PORTS
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elgium-based Vigan Engineering S.A. is more than a ship loaders/unloaders manufacturer, but a global solution provider for port development, and especially for grain handling. From initial project definition up to commissioning, Vigan is able to deliver turnkey terminals including a wide range of equipment and auxiliary devices thanks to its network of business partners.
Handling technologies Vigan masters both pneumatic and mechanical technologies with a wide range of machines. Its mobile and portable pneumatic machines (grain pumps) 24 | January - February 2013
are customised according to customers’ needs with many accessories available; they are adaptable to a lot of different working conditions. Capacity ranges from 100 to 250 tons/hour. The advantages of the NIV pneumatic continuous ship unloaders include very little manpower (just a single operator is needed); its hold cleaning efficiency; its capacity variability (from 160 to 800 tons/hour); and its easy and low-cost maintenance. The mechanical ‘SIMPORTER’ is particularly adapted for vessels up to PostPanamax size and very high-capacity requirements of up to 1,500 tons/hour. It has the lowest energy consumption rate per unloaded ton (0.2-0.45 kWh/ ton) and is even more environment-
friendly (no dust with a totally enclosed conveying, no noise, no material degradation as it is gently conveyed by a Twin-belt system). Vigan mechanical loaders are designed for almost any kind of product in bulk with a density from 0.2 to 0.8, they are suitable for all sizes of barges or vessels. Dust control devices and optional features are available.
Port equipment The diversity of Vigan’s range of equipment is a key-asset to propose the best adequate solution to any project requirements, whether pneumatic or mechanical is preferred, or even a combination of both. Continuous ship (or barges) unload-
&feed milling technology
Grain