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WORLD OF INDUSTRIES - LOGISTICS 1/2017

  • Text
  • Intralogistics
  • Logistics
WORLD OF INDUSTRIES - LOGISTICS 1/2017

Beumer implements plant

Beumer implements plant systems for the bulk goods industry around the world With its newly created Conveying & Loading Systems (CL Systems) department, the Beumer Group are developing and installing complex system solutions for different sectors, such as the mining or cement industry around the world. The international team consists of employees from various branches, who work together on a project-specific basis. The Beumer Group, based in Beckum, Germany, is primarily known as a supplier of innovative solutions for the intralogistic sector. Some people are surprised when they find out how quickly the company has also developed in other sectors over the last few years. Nowadays, the portfolio also includes complex system solutions for the raw material industry, for example. “Thanks to our extensive expertise in system solutions, we are able to advise our customers and supply them with complete plant systems,” explains Dr. Andreas Echelmeyer, Head of the Conveying & Loading Systems department of the Beumer Group based at the headquarters in Beckum. The company has set itself the objective of becoming a reliable global partner in the field of plant construction. Most of the inquiries come from Australia, the Far East, Africa, South America or the USA, rather than Germany. An international team for the Conveying and Loading Systems department is established to work together on a project-specific basis and implement the objectives. To en- sure that a high standard is maintained on a global basis, qualified colleagues from the company’s national subsidiaries are involved in the process. Beumer believes that expertise refers to the ability to understand users, so that their requirements can be communicated accurately and that they can work with the team in Beckum to develop a suitable solution. “We must be able to listen” Beumer established itself in the material handling sector, where the main focus is to transport bulk goods efficiently. Although each sector does set its own specific requirements. The cement industry, for example, is increasingly using alternative fuels and raw materials to reduce the use of expensive primary fuels such as coal and oil. This may also include the use of specially processed household waste. This material is often very difficult to handle due to its varied composition. Despite the complex requirements of the cement industry, Beumer supplies complete plant systems for the acceptance of bulk goods at the factory gates through to storage, mixing, transport and finally transferring the material to the cement production process via the main burner or calciner. “To be able to deliver tailor-made solutions, the most important thing is to carefully listen to the customer and ensure you ask the right questions,” explains Echelmeyer. These are often questions that the user has not even considered yet. Although sometimes the user already has a firm idea about the solution. Beumer then works with the customer to analyze the specific task and discusses this with the operator to illustrate that the perfect solution can be supplied although it may differ from the original idea. BULK MATERIAL HANDLING

An important prerequisite for Beumer, as a plant manufacturer, is flexibility. To be able to implement individual tasks, the company may have to move away from solutions that are already well established and find completely new approaches. In contact with users The globally-based employees of the Beumer Group are in close contact with operators and exchange updates on a continuous basis. The colleagues on site are aware of specific national practices, can speak the local language and know the relevant market and customer requirements. They will recognize relevant potential and Thanks to our extensive expertise in system solutions, we are able to advise our customers and supply them with complete plant systems Dr. Andreas Echelmeyer, Head of the Conveying & Loading Systems department of the Beumer Group any possible need for action. In the best-case scenario, the customer approaches the company at an early stage, so that they can then work together to develop an optimum solution. If a customer, with whom there has been no previous contact, approaches Beumer, specialists from the headquarters in Germany are sent over. The team made up of staff from the local subsidiary and the CoC specialists on site discuss the specific task with the operator. The third possibility is that Beumer receives an invitation to tender from the customer. This is then checked for completeness, analyzed and then evaluated. A corresponding solution can then be developed in collaboration with the employees from the relevant and responsible branch. The manufacturer’s system solutions are implemented wherever there is a need to transport large quantities of bulk goods. This particularly applies to the ore and raw materials industry, but also to applications outside these traditional areas, such as transporting food products. In harbors, the plant systems, for example, ensure that different materials are conveyed on to the ships efficiently. Major challenges require a high level of expertise Beumer relies on experienced and competent engineers to implement the complex tasks in the bulk goods processing sector. These engineers must not allow their perspectives to be narrowed as they often forge new paths to implement the appropriate system solution. The requirements for overland conveyors particularly in the material handling sector are continuously expanding. Truck-based transport is increasingly becoming less acceptable around the world. This is why the manufacturer must overcome increasingly complex challenges regarding the topology for its conveying systems. Systems with lengths of more than twelve kilometers have been designed to convey the material over steep uphill and downhill gradients in a single section without any intermediate transfer towers. To avoid having to send out an expedition team beforehand, a suitable software is used to superimpose satellite and aerial images with different resolutions on the relevant topography data. The challenge for employees is to then estimate and evaluate the project so that a specific offer can be submitted to the customer in good time. This can only be achieved with an excellent international team. To purchase or produce – that is the question? The prices for raw materials such as ore and copper have been very low for around two or three years. The current market is thus still rather difficult. This has had an impact on Beumer, as investments have been cut and projects have been halted. Echelmeyer believes that investments are going to remain low over the next two to three years, by which time the market will have calmed down again. In the mining industry there is a general trend towards increasingly large volumes and operational capacities as larger production facilities are more efficient. Many users no longer want to establish plants in parallel, but want to cover all their requirements with a single line or the lowest possible number of lines. This trend has influenced the development of the plants and systems towards comprehensive solutions for the complete production process including customer support. Beumer provides everything from a single source thus comprehensively supporting customers and also avoiding interfaces. Beumer relies on selected partners to provide any components that are not included in the manufacturer’s portfolio, such as gear drives and electric motors. The company also attends trade fairs to gain a clear picture of current market developments. This is the only way, the best possible solutions in view of cost effectiveness can be supplied to customers. “It is not unusual for plant manufacturers to purchase a lot of components. This ensures that you concentrate on your own core skills and are always using the best solutions,” explains Echelmeyer. After all, the main objective is to supply the customer with a turnkey plant that works efficiently. Beumer is keeping a close eye on the topic of EPC, although the company is not necessarily planning on becoming an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) supplier of large plants in order to avoid interfaces. Echelmeyer explains that as a plant manufacturer, the company wants to focus on suitable system solutions and concentrate less on the industrial building, earth work and concrete construction sectors. He continues to explain that regardless of whether you are in China, Tierra del Fuego or Alaska, there are different climatic conditions and different legislations. For each project, Beumer decides whether to complete the project alone or to find a strong partner in the region. A partner knows his own environment, is usually well connected and also has an idea about pricing. “We always want to control the interface. We generally decide if we want to work with a partner on an individual basis. The most important thing for our customers is that they have got a competent contact person, because at the end of the day they do not want to buy a tunnel or any foundations, they want a system that solves their problems,” emphasizes Echelmeyer. Photographs: Beumer Group www.beumergroup.com About Beumer Group Beumer Group is an international leader in the manufacture of intralogistics systems for conveying, loading, palletizing, packaging, sortation, and distribution. With 4,000 employees worldwide, the enterprise has annual sales of about 700 million Euros. Beumer Group and its subsidiaries and sales agencies provide their customers with high-quality system solutions and an extensive customer support network around the globe and across a wide range of industries, including bulk materials and piece goods, food/non-food, construction, mail order, mail and airport baggage handling. WORLD OF INDUSTRIES – INTRALOGISTICS & DISTRIBUTION 1/2017

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