Ship unloader - USA

Siwertell cement unloader expands market for US operator 

A Siwertell screw-type ship unloader installed in Houston, Texas, USA, as far upstream the Buffalo Bayou as ocean-going vessels can go, is fulfilling its potential to expand market opportunities for its owners. The operator switched from bagged to bulk deliveries, maintaining its dust-free operations with a totally enclosed unloader.

Customer need 

Privately-operated, undisclosed company, is a leading US supplier of cement and building materials products. Headquartered in Houston, the company supplies cement locally and to states including Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arkansas. 

Wishing to expand its market-share, the operator built a new cement import terminal in Houston, switching from majority bagged imports to bulk. The new terminal required an efficient, dust-free ship unloading system that was capable of securing the company’s ambitious plans for growth.

As part of the terminal’s construction, the old quay had to be repaired, and to keep renovation costs as low as possible, any ship unloading system had to be low in weight to reduce any necessary reinforcement work because of increased loads.  

Our solution

Siwertell unloaders offer a well-proven, cost-effective solution for cement unloading, and in 2018, the operator ordered a ST 640-M screw-type unit, which was delivered according to schedule. Bruks Siwertell also supplied 1.6m-wide jetty conveyors, with a belt length of 192m, which were delivered in mid-2019 and party assembled in line with the operator’s requirements. Following the completion of the terminal’s construction, the unloader and conveyors were installed and then commissioned in September 2020, and operator training conducted.

The new rail-mounted unloader offers continuous dust-free cement handling a rated capacity of 1,500t/h, with a peak capacity of 1,650t/h, discharging vessels up to 80,000 dwt.

The Siwertell unloader has proved to be an ideal choice for this terminal. It not only offers dust and spillage-free cement handling, which protects the environment; but has high through-ship efficiency, as well being light enough to minimize quay renovation costs.