News in brief

NEWSIN BRIEF

Coronavirus: health and safety comes first

Bruks Siwertell is monitoring the development of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) situation closely, which includes strictly following World Health Organization (WHO) guidance across all business units.

“The most important thing right now is everyone’s health,” says Peter Jonsson, CEO, Bruks Siwertell Group. “Our role is to help critical bulk handling and wood processing industries remain operational and we are finding ways to support everyone. “Together, we are developing solutions that both protect each other, and keep businesses up and running at levels as close to normal as we can. This is made possible by our incredibly dedicated employees, and we thank them and our customers and partners for their understanding and continued cooperation during these challenging times.

“This is a changing situation and we are continuously updating our response; adapting operations and services to the challenges of the current situation, so that we can continue to meet our customers’ needs and maintain the supply of our products and services,” he continues. “So far, we have not experienced any major delays to our services or deliveries, and we are doing everything in our power to maintain this. However, we cannot rule out that the current situation may impact our business in the future.

“I feel confident that we will be able to handle the challenges that COVID-19 brings in a cautious and professional way, and maintain our commitment as a responsible, caring and committed employer and supplier,” says Mr Jonsson. “Our thoughts are with those directly affected by the virus.”

LIMITING RISKS AND OPERATIONAL IMPACT

Bruks Siwertell is taking all necessary measures to help limit the spread and impact of COVID-19 across its operations. The health and safety of employees, customers and partners remains its number one priority, and it is working hard to ensure that any risks are minimized. In accordance with WHO guidance, Bruks Siwertell is undertaking various preventative and protective measures:

We are asking that no one enters any Bruks Siwertell premises if they have been in contact with someone who may have been exposed to the coronavirus, or are themselves experiencing even mild cold or flu symptoms. This applies to Bruks Siwertell employees, customers and partners in all countries worldwide. We are carrying out our service support remotely through live video links, emails and phone calls whenever we cannot visit customers face-to-face. We have implemented precautionary travel restrictions. This also includes recommending that everyone at Bruks Siwertell is to avoid any non-business travel. We continue to promote rigorous personal hygiene practices and increased deep-cleaning routines in our manufacturing locations and offices. We promote ‘social distancing’ and ask that all close personal interactions are limited, along with the number of personnel in any common workspace. To limit exposure levels, wherever possible, we have made appropriate work arrangements and encourage employees to work from home.

Quezon specifies enclosed Siwertell ship unloader for new power plant

Quezon Power Ltd Co, based in the Philippines, has ordered a high-capacity Siwertell screw-type continuous ship unloader to serve the country’s first supercritical power station.

“Excellent environmental performance was a top priority,” says Ola Jeppsson, Sales Manager, Bruks Siwertell. “The Siwertell screw-type ship unloader is the most efficient and environment-friendly type of unloader on the market. Quezon is very focused on its environmental responsibility and our totally enclosed material handling technology is likely to have influenced its decision.”

The San Buenaventura power plant is a new 500 MW coalfired facility located in Mauban and is being built adjacent to an existing Quezon power plant. Both the new and the old plant will share the coal import jetty, which is expected to double in intake to around three million metric tons of coal a year.

The jetty is already served by a rail-travelling Siwertell ST 790 D-type unloader, which has been in operation for more than 20 years.

Several rail-mounted Siwertell 940 D-type unloaders already serve Taiwan Power Corporation facilities

Taiwan Power Corporation returns for repeat ship unloader contract

Taiwan Power Corporation has specified a high-capacity coal unloader for its 5,000 MW Taichung power-generation facility. A condition of the contract is that the Siwertell screw-type ship unloader will be delivered completely assembled by February 2022.

Quezon’s new ship unloader will join an existing rail-travelling Siwertell unit, which has served the company for over 20 years

“Quezon is very satisfied with its existing unloader,” adds Mr Jeppsson. “We have worked with the company for a number of years. It has an excellent maintenance team, which means its old Siwertell is one of the most well-maintained ‘Siwertells’ in the world.”

Like its existing counterpart, which was delivered in 1998, the new rail-travelling Siwertell ST 790 D-type unloader will have a continuous rated capacity of 1,400t/h and will be able to discharge vessels up to Panamax size. It is scheduled to be delivered, fully assembled via heavy-lift ship, to the site in early 2022.

“The delivery timescale was one consideration for the order, the others were that the unloader had to compete on three platforms: price, power consumption and operational costs,” says Per Karlsson, Siwertell President. “In an open, international bidding process, the equipment that offered the lowest total cost, across all three factors, was awarded the contract; and that was us. The Siwertell ship unloader excelled in all areas.”

The rail-travelling Siwertell 940 D-type unloader will have a rated coal-handling capacity of 2,200t/h, with a guaranteed average capacity of 1,650t/h, equivalent to 75 percent efficiency. It will replace two existing coal grab crane unloaders and will be delivered by heavy-lift ship.

“Taiwan Power Corporation knows what to expect from a Siwertell unloader,” Mr Karlsson adds. “This is a returning customer with the first two units sold to the operator in 1982. After this we delivered two unloaders to its Hsinta power plant and then a further two to the Talin power station, both in Taiwan.”

The Hsinta and Talin power stations also operate Siwertell 940 D-type unloaders, putting Taiwan Power Corporation at an advantage when it comes to servicing and parts.