Smelting plant in Norway installs Loibl feed hopper as part of major upgrade to ship-unloading system

Loibl, known for custom conveying solutions and custom bulk handling machines, has delivered a feed hopper for a smelting plant in Norway.

The materials handled by the hopper include sulphates, oxides (clinker), aluminium hydrates and calcium fluorides.

Special features of the hopper include grain sizes in μ range, and high bulk density. To protect the environment, special emphasis is placed on reducing the formation of dust.

Retrofit Project In Norway

Enclosed between mountains and fjords lies the zinc smelting plant for which Loibl

Förderanlagen GmbH supplied a customized feed hopper system. The factory is being fundamentally modernized and extensively expanded.

In the process, the decades-old shipunloading system was replaced by a new one. The Loibl hopper car is an important part of the ship-unloading process. It is the materials you move. With our compact Hägglunds direct drive systems, you can adapt easily to the job at hand, taking advantage of full torque at an infinite range of speeds. And should an overload try to stop you, the drives’ low moment of inertia and quick response will keep your machines protected. We’ll support you too, with an agile global network and smart connectivity to bring you peace of mind. Driven to the core.

Hägglunds is a brand of Rexroth. www.hagglunds.com link between the handling dredger and the conveyor system. The feed hopper leads right up to the factory and is equipped with modern and innovative solutions, including a dust retention system to enable dust-free ship unloading.

Overview

The hopper car runs on rails in the harbour and can be moved together with a transshipment dredger as needed. The dredger feeds the hopper with bulk materials that are needed for the zinc smelting plant and are delivered by ship.

The integrated extraction with filter system and special dust retention system in the bin prevents dust from developing in the surrounding area. Underneath the bin is a bin discharge conveyor, transporting material onto a stationary conveyor.

WEAR-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION

A special plastic lining was selected for all surfaces in contact with material in order to improve wear resistance and gliding properties.

The dust retention system is likewise used in a reinforced version adapted to the customer’s needs. An integrated sprinkler system takes care of cleaning the bin.

DUST REDUCTION & WATER PROTECTION

The sophisticated extraction system of the feed hopper continuously extracts dustladen air. A rotary valve discharges the filtered dust onto a discharge belt and conveys it into the main material flow.

An additional special construction, the spillage board from Loibl, is used to collect spilled material during the transfer from ship to bin in order to guide it back into the ship. This protects the surrounding sea, so nature remains unaffected.

The scope of supply and services includes: basic and detail engineering; static design of the steel structure; manufacture in Straubing, Bavaria; steel construction EXC3; feed hopper and bin; weighing system; spillage board; dust suppression system; extraction with filter system; LASHBELTCON® — belt conveyor; electrical and control system; assembly; and commissioning.

Environmental Responsibility And Sustainable Business

Zinc is an essential raw material for numerous industries, which is usually delivered by ship. Investments in innovative conveyor and filter systems are crucial to protect people and nature and to maintain the economic viability of plants in the long term.