The movement of traditional and newly sought solid bulk materials around the world is on the incline. With these movements being dependant on infrastructure to transport and handle the increasing tonnage, then investment in new and improved facilities is an ongoing activity. Many factors have to be considered when planning and budgeting for the type of facilities required for handling and storing a whole host of bulk materials that will give the owners and operators the flexibility of being able to accommodate diverse types of bulk solids. Issues such as tonnages, contamination, degradation and pollution to mention a few, are the factors which drive the amount or type of investments being made and considered in today’s market place.

The one aspect of handling materials that doesn’t change is the negative effect minerals or other bulk solids has on capital equipment used to convey, store or discharge it. From the first day the equipment goes into service then its life expectancy is being reduced by the effects of wear due to the volumes of materials being handled. Minerals such as coal, iron ore and pellets are traditionally seen as abrasive materials and are handled in quantities of millions of tonnes per year by loading facilities, shipping companies and import terminals alike. All suffer from the significant amount of wear that takes place during this process, therefore it is imperative to protect against these factors.

Using a combination of ceramic, metallic and polymer lining systems, Kingfisher have had overwhelming success in protecting equipment and extending the service life of plant that without intervention would have been deemed for the scrap yard. In many instances, the benefits of protecting your plant are twofold as it also allows a greater volume of material to be loaded or discharged due to the characteristics of some of the lining systems provided, thus resulting in reduced demurrage costs for port side facilities and limiting the duration self unloading vessel spend discharging.

Protecting equipment is only one service offered by Kingfisher, as we offer consultation with all interested parties in order to implement design changes where needed. In undertaking this consultation process, consideration can be given to what the future may hold with regard to volumes or types of product that may need to be catered for in the future. In the last few years alone, biomass has become a trading commodity as it is now shipped around the world from port to port and the process of handling and storage creates a whole new set of problems that if not catered for can have serious consequence on the operation. 

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