PSB Inspection B.V.: keeping a close eye on coal and other commodities

PSB Inspection was founded by Peter Bagchus as a 100% private enterprise in 2016, and has been fully operational since 1 February 2017 . The company operates from its head office in Vlaardingen (Rotterdam port area). It has highly qualified and experienced senior surveyors and an experienced sampling preparation team. PSB Inspection runs its own laboratory with highly qualified and experienced laboratory technicians. This is all managed by the operational team in close conjunction with the management team members, who have been active in this type of business for decades.

Currently, PSB Inspection focuses primarily on coal and coal-related products. However, bearing in mind that the world — and the energy market — is changing vastly and rapidly, it is also working hard to expand into markets such as biomass, alternative fuels, minerals, metals, slag, flyash and fertilizer, which are under development in different phases.

This all takes place with a clear eye on high quality services in the field of inspection, sampling, sample preparation, analytical services and weight ascertainment required by PSB Inspection’s customer base. Recently, the company expanded its service portfolio with gas/toxin measurement (four qualified and certified gas/toxin measurement experts including high quality, certified equipment). Further expansion is planned.

Other than central Europe, PSB Inspection offers its services in various other countries (Turkey, USA, South Africa — and expanding on that continent to other countries, LATAM and the UK), as well and expanding its country portfolio. All is being co-ordinated from the company’s head office, obviously under the applicable ISO standards 9001 and 17025. Certifications to 17020 and GAFTA are on the way. In addition, PSB Inspection also uses its own internal quality procedures. The company is well-known and accepted by international producers/consumers, international trading companies and industrial users of solid fuels.

PSB Inspection continues to focus on the future. A major topic now is the energy transition: the replacement of fossil fuels with products that emit less CO2 than coal.

This is quite a challenge. Fossil fuels are still widely used because of past developments: power plants were built, and coal was plentiful and affordable. This cannot be replaced overnight. A direct transition from coal to biomass is impossible. This is mainly due to the technology of current power plants: biomass has a different composition than coal and must be treated differently. Current power plants are completely focused on burning coal. There is also an economic aspect: biomass is much more expensive than coal. Two major steps must therefore be taken before the transition can be fully implemented: power plants must be converted, and it must become more financially attractive to switch to biomass. The fact remains that the energy mix will increasingly consist of renewable energy in the coming years. PSB

Inspection is happy to contribute to this development.

PSB Inspection is convinced that it is important to follow the market and consequently to continuously diversify its product flows and expand its service portfolio in line with the requirements of its customer base.

Currently, the uncertain situation worldwide requires creative solutions regarding the extraction, transport, and use of fuels. Where we have seen the largest market in coal so far, it is becoming increasingly important as a customer to become less dependent on the global raw material flow and supply, but to look for fuel production closer to home. The worldwide situation not only in the energy market but worldwide requires creative solutions regarding diversification in the use of (solid) fuels and transporting same. Coal is and will remain until further notice the largest energy source, but it becomes more and more important that the world becomes less dependent, i.e. there is a need for alternative energy sources coming from alternative supplying countries not only coming from the far end of the world but also ‘closer to home’.

Other than biomass, a good example of this is the increasing worldwide demand for alternative fuels, such as solid recovered fuels (SRF). Even though there are questionmarks raised on SRFs, they contribute to the energy mix and therewith with the energy demand which is growing globally let alone the climate change. Needless to say, that it is required that the SRF’s themselves including the transport of same complies with the reigning sustainability criteria which is more than relevant in the entire climate chance discussion/strategy. This strategy comes down to decreasing the emission of CO2

KINSHOFER re-handling clamshell buckets handle commodities including coal

Thanks to the large volume, the re-handling of coal is fast and easy with the C60VHD clamshell bucket for excavators with up to 65t operating weight.

Since 1971, Kinshofer GmbH has been a major manufacturer of high-quality attachments for truck-mounted cranes and it is now also becoming one of the preeminent producers of attachments.

In the last two decades, KINSHOFER has become more and more involved in the re-handling business, producing large orange peel grabs (P-Series) for excavators with an operating weight of up to 120 tonnes and re-handling clamshell buckets (C-Series) for excavators and carriers with an operating weight from 18 tonnes of up to 100 tonnes.

The durable KINSHOFER re-handling clamshell buckets of the C-Series have been developed especially for the loading and unloading of bulk materials in large amounts — including coal and coke. The widely spaced pivots and the flat closing curve provide maximum volume and the ground surface is protected when discharging from e. g. boat or train carriages. The two shells are driven by sturdy hydraulic cylinders.

The cylinder-version of the C-series is available for excavators with 18t up to 100t operating weight. The smaller versions up to 65t are equipped with two vertical cylinders, the C100VHD up to 100t with four cylinders. The shells are very robust to withstand highly abrasive materials and the integrated endless rotation guarantees the precise positioning of the grab.

When choosing the version with fully closing tines, the P-series orange peel grabs can easily handle coal, sand or gravel. Available in different sizes for excavators with up to 200t operating weight.

An alternative to the clamshell buckets is the KINSHOFER orange peel grab P-series. Sizes range from the smallest P22V for excavators from 16 tonnes operating weight up to the huge P120VHD with a staggering volume of 3,500 litres in the largest variant. Different shell designs — narrow or wide, half or fully closing tines — make it possible to match the grab to the task. These heavy duty, sturdy grabs are often used to handle scrap, waste or rocks. As the C-series, the orange peel grabs are equipped with a robust 360° rotation. Accurate fittings eliminate tine distortion, the end stops for closing and opening are especially solid. Bolts are reinforced and have a large bearing surface. The hydraulic cylinders that operate the arms are protected by replaceable piston rod protections.

KINSHOFER sticks strictly to innovation and quality. Thomas Friedrich, President & CEO of the Kinshofer Group, says: “Kinshofer continues its strategy to provide the industry with a ‘one-stop-shop’ solution of outstandingly engineered products to increase efficiency and, more importantly, profitability of our customers.”