7 February 2012
First stage of the Spenner Zement – Erwitte – automation and laboratory project initiated
During the second half of 2011, Spenner Zement awarded a contract to FLSmidth for the first stage of an expansion project comprising engineering and supply of a fully automatic sampling and pneumatic tube conveyor system as well as a laboratory system. The order is being handled by FLSmidth's office in Wuppertal, Germany, which is also the sample processing technology centre of FLSmidth for cement applications.
“FLSmidth was a natural choice based on a favourable cost-benefit analysis as well as their references in the industry,” says Dr. Heinrich Sievers, production and project manager at Spenner Zement – Erwitte. Spenner Zement visited both Copenhagen and Wuppertal in the selection process in order to evaluate both hardware and software solutions. “For Spenner Zement it is important that the solutions we choose are reliable, robust and a proven technology that has technical advantages over the competition,” adds Mr. Winfried Neufert, Laboratory Manager, Spenner Zement.
Delivery and initial start-up of the system is planned for autumn 2012 (when the new laboratory building is ready). In the medium term an extension of the pneumatic tube conveyor system to handle nine more production areas is planned.
Figure 1. Signing the contract – from left Mr. Winfried Neufert, Laboratory Manager, Spenner Zement – Erwitte, Dr. Heinrich Sievers, Production and Project Manager, Spenner Zement – Erwitte, and Mr. Wolfgang Weber, Regional Sales Manager, FLSmidth Wuppertal.
The project will be the first German automated lab to be running on the version 8 QCX® .net software platform from FLSmidth, providing an even stronger platform for future expansion. The QCX system will control all steps from fully automatic sampling and pneumatic tube conveyor system as well as the laboratory system. Specifically, the 1st expansion stage includes the following FLSmidth solutions:
- Automatic sampling and pneumatic tube conveyor system for raw meal and one common semi-automatic pneumatic tube conveyor line (with eight-section carrier store) for kiln feed, hot meal and clinker
- A QCX/RoboLab® fully automatic laboratory system based on latest QCX® version 8 software and LIMS sample database
- Automatic dispatch and delivery station
- Dosing and sample transfer unit
- Two QCX/Centaurus™ sample preparation machines (with press, vibration disc mill including water cooling, dosing unit, tablet test unit and ring cleaner)
- Cup-cleaning station and balance
- TTR input and output magazine for cups (individual samples), rings and container for bulk samples
- Conveyor belts for the connection to the analyzers (XRF and XRD)
- Dedusting system and safety enclosure
- Remote maintenance system
Figure 2. Assembly plan for laboratory system.
Figure 3. Assembly plan for sampling/pneumatic tube conveyor/laboratory system.
As this is a minor order, it has not been reported to the stock exchange and financial market.
To find out more about automated laboratories, please visit www.flsmidth.com/sampling