IF the secret of great teachers is enthusiasm, Ajax Equipment managing director Lyn Bates would be a hit in the classroom.

He is a born teacher, with an encyclopaedic knowledge and sense of humour to match.

In a dazzling desktop display, he used small models to perfectly illustrate the way that powders of different consistencies can be separated, handled, mixed and controlled.

In fact, I learned more about science and technology in 20 minutes with Mr Bates than I picked up at school.

And such is his expertise that he even has a process carrying his name - Lynflow technology.

Using the principle of the Archimedes Screw, solids from fine powder such as cocoa, to large rocks, can be safely and effectively stored, separated and moved between containers at a controlled rate. Applications include the pharmaceutical industry, where exact measurements of ingredients need to be moved from a container to a mixing point, while being kept at a certain temperature and at a certain consistency.

Mr Bates said: "Lynflow technology combines an extensive range of concepts, patents, developments, innovations and design techniques, based on the fundamentals of powder behaviour and many years of practical experience at solving solids flow and handling problems."

And the industry agrees. "We're widely recognised as an innovator in solids handling," Mr Bates said.

"Ajax is highly regarded for its expertise in powder flows and is often employed to advise and solve solids handling problems. The company's range of solids handling and processing equipment includes screw feeders, conveyors and elevators, continuous mixers, and heating and cooling conveyors, bin systems, lump breakers and other solid processing devices."

Founded in 1969 by Mr Bates and Bill Waters, Ajax Equipment - based in a 30,000 square feet site in Mule Street, Bolton - is a leading solids handling company supplying businesses in the UK and globally in industries as diverse as pharmaceutical, food and confectionery production to plastics, mineral and chemical processing, waste and sewage handling.

The company is also a specialist manufacturer of solids handling and processing equipment. It has more than 30 years of experience in the design and manufacture of equipment for a wide range of organisations involved in food and confectionery processing, pharmaceutical, fine chemicals and all industries using bulk solids at both large and small scales.

This highly-technical work needs a good knowledge base, and Mr Bates argues that knowledge is a key component of Ajax's success. "We employ mainly skilled craftsmen and technical engineers. I maintain a policy of training our own apprentices to meet increasingly demanding standards of quality. We are one of the few bulk handling companies that believes in the value of employing apprentices who are trained in engineering."

Commitment of this type has been lauded and rewarded by the industry. In 1999, Mr Bates was awarded the Institute of Mechanical Engineering's Solids Handling Award in "recognition of his professional excellence in bulk solids handling technology".

For the next five years, Mr Bates - determined to develop his expertise - built up Ajax Equipment's skilled team of solids handling engineering professionals to ensure it continues to deliver state-of-the-art solutions.

And earlier this year, he received international recognition for his contribution to the materials handling industry, as the first non-Australian to be awarded the 2004 Bulk Solids Handling Award by the Australian Institution of Engineers for his "outstanding contribution to bulk solids handling".

"I was delighted to receive the award," he said.

"Bulk solids handling technology is very under-rated in relation to its importance in industry. Anything that brings the benefits to be gained from this to the attention of the academic and industrial world is to be applauded."

Mr Bates's desire to engage academics has led to his presenting more than 100 papers at international conferences and seminars and organising in-house workshops on solids handling.

He has chaired numerous working parties and task forces for the British Materials Handling Board and the European Federation of Chemical Engineers' Working Party for the Mechanics of Particulate Solids, as well as being a regular contributor to specialised solids handling website forums (he is a moderator on Bulk-online.com), and has a regular column in the Indian Bulk Solids magazine.

He authored books on Segregation, the Design of Screw Feeders and published a Glossary of Terms in Powder and Bulk Technology, as well as writing numerous technical articles for Ajax.

These include information on powder testing, many aspects of flow and behaviour of bulk solids, hopper design and screw type equipment.