For the transport of bulk goods in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), H+H Herrmann + Hieber developed and supplied a fully automatic transport and metering system which includes a three-axis automatic crane as its central component.
IBCs are versatile transport systems for liquids, pastes, powdered bulk goods and much more. Designed to suit the application, IBCs have become established in numerous sectors.
Their advantages – simple filling and emptying, optimum use of space by stacking, etc. – are set against the disadvantage that nowadays they are almost without exception transported by means of ground-level transport trucks.
H+H Herrmann + Hieber has now demonstrated that the transport of IBCs can be automated, in a project in which bulk goods are transported fully automatically between various processing stations – in this special case, even between a number of different floor levels.
Besides ground-level conveyors and lifting equipment, H+H Herrmann + Hieber installed, as the most important component of the system, a three-axis automatic crane. A special feature of this unit is its load uptake system: owing to the container shape and the handling required for it, a considerable tilting torque has to be withstood. For this, a special mechanical fixing device designed specifically for the purpose had to be developed.
With this project H+H has proved that automatic crane transport systems can be installed for IBCs. The overall operation benefits from this in many respects. Besides the substantially greater transport capacity compared with floor-level truck systems, this type of automatic operation is characterised by less need for space, the avoidance of damage and, above all, lower transport costs (for personnel, conveyor means). The bottom line is that such transport automation promises an exceptionally favourable Return Of Investment (ROI).