New Bateman-Redler grain conveyors for South African
Bulk Terminals
Bateman Engineering has installed three Bateman-Redler en-masse
conveyors at South African Bulk Terminals (previously known as Rennies
Bulk Terminal) at Maydon Wharf in Durban, RSA to move grain received
from ships to the storage silos.
The three new conveyors each handle 700 t/h of grain and replace
old units which had a capacity of 325 t/h. Two new 80 m long horizontal
conveyors receive the grain direct from the ship unloaders and supply
a central point, from where the grain moves along a 65 m long conveyor,
inclined at a slope of 5°, to a weigh hopper.
The weigh hopper feeds a bucket elevator which is at the start of
the conveying system supplied by Bateman Engineering at the end of
2004 (see Bateman Globe No. 45). This portion of the system, comprising
the bucket elevator and 10 Bateman-Redler conveyors, moves the grain
from the hopper to the silos, from where it is distributed to the
rail and road load-out bays.
The complete Bateman-Redler system ensures minimal degradation of
the grain from ship to storage because of the en-masse motion that
induces the solid grain particles to move like liquids along the conveyors'
casings. The grains are essentially dry, with densities ranging from
0.75 to 0.85 t/m3.
All the units are completely enclosed and thus dust tight and weather
proof, ensuring both a contamination-free and environmentally-friendly
operation to handle grains such as maize, sorgum, rice, wheat and
barley.
The R4.4 million lump-sum turnkey order to design, manufacture, deliver
and install the new conveyors was placed in December 2005 and completed
by the end of April 2006. The change over to the new conveyors was
accomplished with minimal interruption of production at the wharf.
Bateman-Redler conveyors and elevators have previously been installed
at other plants of the Bidvest Group, of which South African Bulk
Terminals is part. Bateman Engineering's licence to design and supply
Redler equipment covers Southern Africa and, on a case-by-case basis,
the rest of the world.
More details may be obtained from Peter Cheshire, Manager, Specialised
Handling, on +27-11-201-2300 or email engtech@BatemanEngineering.com.
