Siwertell ship unloader ordered for high-capacity salt handling in India 

30 Apr 2025

Bruks Siwertell has secured an order from Reliance Industries Limited, India, for a high-capacity Siwertell 640 M-type ship unloader. The unit will be installed at Dahej in Gujarat and will offer efficient, environment-friendly salt handling for India’s largest integrated petrochemical producer. 

“Reliance is a new customer for us, and has extremely high expectations not only for the technology, but for what it will deliver to its Dahej operations,” says Jan Karlsson, Sales Director, Bruks Siwertell. 

Salt is a critical raw material in the production of chlorine, a key ingredient in plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonates, polyurethanes, and epoxy resins. However, handling salt presents unique challenges due to its corrosive nature and tendency for compaction in the ship’s hold. This typically results in additional wear-and-tear to dry bulk material handling, transportation and storage systems.

“We have extensive experience in salt handling and have developed our Siwertell technology to overcome these challenges,” Karlsson explains. “For example, salt handling Siwertell ship unloaders are fitted with an optimized inlet feeder able to manage the corrosive properties of salt, and the significant digging forces needed to discharge it from the hold at high capacities.”

The low weight and compact footprint of the new high-capacity Siwertell 640 M-type ship unloader means that it can be easily accommodated onto the operator’s existing jetty. Furthermore, its high capacity ensures the rapid discharge of salt from barges.

“We are used to meeting specific operational needs,” Karlsson notes. “The Siwertell 640 M-type model can comfortably handle the annual salt intake volumes and accommodate high tidal fluctuations with an efficient through-ship operation. It is also very reliable, and has a totally enclosed screw-conveyor system, which minimizes any environmental impact from spillage or dust emissions.”

The Siwertell unloader is planned as a break bulk delivery and will be assembled and commissioned onsite.