STORAGE

Loading bulk solids with

explosive characteristics

by Henrik Frandsen, General Sales Manager, Cimbria

imbria Bulk Equipment has serviced

the dry bulk industry for decades,
focusing on the loading and
conveying of all kinds of industrial
bulk goods. The company has
therefore gained a vast experience
within industrial bulk handling. This
experience is constantly being put
to use in developing new solutions,
which meet the demands of authorities and users for functionality,
quality and environment friendly operation. The solutions have
been developed on the basis of a product range consisting of
various types of loading chutes for open and closed loading of
dry bulk materials into e.g. trucks, rail wagons, containers, ships
and for stockpiling. The loading chutes are sold under the brand
name Moduflex.
The company has an experienced, highly qualified workforce,
its own development and construction department and
modern production facilities that enable it to construct and
manufacture all of the solutions in accordance with the individual
requirements of each client. The loading chutes can be designed
to solve all kinds of loading tasks and manufactured either as
straightforward single equipment or complete systems for large
corporate projects.
However, Cimbria Bulk Equipment is not only recognised
as a dependable supplier of various transport equipment,
the company has also managed to distinguish themselves by
being acknowledged problem solvers with the ability to create
innovative solutions where particular customer requirements are
taken in account.
Membership of the Cimbria Group of Companies means that
Cimbria Bulk Equipment can draw on the expertise of the other
group members and provide complete solutions for the clients.

Handling explosive products

Dust is an important issue when handling various bulk solids

56 | Milling and Grain

such as grain, paper, plastics, sugar, wood or other organic

material, as it is the cause of many accidents in the work place.
Not only because of the dangerous effects on the human body
working in a dust laden area can have, but also more so because
the storing and handling of these products always contains a
high explosion risk that might cause destruction of buildings
and production equipment and in worse case scenarios - loss of
human life. However, in recent years, the increased focus on dust
emission with the implementation of the ATEX directive has
proven to have a preventative effect.
The correct design of transport equipment with regards to
limiting the dust emissions is particularly important. The
demands for explosion proof equipment imply that all supplied
mechanical parts and electrical components are specially
constructed for application in equipment installed in high
explosive risk areas. All precautions taken endeavour to create
a safe working environment. Beyond the direct improvement
of the working environment by bringing down the amount
of airborne dust, bringing down the amount of airborne
dust furthermore reduces the risk of creating an explosive
atmosphere outside of the transport equipment.

Meeting ATEX demands

Through the years, Cimbria Bulk Equipment has gained a

great deal of experience when it comes to supplying loading
and conveying equipment in compliance with all international
regulations. The company has a standard working policy to
insure that the supplied equipment is in compliance with the rules
laid down in the ATEX-directive. Not only are the assembled
parts scrutinised, but also the complete working unit where all
factors including the build-up of static electricity and surface
temperatures are taken into consideration.
Key words in connection with ATEX related equipment is
approval, marking and documentation, where the manufacturers
declaration plays a key role.
As part of the approval of the Cimbria Moduflex loading chutes,

is the compilation of a comprehensive technical dossier, which

contains considerations concerning health and safety aspects
relevant to the loading chutes in relation to the ATEX-directive.

Supply of solution for loading grain product into ships

Due to the factors mentioned above, Cimbria Bulk Equipment

has already supplied several Moduflex loading chutes
manufactured for plants where dust control, hygiene and
compliance with the ATEX-directive are absolute pre-requisite
for the delivery. Cimbria Moduflexs partner in Lithuania, Firma
Liucija, has most recently placed an order for a Moduflex loading
chute of the type V650F for loading grain into ships. The loading
chute is capable of loading up to 1200 m3/h. Due to the nature of
the product the loading chute is provided with explosion proof
components in accordance with the ATEX directives. The chutes
are equipped with 36 chute modules with antistatic strips that
give the chute an extended length of approx. 25,000 mm.
To ensure dust-free outloading into ships, the chute outlet is
equipped with a heavy duty dust-skirt in order to encapsulate
the dust arising when the product is falling onto the peak of the
product pile during the loading process. Two rotating indicators,
placed in the chute outlet, signal automatically hoisting of the
loading chute as the loading proceeds.
The chute is equipped with a cardan joint i.e. a conveying
boom with the ability to pivot up and down in conjunction
with the loading scenario. The cardan joint is designed for an
operational movement between 20 and +20 and a parking
angle of 20. The purpose of the cardan joint is to keep the
loading chute in a vertical position at all times. This can both be
in the loading situation, where, due to various ship sizes or due
to large differences in tidal water, there is a need for different
heights of the loading chute position. But it is also required in
the parking situation. It is clearly necessary to keep the loading
chute in a vertical position during loading to enable the correct
flow of the product, and to keep the wear factor on the inlet and
guide cones of the loading chute to a minimum. Apart from this,

without the cardan joint there would be an increased load on

one or two of the wires, too, which could eventually result in
damage to the chute.
The order follows a series of orders for Moduflex ship and
stockpiling loading chutes all designed to meet heavy-duty
requirements in terms of capacity and durability.

Loading solution for flour, Valsemoellen, Denmark

The Danish company Valsemoellen A/S is a member of

Abdon Mills, a family-owned Scandinavian mill group, with
600 employees worldwide. Valsemoellen produces grain and
flour products for industry, catering, bakeries and retail. The
Valsemoellen in Koege, Denmark, grinds grain 365 days a year,
24 hours a day, which means that good, reliable machinery is
required. As a result, Cimbria has delivered and installed a new
plant for reception of grain.
The new plant includes chain conveyors, bucket elevators,
baffle plate weigher, sampler, magnetic separator, Delta cleaner
and new pipework with a capacity of 100 t/h.
The plant in Kge grinds wheat and rye in particular, but also
other types of grain and species such as white wheat and spelt
are processed.
In connection with the installation of the new equipment
for grain reception, the company has taken the opportunity
to replace 3 existing loading chutes with newer models, i.e. 3
Moduflex type S300TSMJ loading chutes replacing Moduflex
loading chutes from 1992.
The Moduflex loading chutes are manufactured in accordance
with EU regulation no. 1935/04, and thus meet all requirements
concerning contact with foodstuffs.
Cimbria Bulk Equipment supplies dust-free chute systems through
a network of agents in more than 30 countries around the world.
Further information on Cimbria Bulk Equipment and the Cimbria
Group of companies can be obtained by accessing www.cimbria.
com or contacting the company at moduflex@cimbria.com.
April 2015 | 57