Customer connections strengthened through specialist events

Some of the most valuable platforms for networking between customers, representatives and experts are industry trade events, exhibitions and conferences. As well as building and strengthening relationships, they also offer a dynamic means for a company to address specific messages for particular markets.

Over the last few years, connections have been maintained and forged predominantly through the surge in online events. Face-to-face contact, however, has never lost its importance, and now that this is more possible, Bruks Siwertell has taken advantage. 

Highlighting this is a recent one day event, Bulk Day, held on May 19, 2022, in Rosario, Argentina. Attended by around 30 invited participants, Bulk Day was hosted by Patrik Henryson, Sales Manager, Bruks Siwertell, along with Bruks Siwertell representatives, Julian Luna from South Point Engineering, Argentina, and Leonardo Lemgruber from Brazil. 

Regional expertise on offer

“The event was a great way to reach out to customers and really focus on what we can offer this broad market,” says Patrik Henryson, Sales Manager, Bruks Siwertell. “It was also good to be able to take advantage of regional expertise and connections, such as lively and informative presentations featuring just some of our very successful Siwertell installations, including those operating in Brazil.”

Brazil provides an excellent example of Bruks Siwertell’s grain handling performance. Siwertell installations in the country regularly operate up to 4,000 hours/year handling grain, soya bean and soya meal. These systems work under very high use conditions and meet extremely tight seasonal schedules.

Lemgruber highlighted these examples, and explained that in this region, many customers are dependent on their Siwertell screw-type ship unloaders being able to handle one year’s full intake of grain. Several customers do not have any other equipment to unload incoming material. He also noted that planned maintenance stops were critical to the success of these operations.

Like Brazil, Argentina is also a significant agricultural hub, and ranks as one of the top five wheat producers and exporters in the world. The South American country exports over half of the crops that it produces, and in addition to wheat, these include soya beans, corn, barley, rice, flax seed, sugarcane, and cotton.

Solutions tailored to needs

“Globally, around 450 dry bulk terminals have a Siwertell solution installed, handling about 50 different dry bulk materials,” notes Henryson. “Our presentations enabled us to share this information and discuss how our extensive portfolio of equipment and expertise meets customer needs, and how it can be tailored to suit different operational requirements.

“For example, Siwertell screw-type ship unloaders can discharge grain and other agri-bulk commodities from vessels up to 230,00dwt at rated capacities up to 1,800t/h, and loaders deliver the market’s highest continuous rated capacities, which are in excess of 3,000t/h. For other dry bulk materials, unloading rates can be as high as 3,000t/h and loading up to 12,000t/h for iron ore, discharging vessels up to 300,000 dwt,” he highlights. 

Quick investment paybacks

Henryson took the opportunity to highlight alumina unloading as a case study. He noted that a terminal with an annual intake of around a million metric tons could lose up to 1.57 percent in spillage from open grab-type unloading a year. With alumina standing at around USD 400/t, the terminal could save over USD 6 million in a year by switching to enclosed Siwertell ship unloading technology and achieve an investment payback in nine months.

He went on to explain how Siwertell ship unloaders maintain their continuous discharge efficiency, drawing in material from below the cargo surface, minimizing any dust emissions from cargo avalanches, and the need for payloaders during final clean-up.

Further to ship unloaders, loaders, and complete terminal solutions, including fully automated stacking and reclaiming systems, Henryson discussed screw, belt and aeroslide conveying systems. He also highlighted pressurized air-cushion conveying systems such as the TubulatorTM and The Belt ConveyorTM. These deliver some distinct advantages in terms of minimized operating and maintenance costs, and material degradation; especially important for grain and alumina handlers. 

“Following all our presentations, we engaged in lively discussions about specific case studies and equipment capabilities, we even received several inquiries, including further interest in our air-cushion conveyors,” Henryson notes. “I could not have asked for more; it was great!”

Bruks Siwertell initially plans to run this event every other year, providing a platform for technological discussions and enabling all parties to strengthen their connections.