Consol Glass production site
elevator retro-fit
nyrim buckets
Bucket Elevator Upgrade

Consol Glass were experiencing continuous belt breakages and downtime due elevator repairs and maintenance. 4B came up with a revised retrofit design on the elevator components, including AD400 Nyrim buckets and high quality elevator belting. Reducing downtime and planned maintenance and saving on electricity costs.

Challenge

The customer was making use of a 3 – 4mm thick fabricated steel bucket supported with a steel fixing plate fitted with M16 bolts weighing in at 18 – 20kg each. To secure the buckets to the belt. They were experiencing continuous belt breakages and subsequent downtime due to having to do the necessary repairs and maintenance on the elevator system. It was clear that the original machine manufacturer felt that a heavier and stronger bucket would be longer lasting for this application.
They were also using a normal rubber conveyor belt instead of an elevator belt in the application, resulting in the belt stretching under the weight of the buckets.

The customer was making use of a 3 – 4mm thick fabricated steel bucket supported with a steel fixing plate fitted with M16 bolts weighing in at 18 – 20kg each. To secure the buckets to the belt. They were experiencing continuous belt breakages and subsequent downtime due to having to do the necessary repairs and maintenance on the elevator system. It was clear that the original machine manufacturer felt that a heavier and stronger bucket would be longer lasting for this application.
They were also using a normal rubber conveyor belt instead of an elevator belt in the application, resulting in the belt stretching under the weight of the buckets.

Solution

After consultation with Shane Coburn at our 4B UK office and with his help we came up with a revised retrofit design on the elevator components. The proposal suggests the following:

  • Replacing the conveyor belt with an elevator belt; as well as 
  • Replacing the fabricated steel buckets with AD400 Nyrim buckets. The existing buckets on their system weighed in at 3.250 tons whereas the Nyrim Buckets would only weigh 484Kg. Weighing 2.8 tons lighter than their existing system was a big step towards resolving the breakages and subsequent delays in manufacturing.

After consultation with Shane Coburn at our 4B UK office and with his help we came up with a revised retrofit design on the elevator components. The proposal suggests the following:

  • Replacing the conveyor belt with an elevator belt; as well as 
  • Replacing the fabricated steel buckets with AD400 Nyrim buckets. The existing buckets on their system weighed in at 3.250 tons whereas the Nyrim Buckets would only weigh 484Kg. Weighing 2.8 tons lighter than their existing system was a big step towards resolving the breakages and subsequent delays in manufacturing.
Results

Consol were very happy with the proposal, especially in light of the fact that it would reduce breakages and delays as well as power savings.

The installation down time on the old steel manufactured buckets and belt took 3 days to remove and install. In comparison our Retrofit Design took 1 day to remove the old belt and buckets and install the new belt and Nyrim Buckets.

The calculated Power Saving 12 Amp on startup no load on the new installation compared to 68 Amp start-up no load on the old installation.

  • Improved belt life
  • Reduction in downtime
  • Reduction in planned maintenance
  • Saving on electricity costs
  • Health and safety compliance.

Consol were very happy with the proposal, especially in light of the fact that it would reduce breakages and delays as well as power savings.

The installation down time on the old steel manufactured buckets and belt took 3 days to remove and install. In comparison our Retrofit Design took 1 day to remove the old belt and buckets and install the new belt and Nyrim Buckets.

The calculated Power Saving 12 Amp on startup no load on the new installation compared to 68 Amp start-up no load on the old installation.

  • Improved belt life
  • Reduction in downtime
  • Reduction in planned maintenance
  • Saving on electricity costs
  • Health and safety compliance.
Nyrim elevator bucket installed on elevator
belt clamps and Nyrim buckets on elevator belt
elevator belt with Nyrim buckets
Nyrim elevator bucket installed on elevator
belt clamps and Nyrim buckets on elevator belt
elevator belt with Nyrim buckets