Interbulk Drives Forward Progress In The Cement Industry
With over 30 years experience, InterBulk Group provides efficient and cost effective logistical solutions for the transportation of bulk commodities. The cement industry holds various opportunities to take advantage of intermodal transport across a range of materials including cement, ash, slag cement and a number of cement additives.
InterBulk’s innovative ISO-Veyor tankcontainer is ideal for the transportation of additives such as Ferrous Sulphate — an essential dry powder used in the cement making process. Since 2006, InterBulk has been transporting large quantities of the chemical reducing agent from Norway and Germany to various Cement Works in the UK and Ireland for several of the major cement producers.
Developed through InBulk Technologies — the ISO-Veyor unit allows dry bulk materials to be moved as resourcefully and economically as possible.
Handled just like a standard ISO container, the ISO-Veyor is constructed within the frame dimensions of either 20 or 30 ft and consists of a cylindrical vessel with either a 25 m3 or 34 m3 capacity.
They are the perfect logistical solution for products such as Ferrous Sulphate, as they can utilise skeletal trailers or intermodal rail wagons which are readily available throughout Europe.
With an ISO-Veyor, you can make use of container ships, road haulage and rail transportation without the need for multiple handling or expensive storage. By making use of rail networks throughout Europe, the units also help to alleviate the heavy road congestion which prevails throughout the continent. From an environmental point of view, ISO-Veyor’s make sense — utilising existing transportation methods as much as possible.
If that wasn’t enough, ISO-Veyor units are also the perfect choice when handling difficult materials. For example, Ferrous Sulphate is used in the cement manufacturing process as it helps to reduce harmful levels of hexavalent chromium. Adding a reducing agent has been part of European Law since 2005. This is because hexavalent chromium can cause skin dermatitis in those who repeatedly come into contact with wet cement.
Ferrous Sulphate itself is difficult to handle and store. The dry powder is an irritant which can damage skin and eyes and is also harmful when inhaled. When exposed to the elements, the hygroscopic material easily absorbs moisture from the environment. Not only that, it has a low melting point of just 64 degrees Celcius and forms into an acid when in contact with water.
A material with unpredictable properties such as Ferrous Sulphate has to be transported like any other chemical. An ISO-Veyor unit can be filled at source and then remain sealed until the point of delivery. With this method, there is no need for intermediate handling or costly storage. And as the product is continually sealed, the risk of cross contamination and environmental damage is dramatically reduced.
During the entire journey, the product is never handled until it is ready to be safely added to the cement making process. The Ferrous Sulphate remains moisture-free during the shipment process with no hint of contamination which can happen through multiple handling.
If the customer wants to store the product, ISO-Veyor units can also be left and collected as and when they are required at existing infrastructures such as railheads and ports. They can even be stacked up to nine units high, making them the ideal choice for on-site storage. At every stage of transportation, the ISO-Veyor puts the customer in control — letting them decide where and when they want the product and in what quantities.
When products such as Ferrous Sulphate need to be discharged from an ISO-Veyor unit, all that is required is an air supply and a discharge pipe — much like a standard road tanker.
At no point does the tankcontainer need to be tipped as discharge takes place while the unit stays horizontal. The simple system means that the contents of the ISO-Veyor unit can be conveyed at a distance of up to 100 metres. The unit can also be moved around with minimum fuss and disruption as and when it is required.
Today InterBulk successfully transports Ferrous Sulphate across Europe making use of existing intermodal infrastructures every step of the way.
Utilising container ships, road haulage and rail networks, InterBulk’s ISO-Veyor tankcontainers are one of the most cost efficient and environmentally friendly ways to transport dry bulk materials long distance.
Coupled with the unit’s ability to be filled at source and left untouched until the point of discharge, the ISO-Veyor is the perfect partner to have in logistics. By opting for logistical solutions such as the ISO-Veyor, which offers efficient and effective transportation, the cement industry really does have a lot to gain.