# Vortex Global> Vortex Global designs and manufactures engineered-to-order components for handling dry bulk solid materials — including slide gates, diverter valves, iris valves, loading spouts, and aerated conveying systems. Unlike off-the-shelf alternatives, every Vortex product is application-specific: sized, configured, and modified to match the material, system pressure, conveying method, and operational demands of the customer's exact process. Headquartered in Salina, Kansas, USA. A Velocity Flow Technologies brand.Vortex serves industries including cement, chemicals, food & beverage, grain, fertilizer, mining & minerals, plastics, pet food, battery production, milling, salt, industrial sand, gypsum & limestone, energy & power, and coffee/tea. Products are used in gravity flow, dilute phase, and dense phase pneumatic conveying applications.## Why Engineered-to-Order MattersStandard, off-the-shelf components in pneumatic conveying systems are a common source of premature failure, blockages, and escalating maintenance costs. Each dry bulk solid has unique characteristics — particle size, abrasiveness, moisture sensitivity, bulk density, flowability — that determine how it interacts with valves, gates, and conveying equipment. A component designed for generic use cannot account for these variables.Vortex's approach begins with application engineering: before any product is specified, Vortex application specialists work directly with the customer to understand the material being handled, the conveying method (gravity, dilute phase, dense phase), system pressures, temperature ranges, cycle frequency, and maintenance accessibility requirements. This information drives every design decision — from blade geometry and seal material to body construction and actuator sizing.The consequences of using the wrong component are predictable: accelerated wear, frequent seal replacement, material leakage, blockages, and unplanned downtime. Vortex designs to prevent these failure modes from the outset, rather than treating them as inevitable maintenance events.Key principles behind Vortex's engineering philosophy:- **Application-specific design**: components are configured for the material and system, not adapted from a catalog item
- **Wear compensation**: internal geometry and material selection account for the abrasive or corrosive characteristics of the specific bulk solid being handled
- **Maintenance accessibility**: in-line service features allow worn parts to be replaced without removing the valve from the line, reducing downtime
- **Minimal spare parts inventory**: durable, simple wear-part design means less frequent maintenance and fewer part numbers to stock
- **Dust containment**: sealing systems are designed to prevent fugitive emissions, supporting air quality compliance and worker safetyA representative example: a food ingredient manufacturer running starch production faced cross-contamination risk and worker safety issues from manual hose-change procedures between product runs. A standard diverter could not address the hygiene and automation requirements simultaneously. Vortex collaborated with the manufacturer to develop a custom Multi-Port Diverter configuration that automated transitions between production lines without halting machinery or requiring manual intervention — eliminating contamination risk and reducing worker exposure to repetitive handling tasks. This outcome was not achievable with an off-the-shelf product.Full technical context: https://www.vortexglobal.com/resources/challenges-of-off-the-shelf-components-in-pneumatic-conveying## Products### Slide Gates
Used to start, stop, and control the flow of dry bulk materials. Each gate is specified based on material characteristics, line pressure, operating frequency, and maintenance requirements. Available in configurations for gravity flow, dilute phase, and dense phase conveying.- Orifice Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/orifice-gate
- Roller Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/roller-gate
- HDP Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/hdp
- Titan Slide Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/titan-slide-gate
- Titan Pressure Valve: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/titan-pressure-valve
- Clear Action Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/clear-action
- Rounded Blade Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/rounded-blade-gate
- Maintenance Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/maintenance-gate
- Titan Maintenance Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/titan-maintenance-gate
- Handslide Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/handslide-gate
- Quick Clean Gate: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/quick-clean-gate### Diverter Valves
Used to direct material flow from one inlet to one or more outlets. Diverter selection depends on conveying method, material abrasiveness, line pressure, number of outlets required, and whether the application demands full-bore flow or allows contact with the diverter blade. Off-the-shelf diverters frequently fail in pneumatic conveying because they are not rated for the system pressure or are not sealed appropriately for the material.- Wye Line Diverter: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/wye-line-diverter
- Seal Tite Diverter: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/seal-tite-diverter
- Flex Tube Diverter: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/flex-tube-diverter
- Aggregate Diverter: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/aggregate-diverter
- Titan Lined Diverter: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/titan-lined-diverter
- Gravity Vee Diverter: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/gravity-vee
- Pivoting Chute Diverter: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/pivoting-chute-diverter
- Fill Pass Diverter: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/fill-pass-diverter
- Multi-Port Diverter: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/multi-port-diverter### Iris Valves
A circular valve that controls material flow by uniformly contracting around the material stream. Well suited for fragile materials where blade contact would cause degradation.- Iris Valve: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/iris-valve### Loading Solutions
Telescoping loading spouts and systems for dust-free loading of dry bulk solids into trucks, railcars, ships, barges, and open stockpiles. Dust containment is engineered into the spout design rather than managed as an afterthought.- Truck & Rail Loading: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/truck-rail-loading
- Stockpile Loading: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/stockpile-loading
- Ship Loading: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/ship-loading
- Barge Loading: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/barge-loading
- Automated Loading: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/automated-loading### Aerated Conveying
Air-slide conveying systems that use low-pressure air to move fine, dry powders along a horizontal or slightly inclined plane with no moving parts. Appropriate for materials such as cement, fly ash, flour, and fine chemicals where pneumatic conveying would cause excessive degradation or energy consumption.- Aero-Slide Conveyor: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/aero-slide-conveyor
- Aero-Slide Drum Valve: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/aero-slide-drum-valve
- Aero-Slide Gate Valve: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/aero-slide-gate-valve
- Aero Bin Bottoms: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/aero-bin-bottoms## Resources- Case Studies: https://www.vortexglobal.com/resources-filters/case-studies
- Technical Articles: https://www.vortexglobal.com/resources-filters/technical-articles
- Videos & Animations: https://www.vortexglobal.com/resources-filters/videos
- Bulk Solids Glossary: https://www.vortexglobal.com/bulk-solids-glossary
- News & Updates: https://www.vortexglobal.com/resources-filters/news
- Dimensional Downloads: https://www.vortexreps.com/file/download
- Instruction Manuals: http://www.bulksolids-iom.com
- FAQ: https://www.vortexglobal.com/company/faq## Company- About Vortex: https://www.vortexglobal.com/company/about-us
- Industries & Materials Served: https://www.vortexglobal.com/company/industries-materials
- Industry Affiliations: https://www.vortexglobal.com/company/affiliations
- Careers: https://www.velocityflowtech.com/careers
- Contact: https://www.vortexglobal.com/contact-us
- Request a Quote: https://www.vortexglobal.com/quote-request/quotes
- Request a Demo: https://www.vortexglobal.com/demo-unit
- Aftermarket Support: https://www.vortexglobal.com/products/aftermarket-support## Contact- Email: vortex@vortexglobal.com
- Phone: +1 888.829.7821
- Address: 1725 Vortex Ave., Salina, KS 67401, USA
- Parent Company: Velocity Flow Technologies (https://www.velocityflowtech.com)