In 2019 Bruks Siwertell delivered a fully assembled 1,200 ton per hour ship unloader in Veracruz, Mexico. Now in 2021, in a semi-post pandemic world, Gramosa has commissioned and is operating a Siwertell ST 640-M ship unloader, capable of handling 1,200 tons per hour of grains; it is capable of unloading ships upwards of 80,000 dead weight tons.
About the Companies Involved
Mechanical vs. Pneumatic Ship Unloader
Equipment Used in the Installation
About Bruks Siwertell and Gramosa
Bruks Siwertell is a new super power in the bulk solids handling world. Bruks Group and Siwertell AB merged in 2018, forming the aptly named Bruks Siwertell Group. Bruks provided industry leading technology and expertise in loading ships with bulk solids. Siwertell brought the supply chain full circle with its globally recognized ship loading equipment. Between the two parties, Bruks Siwertell is now the global leader in port technology, covering both ship loading and unloading within one entity.
Gramosa Group is a company dedicated to innovation and growth in the bulk agriculture industry. Puertos Especializados Transnacionales (PETRA) is a subsidiary of Gramosa Group and is operating the ship unloader. PETRA has infrastructure for bulk solids handling at the port of Veracruz, Mexico. With the commissioning of their new ship unloader they are now able to unload equipment, store product in silos, and load into rail. At this port, PETRA is mainly handling corn, soya meal, dried distillers grains, and canola seeds.
The Choice Between Mechanical and Pneumatic Ship Unloaders
The Siwertell ship unloader was ordered in 2018, but the order did not come without due diligence. During an extensive evaluation, PETRA spent 4 months comparing and contrasting 1x 1,200 t/h Siwertell Unloader vs 2x 600t/h Pneumatic Ship Unloaders. The feasibility study centered around a few key features of each competitor: Upfront Cost, Operating Cost, Through-ship Efficiency, and Product Integrity.
The investment and operating savings with Siwertell’s mechanical ship unloader was significant enough for Gramosa (the capital group behind PETRA) to move forward with testing efficiency and product integrity.
One of the important factors while building and specing port equipment is berth occupancy. Berth occupancy is a measure of how long a vessel occupies the “parking spot” or berth. A competitive edge the Siwertell unloader had over competition was its ability to reduce berth occupancy.
Product integrity is an essential part of any bulk handling operation regardless of size. When handling grains, there is always some product that will break apart. Broken grains are often off-spec and discarded as waste. Therefore, having a piece of equipment that minimizes breakage will inevitably have a competitive edge over competing equipment. The Siwertell ST 640-M uses a unique screw design that offers steady conveying velocity and minimal product collision. Ultimately, this achieves minimal chance of breakage.
With all these factors considered, Gramosa selected Bruks Siwertell as deserving of the contract. Today the new owners are pleased with their equipment. The ship unloader installed in Veracruz, Mexico can outperform downstream equipment and fosters growth in the port.
Equipment Used in the Installation
ST 640-M
1,200 Tons per Hour
Vessels up to 80,000 DWT
Rail Mounted
Handling Corn, Soya Meal, Canola Seeds, and Dried Distillers Grains
Totally Enclosed and Dust-free
Ordered in 2018, the Siwertell ST 640-M was delivered fully assembled and ready for installation in 2019. This is a quick turn-around for such a large piece of equipment. Today the ship unloader has been mounted on rails, operators have been trained, and it is in full operation. PETRA has been more than pleased with initial performance testing and are expecting it to be a long-lived staple of their operation.
For more information regarding this installation, please visit: https://www.bruks-siwertell.com/news/bruks-siwertell-commissions-new-grain-handling-ship-unloader-mexico
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