Portnet’s new BATEMAN load-out station at Richards Bay, RSA. An Elbram is pulling a train into the station with the loading chute positioned to deposit a load into the train’s first wagon.

A close-up of the BATEMAN Elbram emerging at a controlled speed from the station. Coking coal is pouring out of the chute into the train’s first wagon which is almost completely loaded. It is possible that this imported coal passed through a BATEMAN load-out station in Australia on its way to RSA.

Portnet’s new dry bulk terminal load-out station

The new BATEMAN load-out station at the Port of Richards Bay and an Elbram train mover were handed over to Portnet at a ceremony held in March 1999. On receiving the station on behalf of Portnet, Hennie Loedolff, Portnet Chief Engineer, pointed out that it was one of several major capital investments by Portnet to increase the capacity and improve the services of the port’s dry bulk terminal. He identified the effective partnership established between Portnet and Bateman Materials Handling as being a major factor in the project’s successful conclusion.

The load-out station, with its capacity of 2 500 t/h, and the Elbram train mover will reduce the waiting times of vessels at outer anchorage and, with other facilities now being installed, will increase the discharge capability at the port.

According to Bill Kerr, BATEMAN Executive Director, speaking on behalf of Bateman Materials Handling at the handover, Portnet’s load-out station is the latest of 21 units supplied since 1972 to clients in Southern Africa, Australia, United Kingdom and Israel. The BATEMAN rapid train-loading system has been progressively developed over the past three decades, each new unit featuring state-of-the-art capabilities and unique features to meet client requirements.

A specific feature of Portnet’s station is its ability to out load seven very different types of material, including coking coal, fertilisers, sulphur and potash with bulk densities ranging from 0,7 to 1,4 g/ml. When changing materials, all parts of the system in contact with the products are washed down thoroughly to minimise contamination. The station is also able to recognise and load trains composed of wagons of different sizes from 30 to 50 tonne randomly placed along the train. Its control system features a learning capability which has now been developed to a point that enables it to load trains extremely accurately, often to within kilograms of the theoretically required load.

The BATEMAN Elbram train mover, the first of three ordered by Portnet for Richard’s Bay, will ensure that trains move through the station at a controlled and constant speed to obtain the best load-out performance. These units embody years of design and operating experience on train pushers; nine such units have been built and most are still in operation.

The Elbrams’ wheel pushing force is augmented by two hydraulic rams. A special Portnet requirement is that the speed of these units is infinitely variable between 3 and 14 km/h - to handle the variety of products passing through the station. They also have a shunting capability in both directions using the wheel drive mode only. Maintenance has been greatly facilitated by the use of sliding canopies over the equipment compartments.

The BATEMAN load-out station, in combination with the Elbram, is now recognised within RSA and internationally as a leading system for the rapid out-loading of bulk materials.

For more information, please contact Ludwig du Toit, General Manager, Marketing and Sales, on +27-11-201-2300 or email bulk@batemanengineering.com

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