Conveyor News

Glass industry knows what it wants from suppliers

Peter Challans from bulk conveyor and handling supplier Geo Robson is well aware that glass manufacturers tend to have a clear idea of what they want when they come to him for new equipment. Many suppliers talk about providing answers but Peter knows the value of asking questions.

“Unlike many industries, those operating batch plant production – and particularly glass producers – have a firm view of what they expect an installation to produce when talking to equipment suppliers. As a result we need to ask the potential client a series of detailed questions to make sure the final specification is up to the task.

Location

As with the choice of a house, location matters – but for a different reason. Glass manufacture requires regular bulk supplies of materials such as silica sand, soda ash, limestone and other ingredients, held in sufficient quantities to ensure uninterrupted production. We need to establish where the nearest suppliers are based, the frequency of supply, and the ingredients to be stored. Delivery methods – in sacks, big bags, drums, tankers or lorries – will also determine the equipment used to offload and deliver materials into storage.

Together with information on mixing times, which can be eight, 16 or even 24 hour mixing and batch composition, we can determine the most appropriate storage and handling equipment to hold sufficient stock and to feed it into production at the required rate. Lower mix times will require bigger and faster feed systems.

It is usually prudent to allow sufficient capacity to cover for the occasional missed delivery and to handle increased demand. In some countries materials may have to be imported and carried long distances so that holding buffer stock is virtually essential to ensure continued production.

Plant layout

At the heart of any Robson installation is the ability to move bulk materials efficiently throughout the plant and to deliver them in the right volume, at the right place, on time. So we need to know the location of the silos related to the furnace hopper and batch plant – both the distances and height – to design the most effective handling system. Methods of delivery - bins, hoists, automated systems such as belt conveyors - as well as the rate of delivery, are vital to ensure that the correct materials are delivered at the required rate.

It is essential that the Batch Plant supplier knows from the start where the Batch building is to be located in relationship to the Furnace Hopper and if there are any restrictions in the size of the base footprint and height. The least number of restrictions, the more economical the plant.

Quality and the environment

The use of cullet is essential to the quality of most glass products and recycled and bottle bank cullet plays an important role in environmentally responsible production. However, quantity usage requirements must be specified and decisions taken on options such as an automatic cullet return system.

The supplier’s role

It is vital at the earliest stage to make sure that the Batch Plant supplier is aware of your objectives. In the case of bulk handling and storage, Robson will specify and manufacture the complete system. We would take account of the client’s preferred suppliers of specialist equipment such as motors, gearboxes and mixers when designing the system.

While Robson is able to provide a complete turnkey installation including the building and structural steelworks anywhere in the world, some clients occasionally prefer to have elements of the manufacture produced locally, requiring Robson to supply the design and detail drawings. Other services, ranging from feasibility studies and site surveys and training, can be included or excluded according to the client’s individual preferences.

As with any major capital project, close co-operation and partnership with a clear understanding from both sides on what is required will lay a firm foundation for success. The right questions with accurate and complete answers provide the vital first stage.”

Who are Robson?

Based in Sheffield, England, Geo Robson & Co (Conveyors) has developed over almost 100 years to become a leading international designer and manufacturer of industrial conveyor systems and technology. The company produces conveyors for bulk and unit loads, to handle raw and process materials in every market including glass and sugar manufacture, airports, the growing environmental sector and cement.

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