Solution offered for dust free bulk materials handling

15th May 2015 By: Kimberley Smuts - Creamer Media Reporter

Solution offered for dust free bulk materials handling

HANDLING EQUIPMENT EXPANDS BLT SA is the exclusive distributors for Samson in sub-Saharan Africa – including its Eco-hoppers – offering a technical advisory, parts and maintenance service.

Environmental pollution caused by fugitive dust, is a major challenge in dry bulk handling, therefore, equipment manufacturer Samson’s Eco-hoppers are fitted with a dust control system that reduces the escape of dust during the grab-discharge cycle.

Container-handling equipment and shipping support services provider BLT SA is the exclusive distributors for Samson in sub-Saharan Africa – including its Eco-hoppers – offering a technical advisory, parts and maintenance service.

BLT SA marketing director Charity Gumede states: “Samson Eco-hoppers, which are suitable for release by ship-mounted or shore-side grab cranes, are designed to suit the characteristics and flow properties of virtually any bulk material, including coal, iron-ore, gypsum, copper concentrates, soda ash and wood chips.

“These robust grab unloading hoppers offer handling rates to 5 000 t/h, depending on grab crane performance,” she adds.


In addition, the hoppers have an upper and lower section, separated by a dust absorption feature, the ‘Flex-Flap’. This divider, which comprises a series of pressed steel sections and vertical rubber flaps, opens to allow the free flow of material into the hopper and closes to prevent the flow of air out of the hopper.

The Flex-Flap feature reduces the volume of exhausted air necessary to control fugitive dust and requires the use of small, compact filters rather than a large de-dusting system.

The standard Samson Eco-hopper series includes circular hoppers, which are designed to accommodate grab capacities of between 1 m³ and 37 m³. Each hopper size has a corresponding high or low-level framework, depending on the chosen discharge option.

The Eco-hoppers can be rail mounted or bolted to suitable concrete foundations. For applications requiring a higher level of manoeuvrability, hoppers can be supported on solid rubber filled pneumatic tyres. The combination of fixed and steering axles provides the option of power travel, both parallel and at right angles to the quay.

This low maintenance system reduces investment and operating costs and custom designed hopper solutions that suit specific application requirements are also available, BLT SA notes.

The Samson range of bulk handling equipment also includes link conveyors, grab hoppers, surface feeders, radial boom stackers and mobile shiploaders.