STUFF IS ON THE MOVE ALL OF THE TIME and will be happening even if you aren’t aware of it.
Boxes and paperwork are moved from location to location, liquids are transferred between vessels or reservoirs, powders and granules move from hopper to process, minerals are transferred long distances along conveyors. The examples go on.
The important factors are that all of these move safely and with minimal damage to the product, which is where expertise in materials handling is essential.
MATERIALS HANDLING SECTOR Challenges / Opportunities
Many materials remain stable in a wide variety of environments, making them easier to handle and store. Many others are more volatile, fragile or reactive, and this makes them a challenge to find the safest, most reliable way to manage transition and storage for use in process plants and onward transfer.
THESE CHALLENGES CAN INCLUDE
Dust
Breakdown
Evaporation
Fire and explosion risk
Mechanical handling damage
Fumes and toxic vapours
Clogging, binding and interlocking
The behaviour of a product in one form is not necessarily going to be the same as a different product of similar form.
This requires a sound understanding of which methods of handling might be suitable.
OUR EXPERIENCE in the Materials Handling sector
MAT Ltd have worked with many products in transit and in-process, from packaged confectionery to fine powders, and from water to volatile gases.
Most chemical and food processes require raw materials, intermediate waste and final products to be conveyed between stages and we form an understanding of the behaviour, hazards and maintainability through the full range of normal and abnormal circumstances to ensure that the best handling solution or system is found to maximise uptime.
METHODICAL APPROACH to engineering
Our methodical approach to engineering, hazard and risk assessment, functional and operational safety ensures we highlight any potential issues and provide suitable engineering solutions to reduce the potential of them from happening.
MAT Ltd have many years of experience of understanding new and modifying processes, how product changes within a plant, and how to deal with hazardous conditions and risk management in the design.
We have had involvement on many projects to move materials, across many market sectors including:
Limestone aggregate
Wood pellet
Carbon black
Waste wood chippings
Shredded floc
Cocoa liquor
Milk
Municipal wastewater
Sludge
Boxed and unwrapped confectionery
Coal
Many of these products have also given rise to hazards during handling such as:
Dust explosion
Self-ignition
Excessive wear
Bacterial build-up
Odour
Toxic emissions
Which we have had to take into account as part of the solution identification
MATERIAL HANDLING PROCESSES How MATL can help you
From early stages of a concept, MAT Ltd works in collaboration with you as the client to investigate the feasible options to enable a robust evaluation of what may be the best option. Because you are the expert in your product, we come with an open mind, but with a broad knowledge bank and access to a wide range of supporting specialist associates who add value to the discussion where needed.
Our background in controls and automation uniquely allows us to understand multiple processes and bring modules together into an interrelated and functional system. We are experienced in Design and Build so we include a focus on the practicality of construction and putting into service so, as an operator, you have a smooth transition to a working and optimised plant.
Case study - Industry Focus
Materials Handling
MAT Ltd have always been involved in moving product and materials both in-plant and through-process. With the focus on sustainability ever present, more efficient methods are being sought, including the increased use of biomass as a commercial and industrial fuel source.
CONSULTANCY SERVICES
ENGINEERING SERVICES
TRAINING AND DOCUMENTATION
RECENT MATL PROJECTS in the Materials Handling Sector
CONTACT US
We are keen to help you find the right design and engineering solution for your process requirements.
Our engineering specialists will work with you to identify the best engineering process,
design the most robust solutions.