High quality and flexibility with low energy consumption

Expansion of the conveyor system for Südzucker AG in Plattling

Scope of delivery and services

The scope of delivery and services for the project includes the expansion of the conveyor technology, consisting of two screw conveyors for silo filling and emptying, a bucket elevator, loading bellows, magnets, metal detection and various chute systems and gate valves. Existing screw conveyors were also modified. Commissioning took place in August 2024.

Location

The conveyor system is located in Plattling (Bavaria).

AMF-Bruns GmbH has been a regular supplier to SZ AG at the Plattling plant for decades. We were already a competent partner at SZ AG’s side with our conveyor technology during the construction of the current batch loading system. These conveyor systems are still running smoothly and reliably today, which is why they will continue to be part of the concept in the new project.

Südzucker AG planned the expansion of the bulk loading system for the Plattling site in order to meet the increased requirements for product safety and availability. A new bulk loading facility with two 100 t silos was added to the existing bulk loading facility. A sophisticated weighing system was to optimize loading times, guarantee sorting purity and precisely define the loading quantities. For this purpose, the sugar silos were mounted on weighing cells and the silo vehicles were weighed using a mobile, calibrated truck scale. The process was planned taking into account the current hygiene regulations and explosion protection measures for sugar.

We were also able to convince our customer of our conveyor technology in the tender and have now implemented an exciting and challenging project with SZ AG.

Task of the overall project

The feed screw of the existing sugar silos was raised and this conveyor line was extended by two additional trough screws in a cascade arrangement (piggyback). Pneumatically controlled flat slide valves were used to fill both the existing silos and the two new 100 t silos. The silos were removed from the new sugar silos via a dosing slide with subsequent changeover flap on two possible conveying routes. On the one hand, the product flow could be directed via two trough screw conveyors to the existing trough screw conveyor for rail loading, and on the other hand via a chute system to the new belt bucket elevator.

The product was removed from the existing silos via an existing screw conveyor. This was modified accordingly and equipped with a new main outlet. This also led to the new bucket elevator via a chute system. The bucket elevator conveyed the sugar to a height of approx. 27 meters. The sugar was then sieved and transported to the loading heads via a bar magnet, an all-metal detection system and a sampler unit. Here we encountered a stationary loading bellows and a loading bellows that could be moved in the axial direction of the silo vehicle.

This traversing device made it possible to compensate for the different dome distances (inlet nozzles) of the vehicle tanks. This meant that loading could take place via two loading bellows at the same time. Both loading heads could each be controlled via a flat slide. This gave the operator flexibility as to whether he wanted to fill with one or both loading heads.

The explosion protection concept of the belt bucket elevator was a particular challenge. You need to know the following: When sugar dust mixes with air to a certain concentration, an explosive mixture can form, which can lead to an explosion due to flying sparks, electrostatic charges or increased temperatures.
To prevent this, we chose an explosion suppression system for the elevator conveyor. The system prevented the propagation of an explosion to other parts of the system by means of explosion decoupling in the inlet and outlet chutes and in the shafts of the bucket elevator. Suppression with extinguishing agent units in the head and foot area of the bucket elevator prevented an incipient explosion. The system used pressure sensors to detect a critical pressure increase in the millibar range.

Our team was already on site at the Plattling plant in January for an inventory and detailed discussion. Here, we captured the current situation with a 3D scan and used this data as the basis for our 3D planning. We were already able to complete the engineering here.

The systems were installed in August 2024 and then put into operation.

Your contact person

Do you have any questions about our products for the sugar industry, or do you need help designing a new conveyor system? Simply contact us – our experts will be happy to help you personally!

Ansprechpartner Fördertechnik für die Zuckerindustrie.
Your contact

Dennis von Horn

I am happy to answer any questions you may have about our conveyor solutions for the sugar industry.

I am happy to answer any questions you may have about our conveyor solutions for the sugar industry. Feel free to contact me!

Contact information
+49 (0) 4489 72-7225
dennis.vonhorn@amf-bruns.de