STORAGE

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Loading bulk solids with explosive characteristics

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by Henrik Frandsen, General Sales Manager, Cimbria

imbria Bulk Equipment has serviced the dry bulk industry for decades, focusing on the loading and conveying of all kinds of industrial bulk goods. The company has therefore gained a vast experience within industrial bulk handling. This experience is constantly being put to use in developing new solutions, which meet the demands of authorities and users for functionality, quality and environment friendly operation. The solutions have been developed on the basis of a product range consisting of various types of loading chutes for open and closed loading of dry bulk materials into e.g. trucks, rail wagons, containers, ships and for stockpiling. The loading chutes are sold under the brand name Moduflex. The company has an experienced, highly qualified workforce, its own development and construction department and modern production facilities that enable it to construct and manufacture all of the solutions in accordance with the individual requirements of each client. The loading chutes can be designed to solve all kinds of loading tasks and manufactured either as straightforward single equipment or complete systems for large corporate projects. However, Cimbria Bulk Equipment is not only recognised as a dependable supplier of various transport equipment, the company has also managed to distinguish themselves by being acknowledged problem solvers with the ability to create innovative solutions where particular customer requirements are taken in account. Membership of the Cimbria Group of Companies means that Cimbria Bulk Equipment can draw on the expertise of the other group members and provide complete solutions for the clients.

Handling explosive products

Dust is an important issue when handling various bulk solids

56 | Milling and Grain

such as grain, paper, plastics, sugar, wood or other organic material, as it is the cause of many accidents in the work place. Not only because of the dangerous effects on the human body working in a dust laden area can have, but also more so because the storing and handling of these products always contains a high explosion risk that might cause destruction of buildings and production equipment and in worse case scenarios - loss of human life. However, in recent years, the increased focus on dust emission with the implementation of the ATEX directive has proven to have a preventative effect. The correct design of transport equipment with regards to limiting the dust emissions is particularly important. The demands for explosion proof equipment imply that all supplied mechanical parts and electrical components are specially constructed for application in equipment installed in high explosive risk areas. All precautions taken endeavour to create a safe working environment. Beyond the direct improvement of the working environment by bringing down the amount of airborne dust, bringing down the amount of airborne dust furthermore reduces the risk of creating an explosive atmosphere outside of the transport equipment.

Meeting ATEX demands

Through the years, Cimbria Bulk Equipment has gained a great deal of experience when it comes to supplying loading and conveying equipment in compliance with all international regulations. The company has a standard working policy to insure that the supplied equipment is in compliance with the rules laid down in the ATEX-directive. Not only are the assembled parts scrutinised, but also the complete working unit where all factors including the build-up of static electricity and surface temperatures are taken into consideration. Key words in connection with ATEX related equipment is approval, marking and documentation, where the manufacturer’s declaration plays a key role. As part of the approval of the Cimbria Moduflex loading chutes,