Client: SPECIAL WASTE TREATMENT COMPANY (NON-FERROUS METALS AND ELECTRONIC WASTE)
Location: PENGIS - BELGIUM
Application sector: WASTE TREATMENT PLANT
Objectives
On behalf of a Belgian company operating in various industrial sectors, M.M. was awarded the contract for the design and construction of two access walkways for electronic waste treatment and sorting equipment. Each walkway, 8.0 m in length, required a cantilevered section to allow operators to reach the control devices while bridging the pipelines located along the sides of the plant. The flooring above the pipelines also needed to be removable to allow maintenance. Another design constraint was the requirement to achieve the thinnest possible structure, so that the walking surface level would provide operators with a comfortable and ergonomic working position. Finally, the sloping installation plane and the numerous hydraulic and electromechanical devices subject to vibration required the adoption of a lightweight structure with height adjustability. Briefly: . Develop modular walkways with dimensions compliant with the parameters and operating conditions specified by the client . Design a lightweight, height-adjustable structure . Conceive a walking surface with removable elements for inspection and maintenance . Adapt the supporting structure to the existing plant, with suitable dimensional tolerances and spacing from the pipelines.
Solution
Once the preliminary study had been approved, M.M.’s technical department developed the project in collaboration with the company responsible for the electromechanical works. Through videoconference exchanges, the detailed aspects were refined thanks to a 3D study of the FRP structures integrated with the equipment. The vertical structures were selected so as to be equipped with height-adjustable feet, while the bracing system was designed to minimize encumbrance and ensure adequate stiffness, even during handling and installation. The platforms were manufactured in fully preassembled modules at M.M.’s plant, with covered grating flooring fitted with laminated kick plates. The compatibility achieved between the digital design and the precise preassembly made it possible to integrate the structure with the equipment and carry out installation without unforeseen issues. The packaging method was also studied to optimize the space required for loading onto standard-sized vehicles, avoiding the need for special transport or multiple deliveries.
