.Product: Spray Dryer

A fluid bed dryer suspends and dries granular or powder materials by passing hot air upward through the bed at a velocity that keeps particles in a fluidised state. This achieves uniform heat transfer, gentle handling, and rapid drying. It is ideal for granules, crystals, pellets, powders, and heat-sensitive pharmaceutical or food ingredients.Product: Fluid Bed Dryer

A tunnel dryer uses a long insulated chamber through which products travel on trays, trolleys, or a conveyor belt while being exposed to controlled heat and airflow. It allows continuous, large-scale, uniform drying with adjustable temperature zones. Heat sources include hot air circulation, infrared, microwave, or radio frequency. The main advantages are high throughput, uniform drying, low labour requirement, and easy integration into existing production lines.Product: Tunnel Dryer

Yes. KERONE manufactures a comprehensive range of coating and impregnation equipment including gravure coating machines, reverse roll coating machines, knife-over-roll coaters, air knife coaters, slot die coaters, curtain coating machines, immersion/dip coaters, and hot melt coating machines — available in lab/pilot scale and commercial scale configurations.Product: Coating Lines

Yes. KERONE's oven range includes batch ovens, conveyor ovens, tunnel ovens, IR booster ovens, overhead conveyor ovens, flat-belt ovens, and drum heating ovens. For industrial heating, KERONE supplies infrared heating systems (short, medium, and long wave), gas infrared systems, hot air generators, electrical heating systems, immersion heaters, cartridge heaters, tubular heaters, and complete PLC-based control panels.

Dryer selection depends on several factors. KERONE's engineering team evaluates:

• Material type, form (powder, granule, liquid, paste, bulk)
• Initial and target moisture content
• Heat sensitivity and allowable temperature range
• Required throughput (kg/hr or batch size)
• Desired final product quality (particle size, residual moisture)
• Available energy source (electricity, gas, steam, thermal oil)
• Budget, space, and integration with existing line

Yes. KERONE's process equipment range includes reactors, mixing kettles and plants, feeders, batching systems, cyclone separators, bag house filters, CIP/SIP systems, powder transfer systems, skid-mounted process units, sterilisation and disinfection systems, biochar processing lines, sludge drying systems, and complete turnkey processing lines.

Microwave drying uses electromagnetic waves to heat materials volumetrically — the energy penetrates both the surface and the interior of the material simultaneously, causing water molecules to vibrate and generate heat from within. This results in significantly faster drying compared to conventional surface heating methods, with more uniform moisture removal, lower process temperatures, and reduced energy losses.

• 3–10x faster than conventional hot air drying
• Energy savings of up to 50%
• Selective heating — heats moisture, not the dry material
• Highly controllable — instant on/off response
• Minimal workspace requirement

Both RF and microwave use electromagnetic energy to heat materials dielectrically. The key differences are frequency and penetration depth. RF operates at lower frequencies (typically 27.12 MHz or 40.68 MHz) and provides deeper penetration — ideal for thick or dense materials. Microwave operates at 2,450 MHz with shallower but very fast heating. RF is also preferred for larger industrial installations and web/sheet processing applications.Technology: RF vs Microwave

Infrared drying uses radiated electromagnetic energy in the IR spectrum (wavelengths 0.75–1000 µm) to heat surfaces directly without contact. KERONE offers short-wave, medium-wave, and long-wave IR systems, as well as gas-fired IR.

• Instant heat-up and cool-down (especially short-wave)
• No warming of surrounding air — efficient energy transfer
• Uniform surface heating across wide web widths
• Compact design — installs into existing machines

Yes. KERONE is implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies across its systems. Key capabilities include real-time process monitoring via IoT dashboards, predictive maintenance alerts, AI-based process optimisation, remote monitoring and diagnostics, PLC/SCADA integration, and cloud-based data analytics.

KERONE systems are designed to work with a wide range of energy sources:

• Electricity — for microwave, RF, IR, and resistance heating systems
• Natural gas / LPG — for gas-fired hot air generators and IR systems
• Steam — for conventional steam-heated dryers and heat exchangers
• Thermal oil — for indirect heating at high temperatures
• Waste heat recovery — KERONE can integrate heat recovery systems
• Biomass / renewable fuels — available on request

Yes. KERONE has extensive experience with heat-sensitive materials. Recommended systems include spray dryers (low-temperature atomisation), freeze dryers (sublimation at below-zero temperatures), fluid bed dryers (gentle fluidisation at controlled temperatures), vacuum dryers, and microwave/RF systems (selective moisture heating with low product temperature rise).

Yes. KERONE exports to 50+ countries and has established offices and representative partners across Europe (Düsseldorf, Germany and Corato, Italy), Israel, Australia & New Zealand, Thailand, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan, and Chile/South America. Equipment complies with CE, ISO, and ATEX standards where applicable.

Lead times depend on complexity and scale. Standard equipment typically ships within 8–12 weeks. Custom-engineered systems or large-scale turnkey installations may require 16–28 weeks from order confirmation. KERONE provides a detailed project timeline at the quotation stage.

Absolutely. Customisation is a core part of KERONE's offering. Parameters include size and capacity, construction materials (SS 304, SS 316, Hastelloy), airflow design, temperature range, filtration, control systems (PLC, SCADA, IoT), hazardous area ratings (ATEX, IECEx), GMP compliance for pharma, CE marking, and integration with existing production lines.

Contact KERONE via email at sales@kerone.com or marketing@kerone.com, phone at +91-22-48255071/72, our website contact form at kerone.com/contact.php, or WhatsApp. To receive the most accurate quotation, please share your material type, required capacity, desired moisture levels, energy source preference, and any space or regulatory constraints.

Yes. KERONE's Research & Development Centre (KRDC) in Ambernath, Maharashtra is equipped with pilot-scale versions of most dryer types. Clients can send material samples for trial drying, receive a detailed test report, and validate the process before committing to a full production system.

Yes. KERONE provides a complete turnkey service from design through installation, commissioning, and operator training. Field service engineers handle mechanical assembly, electrical connections, control system setup, process parameter calibration, and first-run production trials. Available in India and internationally.

KERONE provides a detailed site preparation checklist and layout drawing specific to each project. Typical requirements include: level concrete foundation, correct electrical supply, compressed air supply (if required), drainage and exhaust connections, adequate delivery access, and space clearances for maintenance.

A standard single-unit system (e.g., tray dryer or fluid bed dryer) typically takes 2–5 days. Larger continuous systems such as tunnel dryers or spray dryers may require 1–3 weeks. Turnkey process lines can take 4–8 weeks depending on scope.

Yes. KERONE provides comprehensive operator training as part of the commissioning process covering safe operation, control panel operation, startup/shutdown procedures, cleaning, and fault recognition. Training manuals are provided in English; other languages can be arranged on request.

KERONE provides comprehensive after-sales support including: 24-hour customer support hotline, spare parts supply, on-site service visits by qualified engineers, remote diagnostics via IoT-connected systems, preventive maintenance contracts, equipment upgrades and retrofits, and re-commissioning after relocation. Complaints and service requests are responded to within 24 hours.

KERONE equipment is backed by a standard 12-month warranty from the date of commissioning covering manufacturing defects and component failures under normal operating conditions. Extended warranty options are available. Please refer to your specific contract terms for full warranty details.

Yes. KERONE maintains a comprehensive spare parts inventory and can manufacture replacement components for older systems. Design drawings and component specifications are retained for all systems built in the last 30+ years.

KERONE recommends formal preventive maintenance every 6 months for continuous operation systems and annually for batch systems. Daily visual checks, weekly lubrication (where applicable), and monthly cleaning of filters, sensors, and heating elements are the operator's responsibility. Preventive maintenance contracts are available.

KERONE holds the following key certifications:

• ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management System (since 2002)
• ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental Management System (since 2010)
• CE Marking — European conformity for machinery and electrical equipment
• NSIC (CRISIL-rated) — National Small Industries Corporation
• CSIR-CEERI — Technical partnership for advanced heating research
• BIS Standards — Bureau of Indian Standards compliance
• AMPERE — International microwave and RF association member
• University of Nottingham — Affiliated for HF heating research

Yes. KERONE has held CE Marking certification since 2008 and regularly supplies CE-marked equipment to European customers. Our Italian office (EMitech, Corato BA, Italy) supports European clients with local technical assistance and regulatory compliance, including ATEX ratings where required.

Yes. KERONE designs pharmaceutical-grade equipment meeting GMP requirements including smooth-finish SS 316L contact surfaces, CIP/SIP compatibility, full process traceability, validated temperature uniformity, leak-free seals, and full documentation packages (DQ, IQ, OQ, PQ) for regulatory submissions.

KERONE serves an exceptionally wide range of industries including:

• Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical — API drying, granule processing, spray drying
• Food Processing — dehydration, spray drying, grain drying, fish drying
• Chemical & Petrochemical — powder drying, reactor systems, solvent recovery
• Agriculture & Biomass — grain, fertiliser, biochar, organic waste
• Textile & Paper — IR drying, coating, and curing systems
• Foundry & Ceramics — mould drying, sand drying, kiln equipment
• Rubber & Plastics — microwave vulcanisation, annealing ovens
• Mining & Minerals — rotary dryers for mineral ore and slag
• Automotive — paint curing, component heating
• Research & Laboratory — pilot and lab-scale systems

Yes. Pharmaceutical is one of KERONE's most significant industry sectors. KERONE has supplied fluid bed dryers, spray dryers, tray dryers, microwave dryers, tunnel dryers, and sterilisation systems to leading Indian and international pharma manufacturers. All pharmaceutical equipment is designed to GMP standards with full validation documentation.

Yes. KERONE supplies complete food processing lines including microwave food processing lines, infrared food processing lines, spray drying lines for dairy and food powders, grain drying systems, fruit and vegetable dehydration lines, fish and seafood drying systems, and pet food and animal feed dryers.

KERONE was founded in 1976 with over 50 years of manufacturing experience. Primary facilities are in Maharashtra, India:

• Unit 1: Marudhar Industrial Estate, Bhayander (E), Mumbai
• Unit 2: Plot B-47, Addl. MIDC Anandnagar, Ambernath (E)
• Unit 3: Plot W-104, Addl. MIDC Anandnagar, Ambernath (E)
• KRDC (R&D Centre): Ambernath (E), Maharashtra

International offices are located in Italy, Israel, Australia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, and Chile.

KERONE has served over 5,000 clients across more than 50 countries worldwide. Our client base includes leading multinational corporations, government research institutions, mid-sized manufacturers, and SMEs across the pharmaceutical, food, chemical, agricultural, and industrial sectors.

Yes. KERONE's Research & Development Centre (KRDC) is located in Ambernath, Maharashtra. Phase II was inaugurated in December 2024, doubling the facility's capacity. The centre includes microwave drying labs, pilot-scale spray drying, RF heating test rigs, IR drying equipment, and an AI automation testing zone. KRDC is affiliated with the University of Nottingham and partners with CSIR-CEERI and IIT Bombay.

KERONE can be reached through:

• Phone: +91-22-48255071 / 48255072
• Email (Sales): sales@kerone.com
• Email (Marketing): marketing@kerone.com
• Email (General): info@kerone.com
• Website: www.kerone.com
• WhatsApp: Available at the link on the KERONE website
• Works Unit 2 (Ambernath): +91-251-2620542/43/44/45/46