Kadant plays a critical role in the chemical and pharmaceutical processing industries, where precise heating, cooling, and fluid transfer are essential to safe, efficient, and consistent production. Kadant rotary joints and unions enable the secure transfer of steam, water, thermal oil, and chemicals into rotating equipment such as dryers, reactors, mixers, centrifuges, and tablet coating machines, ensuring effective temperature control and hygienic operation during critical processing stages. Kadant’s engineered expansion joints protect piping networks by absorbing movement, reducing vibration, and extending service life.
For enhanced energy efficiency and system stability, Kadant thermocompressors recover and repurpose low-pressure steam for reliable dryer and reactor performance. By integrating durable sealing and expansion technologies with advanced steam and condensate handling systems, Kadant helps chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers improve process efficiency, reduce operating costs, enhance product quality, and achieve long-term sustainability across their operations.
RX® Rotary Unions
The RX rotary union is engineered for reliable performance in demanding chemical processing applications, featuring a balanced mechanical seal supported by precision ball bearings or optional tapered roller bearings for smooth operation under high loads with minimal maintenance. With a stainless-steel nipple and assembly plate, and a design that extends bearing life, it delivers robust, corrosion-resistant sealing in applications such as reactors, mixers, and centrifuges. Completely stainless-steel versions are available with FDA and ATEX certification for sanitary and hazardous-area environments. Offered in single- and dual-flow configurations, this robust solution provides dependable, long-lasting fluid transfer for a wide range of industrial applications.
Custom Rotary Unions
Custom rotary unions play a crucial role in mixing, blending, and heating processes within the chemical industry, where they must withstand temperatures of up to 752° F while maintaining zero atmospheric leakage. Kadant designs engineered solutions tailored to these demanding environments, including rotary unions manufactured from materials such as Hastelloy C-22 for highly corrosive applications or custom stainless-steel configurations with up to three passages to meet specialized process requirements
SX® Rotary Joints
The SX rotary joint is a robust sealing solution designed to provide a positive, reliable connection between stationary piping and rotating cylinders found in dryer, reactor, and mixer applications. Engineered with an optimized seal diameter, convex seal ring in compression, and maximum carbon guide separation, it delivers extended seal life and reduced maintenance. Available in both through-flow and dual-flow configurations, it supports speeds up to 550 RPM and temperatures up to 650° F (343° C), making it ideal for demanding chemical and pharmaceutical environments. Adjustable syphon clearance options and self-aligning seal technology improve joint and syphon support, ensuring consistent performance and application flexibility.
SNX® Rotary Joints
The SNX rotary joint is designed for dual-flow rotating syphon service in demanding chemical and pharmaceutical applications where precise thermal control and reliability are critical. Commonly used on rotary dryers, agitated thin-film dryers, and drum dryers, it delivers stable performance in continuous high-temperature operation. Two widely spaced carbon guides provide strong syphon support and reduced deflection, while a convex seal ring in compression and a positive differential seal ensure leak-free operation during pressure changes and thermal cycling. Its floating guide design promotes balanced wear and extended seal life, maintaining alignment and system integrity in heating, evaporation, and drying processes across specialty chemical, polymer, and pharmaceutical production.
ELSX™ Rotary Joints
The ELSX rotary joint delivers next-generation, extended-life sealing performance for demanding steam and thermal oil service in chemical and pharmaceutical processing applications such as reactor heating jackets, agitated thin-film dryers, solvent recovery systems, and polymer processing rolls. Built for high-pressure, high-speed, and high-vibration environments common in continuous production, it features a convex seal design that provides up to 20% greater pressure-velocity (PV) capability and up to 15% longer seal ring life compared to traditional rotary joints. The result is improved runnability, reduced maintenance intervention, and dependable thermal transfer performance in critical heating, evaporation, and drying operations.
Expansion Joints and Flexible Metal Hoses
Kadant expansion joints and flexible metal hoses are essential components in the steam, condensate, and process piping systems that support the chemical processing industry. Found in various locations throughout the production process, rubber and PTFE expansion joints manage thermal expansion, vibration, and equipment movement under high-temperature and pressure conditions, preventing leaks in pipelines carrying steam, condensate, and exhaust gases. Flexible metal hoses compensate for misalignment and movement between critical equipment. Together, they ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation in specialty chemical, polymer, and pharmaceutical production applications.
Jet Products
Kadant jet products are engineered to control steam pressure and temperature in chemical and pharmaceutical processing applications such as reactor heating systems, evaporators, spray dryers, and solvent recovery units, where precise thermal management is essential for product quality and energy efficiency. Thermocompressors recover low-pressure blow-through or flash steam from dryers and evaporators by recompressing it with high-pressure motive steam for reuse, reducing overall steam consumption and improving system sustainability. Desuperheaters condition superheated steam through controlled water injection to deliver stable, saturated steam ideal for uniform heat transfer in reactors, jacketed vessels, and drying equipment, enhancing process stability and performance.
