Bruks Siwertell secures customized air-cushion conveyor contract from US-based agri-science facility

13 Jun 2022

Bruks Siwertell has won a contract to deliver a new customized air-cushion conveying system to BASF Corporation’s Maricopa agricultural solutions facility in Bapchule, Arizona, USA. The Belt ConveyorTM will deliver significant advantages including efficient, enclosed material handling and extremely low maintenance requirements, minimizing operational costs.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. “BASF is a new customer for Bruks Siwertell, and it came to us as we have a leading reputation for air-supported conveying systems. Maricopa needed a bespoke installation for handling the transfer of very lightweight cotton seeds,” explains Pedro Alfaro, Project Development Engineer, Bruks Siwertell.

BASF Maricopa has been operational for several decades and was looking to replace its long-serving drag chain conveyor. “Our design has to integrate into the limited existing space, and the angle of material transfer required did not support a conventional conveyor installation or alternative. As a result, Bruks Siwertell will deliver a customized version of The Belt Conveyor. It will have a cleated belt and an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW) return, to accommodate the angle of repose,” continues Alfaro.

“Cotton seeds are not particularly dusty, but the system needs to be enclosed because they are so lightweight, and have static cling,” he notes. “The Belt Conveyor provided the ideal solution, delivering highly-efficient, low-friction conveying with no material degradation, preserving this delicate commodity for maximum use.”

The Belt Conveyor design for Maricopa offers a rated capacity of around 25 metric tons per hour and will efficiently form a 10m (33ft) link between one of the plant’s feeding hoppers to another, transferring the cotton seeds into the machinery that separates the fiber from the seed. The fiber is destined for use in BASF’s fiber-reinforced concrete, enhancing both the sustainability of concrete and its performance and durability. Meanwhile, the seed is sold onto farmers. 

The Belt Conveyor benefits from a modular design that can easily be shipped and constructed. The new conveyor system will be delivered towards the end of 2022 and will be assembled on site by BASF.