Problem
The pulp and paper plant was having trouble with fugitive material accumulating on the structure, catwalk, and the ground from their current transfer point blowing wood dust out of the end. Air velocity readings were also reporting less than desirable readings of 1400 CFM. Among these issues, the biggest problem was dust and spillage.
The release of airborne dust can cause health concerns and create negative attention from regulatory agencies. Any material that spills off the conveyor is a loss - loss in material, profit, and efficiency. The spillage also creates the need for manual cleanup which takes man-hours and is a dangerous task - putting workers in harm's way. Handling around 1,730,000 tons of material per year, the plant could not afford to deal with inefficient operations.
Solution
The plant was currently using an on-site contractor that did not specialize in transfer point work. They also had slider beds fabricated but they did not properly address the belt support problem. After inspecting the current system for opportunities for improvement, Martin recommended installing belt support and belt sealing systems to help keep material on the belt. Martin supplied external wear liner, Martin® ApronSeal™ Double Skirting, impact and non-impact Martin® Trac-Mount™ Idlers, chute walls, multiple dust curtains, and a tail sealing box. One of the final upgrades Martin made was installing an all-new standard transfer point.
Results
The plant is pleased with its recent improvements. Air velocity ratings at the exit of the new zone now produce results at 110 CFM. According to plant personnel, "you could barely feel any air coming out of the end. Martin sealed up the entire load zone, preventing any spillage and there is no more dusting present at all."
In a recent follow-up visit, the plant confirmed that the new transfer point system and other upgrades successfully resolved all of their issues.
