Product category:
Packaging, Conveyors and Materials Transfer
News Release from: Horizon Conveyor Equipment | Subject: Magna-Patch
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 November 2007
Repairing holes in chutes and conveyors
Horizon Conveyor Equipment is making waves at Bristol Port with an innovative magnetic patch system that is proving to be an indispensable tool in reducing costly maintenance down time
The patented Magna-Patch system has been put to work by Norec , which operates a mechanical maintenance contract at the Bristol Bulk Handling Terminal Norec oversees the handling of five million tonnes of coal every year through the terminal, and is responsible for mechanical maintenance, breakdown and repair of all the equipment owned by RWEnpower
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 25 Jan 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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By adopting the Magna-Patch solution, Norec has achieved far greater control over when and where major maintenance procedures are carried out.
Magna-Patch is pressure rated up to 60psi and provides a rapid, secure way of repairing holes in steel pipes, flat back elbows, silos, chutes, hoppers and other steel structures susceptible to abrasion.
The reusable patch is simply placed over the worn-out area and is securely held in place magnetically until the next scheduled shut down.
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The Bristol Bulk Handling Terminal comprises two Continuous Ship Unloaders (Kone CSUs), along with three stockyard machines comprising one reclaimer, one stacker and one stacker / reclaimer.
The operation is linked together by 15 conveyors in lengths ranging from 30m up to 900m.
Two of those conveyors are 1200 wide, five are 1800 wide and eight are 1400 wide.
In addition, there are two 2400-ton rail loadout silos.
Dave Bannister, Site Manager for Norec , explains: "The site is divided into two separate areas of operation - the Stacking route and the Reclaim route.
The Stacking route is active whenever ships are in dock and we aim to give maximum availability to turn the ships around in the shortest time.
The Reclaim route operates between Monday and Friday, with weekends being used for maintenance and repairs".
For Norec, the Horizon Magna-Patch has very often proved to be the most suitable maintenance solution for when parts of the system break down.
"In the case of both routes the Magna-Patch enables us to return the routes to service more quickly than when using previous methods of temporary patching," Dave explains: "It takes away the need for gaining access to internal sections of chute which would possibly have required scaffolding, as well as the challenges of confined space working, with all its added complications".
According to Dave, once applied, the Magna-Patch is continuously effective until more permanent repairs can be planned later on.
"Other methods often require revisiting before final repair, the Magna-Patch is simple to use and people are familiarised with it in a matter of minutes".
The Magna-Patch reusable magnetic patch is designed to give conveyor operators flexibility in their maintenance schedules by offering quick, secure patch solutions in high-wear situations or during breakdowns.
In these situations they can dramatically reduce downtime, labour and material costs that are often encountered by operators.
Alan Bowler, Managing Director of Horizon Conveyor Equipment, said: "The Magna-Patch really is the maintenance engineer's friend.
It's just like if you cut yourself and then apply a sticking plaster to stop the blood flow.
That's how quick and simple the magnetic patch system is to use - it's an excellent way of reducing expensive maintenance downtime".
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