MechChem Africa August 2019

⎪ Materials handling ⎪

L eading transfer point specialist, Weba Chute Systems, and con- veyor belt spillage control equipment expert, Brelko Conveyor Products, have worked together informally for over 20 years. According to Mark Baller, managing director of Weba Chute Systems, the companieswill nowformalise this partnershipbypromoting each other’s complementary products worldwide. “There is close synergy between our product ranges, so our col- laboration adds considerable value for the customer,” Baller says. “As importantly, our companies share the same commitment to customising solutions to customers’ challenges.” With their decades of experience andextensive technical capability in product designandmanufacture, the companies have aligned their offer- ings for the best impact. This was recently demonstrated in a project to improveplantperformanceataGautengbeveragemanufacturingfacility. JacquesMarais, service areamanager for BrelkoConveyor Products, says that the plant was experiencing excessive spillage of hops from conveyors, as well as chute blockages. This caused costly downtime and meant the plant could not achieve its production targets. “Working with Weba Chute Systems and leveraging our range of solutions for trouble-freematerial flow, wewere able toprovide afit-for- purpose solution that countered all the challenges being experienced,” he says. The solution included the installation of Brelko belt scrapers, chute sealing systems (Keyskirt®), impact systems and feedboots on the locally manufacturedWeba transfer systems. Baller adds that Weba Chute Systems’ knowledge of the Brelko products allowed the company to engineer chutes with precise cut- outs and bracket positioning. This facilitates quicker installation, and it is envisaged that the material handling system installed at the plant will achieve performance expectations and continue to provide a cost- effective solution. “ We b a C h u t e Two proudly South African companies are showing the power of collaboration by delivering an innovative fit-for-purpose materials handling solution to overcome material flow challenges in a beverage plant. Market benefits from stronger Weba - Brelko link

Systems’ in-depth scientific understand- ing of efficient mate- rial flow allows us to design solutions for various industries,” Baller says. “While our chutes in themin- ing sector can weigh up to 50 tonnes each, we were also able to design and produce 300 kg chutes for this beverage plant ap- plication.” q Weba Chute Systems and Brelko Conveyor Products worked together to provide a fit-for-purpose materials handling solution at a beverage plant.

August 2019 • MechChem Africa ¦ 23