Conveyor News

More handling options at British Sugar

British Sugar’s plant at Bury St Edmunds has now completed its campaign for improved systems for distributing granulated sugar, following an extensive re-modelling programme by bulk handling specialist Geo Robson & Co.

Valued at almost £¾ million, the project has increased the flexibility of facilities for screening and delivering product for bulk out-loading and bagging, and for re-circulating it back into the factory.

Existing equipment – most of which was originally manufactured and installed by Robson - has been modified and re-deployed wherever possible. The company was also responsible for new structures, floors, access platforms and stairways, and for demolishing and removing redundant plant.

In the screening area, the process route has been simplified by eliminating a number of elevators and extending the enclosed Robson Cleanflo belt conveyor that brings sugar from the scalping screen. Additional headroom to accommodate the new head end was provided by raising the roof level by 4.5 metres.

The Cleanflo delivers product into a modified screw conveyor with three outlets – an arrangement that allows the re-positioned vibratory screens to be fed in any combination.

The screens separate the sugar into three grades - granulated, granulated fines, and caster. Fines and caster are delivered into separate holding bins to await further distribution, and the granulated passes directly into bulk out-loading on a Robson Airglide enclosed conveyor – a low-friction design that supports the carrying belt on a cushion of air.

Belt and screw conveyors in the bulk out-loading area have been configured so that each grade can be stored in any of the three ‘road bins’, as demand dictates.

Bin one is for internal movement by road tanker; bin 2 supplies tankers taking product off-site; and bin three feeds the 50kg and 1tonne bagging lines. The final option is a route that returns granulated to the factory, which is activated when all other outlets are closed off.

Magnetic separators and metal detectors have been installed at all critical points in the system. When a detector is activated, a slug of sugar is run out into a one tonne bag at floor level for inspection.

Stocks were built up to ensure that the plant could meet demand during the July/August shutdown of the screening and out-loading areas. Robson was allowed 16 days to install and commission the granulated return system – the largest single item in the project – and to position all the other equipment ready for installation through to the end of August.

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