Environmental protection has been central to the design of New
Zealand firm PM Grabs’ latest range of bulk discharge grabs, and
their features are setting the standard for minimal environmental
impact in the industry.
Three of the company’s newest grabs were rolled out of the
Tauranga firm’s factory this month, bound for Australia.
P & O Automotive and General Stevedoring Darwin has
ordered the three 14m3 grabs, along with two bulk discharge
hoppers to work with them. The grabs represent a new
generation of bulk discharge equipment that focus as strongly
upon minimizing environmental impact as they do upon
maintaining productivity.
PM Grabs manager Bruce Ennis maintains that while the
company’s grabs are by no means the cheapest on the market,
they are fulfilling increasingly demanding criteria set by the
company’s port and stevedoring customers.
“We have incorporated the very latest design, construction
and technology into this range to enable our clients to meet the
stringent conditions so many are now having to operate under
when it comes to noise and dust emission issues,” he says.
PM Grabs has recently received another order for four more
grabs to supply port facilities for New Caledonia Koniambo
nickel mining project. Environmental standards were the top
priority for the client and PM Grabs stood out with the grab
features that incorporated those standards.
At the heart of the ‘green grab’ design is a Tier 3 Euro
standard Deutz diesel engine. The 89KW engine has been
subject to extensive noise suppression using acoustic sound
reduction materials. The entire grab head profile was also
redesigned in order to improve maintenance access, reduce dust
ingress and contain noise emissions more effectively during
operations.
The grabs have also been built with a hydraulic system that
can operate on biodegradable vegetable oil. The components
have integrated leakage catchments so in the unlikely event of
fluid loss the significant quantities of oil and fuel within the grab
system will be contained within the grab profile.
Innovative design focusing on the grab jaws has meant
product run out and spillage is minimal. The 10–14m3 grabs
feature a unique overlapping blade seal design that maintains its
integrity across a wide range of product densities. Bucket dust
control flaps can also be supplied, while all grabs are fitted with a
two stage adjustable bucket opening. This makes them flexible
enough to discharge into narrower hopper spaces and allow
better control over dust emissions in high wind situations.
There has also been significant focus on improving on the
previous model’s enviable reputation for quality, low maintenance
performance. A state-of-the-art Eaton Vickers integrated PLC
IP67 control system has enabled control box components to be
significantly reduced. This has all but eliminated fault and
maintenance issues around circuit relays and panel connections.
The technology also provides operators with greater
information on grab performance and fault diagnosis. Information
will scroll up on the grab’s control panel screen, along with
alerts arriving to the crane operator’s hand held remote unit.
“Diagnostics is a simple exercise, making maintenance and
repair work straightforward, and minimizing down time,” says
Bruce Ennis. The compact easy to use remote is rechargeable
with batteries and provide 72 hours of use before requiring
recharging.
The Deutz engine and hydraulics are mounted on an easily
removed sliding cassette. Sitting on its own subframe, this allows
full access to the systems for maintenance and for the engine to
be tested outside of the grab body before being reinstalled.
Locating the engine within the body of the grab, rather than
above it, has not only helped reduce the noise emissions but also
gives the grabs a lower centre of gravity and operating profile.
The resulting low drift profile was a critical requirement for
the Port of Darwin delivery where variable ship size and
significant tidal movements dictated a grab that could operate
over demanding drift conditions, while minimizing ship and dock
damage.
The Tauranga firm weathered the downturn in global bulk
commodity trade well and has benefited from Australia’s surge in
bulk handling in recent years. Grabs are now installed in several
significant ports, including Port of Brisbane.
“With a total of over 700 million tonnes of bulk cargo moved
annually in Australia we see significant potential to grow the
grab business further on our back door. The fact demanding
clients are coming to us suggests PM Grabs is well ahead of the
market in meeting increasingly strict environmental
requirements,” says Ennis.