Product category:
Welding, cutting and adhesive bonding
News Release from: Ace Arc | Subject: Tarmac storage hoppers
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 January 2007
Refurbishment of aggregate storage
hoppers in situ
A specialist engineering company has saved Tarmac more than GBP750k by solving a wear problem on the aggregate hoppers and chutes at the company Hilton works, without disrupting production
A specialist engineering company has saved Tarmac more than GBP750k by solving a wear problem on hoppers at the company Hilton works Ace Arc, of Coalville, has completed the refurbishment of five aggregate storage hoppers and ten trouser leg chutes, which play an integral part in the production of dense aggregate blocks at the Tarmac Wolverhampton facility
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 24 Dec 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Robot machine-tending at aerospace manufacturer
Aerospace component manufacturer Centrax has installed an ABB IRB2400L six-axis robot to investigate the feasibility of introducing fully automated machine tending to selected manufacturing processes
Global Quality Culture for Multinational
Product consistency and quality and a mandate to reduce costs spurred container manufacturer Crown Cork and Seal Co to institute quality measures that could be applied for all manufacturing sites
The hoppers and chutes transport 500 tonnes of aggregate to the site concrete mixer each day, and after 18 years of intensive use at the batch plant, they were showing severe signs of corrosion.
The Tarmac project manager, Tim Lovatt, comments: "We were concerned that the corrosion was making the bins unsuitable for use.
We were already experiencing leakages and wanted to ensure that these did not develop further".
The Hilton plant produces 6,000 square metres of dense aggregate blocks each day for the building industry.
Replacing the batch plant was not an option for Tarmac, as to do so would mean closing the plant for more than a month and an outlay of over GBP500k for new equipment.
Ace Arc provided a cost effective solution that enabled the site to remain open and production continue.
Using 8 mm steel, engineers from the Ace Arc team relined the aggregate hoppers.
Four trouser leg chutes were lined with a hardened wear plate to increase wear life and a further six chutes were coated with Cera-metalene to prevent aggregate particles from sticking to the sides, causing material build up, potential blockages and corrosion.
Mr Lovatt continues: "We are really pleased with the work that Ace Arc has carried out for us at Hilton, which was done professionally and safely by experienced people who completed the job on time and within budget.
The work has ensured the lifespan and safety of our equipment for many years to come." Ace Arc general manager Scott Bailey said: "Tarmac is a blue chip company that needed to ensure production at the plant continued while work was carried out.
We were able to provide a safe solution that enabled them to do this effectively".
• Ace Arc: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
