Tarmac conveyor drives keep sands flowing 22 October 2010

A bespoke engineering solution from maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) specialist Brammer is helping to reduce costs and the risk of downtime at Europe's largest processing marine sand and gravel plant.

Plant managers at Tarmac Quarrying Materials' facility at Greenwich Wharf – which receives around 20 ships per month bringing in 60—70,000 tonnes of marine dredged ballast – were concerned about the life expectancy of motors and gearboxes driving its main inlet conveyor.

Steve Wallis, zone manager London East for Tarmac, explains that the equipment was several years old and beginning to show signs of heavy wear.

Brammer found that the site's existing drive products were obsolete but, due to the requirement to minimise downtime, refurbishment was not an option.

Instead, it proposed a new drive assembly that could be commissioned fast – comprising Flender FZG helical bevel gearboxes fitted with 160kW Siemens motors and Siemens Fludex fluid couplings with Siemens output gear couplings.

Brammer also arranged the design and manufacture of new base plates, with a ceramic lagged head drum, as well as removal of the old equipment, and fitting and commissioning of the new plant.

Wallis confirms that the line is now fully operational, with the risk of downtime vastly reduced – saving an estimated £10,000 per annum.

"Brammer were able to deliver a solution which not only minimised downtime during installation but has reduced that risk in the long term," comments Wallis.

Brian Tinham

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Brammer UK

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