Aggregate Supplier – Multiconductor
Replacing the conductor system for the operator of Europes biggest limestone quarry.
Project Description
Operators of one of the biggest limestone quarries in Europe have the capability to produce up to 8 million Tonnes of Limestone aggregate per year. The majority of this stone is transported by rail to destinations across the UK via purpose built branch lines to the main rail network. Much of the aggregate is transported via conveyor to a ‘Tripper Car’ where it is loaded into train trucks – so a fully functioning Tripper Car is crucial to the business.
Power to the tripper car was provided by an ageing ‘open conductor’ style conductor bar which was regularly failing due to the sprung ‘pantograph style’ collectors slipping from the conductor along with general dirt and dust build up on the open conductors themselves.
Industry
Aggregate supplier
Location
United Kingdom
Products Supplied
AKAPP Multiconductor Continuous Copper Conductor System
Solution
Power to the tripper car was provided by an ageing ‘open conductor’ style conductor bar which was regularly failing due to the sprung ‘pantograph style’ collectors slipping from the conductor along with general dirt and dust build-up on the open conductors themselves.
Metreel was asked to provide a reliable replacement for this system. Originally the client asked if a cable reel system could be utilised but, at some 276m travel, this would not have been suitable and may also have been subject to reliability issues due to the dusty environment and UK climate.
Metreel advised that the best option here would be to replace the conductor system with centre fed AKAPP Multiconductor® – an enclosed track conductor bar system utilising a collector trolley running inside the conductor bar housing. The AKAPP Multiconductor® system, being at waist level was supplied with a finger safe extension for safety along with rubber strips to further prevent any dust entering the conductor housing.
Metreel supplied and successfully installed the conductor system over a shutdown period during a Bank Holiday weekend to minimise disruption to production.
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