Viridor Waste Management expand their Century Wharf site with the help of Canning Conveyor

16th February 2009

Awarded the initial contract for supply of conveyor systems for the Viridor Waste Management Century Wharf site, Canning was subsequently awarded a second contract for the supply of two quality assurance stations and six associated conveyors for their new MRF production line on the Crayford site.

Delivered, installed and commissioned at Century Wharf in early 2007, Canning supplied the initial order of three transfer conveyors and a screen feed conveyor.

With the new system receiving feed from an existing trommel screen, Canning designed, manufactured and installed the second contract. Each quality assurance station incorporated a feed conveyor that delivered waste materials onto a new double deck screen installed by Viridor Waste Management; oversize material feeding onto an oversize conveyor and a quality assurance conveyor. Two new quality assurance stations were supplied complete with structures to carry the new conveyors and included picking chutes, floors, stairs and full hand railing.

Plastic line conveyor system:

Recently, Canning received a third order and has successfully supplied a new feed conveyor to integrate into changes within the existing plastic line conveyor system. Two new 12m long troughed belt conveyors installed at Viridor Waste Management each 900mm wide are designed to accept mixed plastics from an existing conveyor each feeding the other which elevate to feed onto the new conveyor located at high level.

This new feed conveyor is approximately 90m in length and accepts mixed plastics at high level and runs at a height of 6 metres horizontally over the yard. Running parallel to the existing building it discharges via a 2-way chute directly into the new plastic and tin sorting plant feed hoppers.

Paper line conveyor system:

Canning has subsequently been tasked with the supply of a new paper line conveyor system to the Century Wharf site that has been built and is now installed and operational at the site. This fourth element of the on-going project involved the supply of seven conveyors including Canning SuperDrive™ motorized drums. and included modifications to existing picking conveyors. 

Canning has also modified three existing conveyors so that they are the same length. With their duty being to feed onto a new conveyor or into an existing bay this modification has involved the installation of a 2-way chute with flap doors. Receiving feed from the three existing conveyors, a short 15m long x 1.2m wide collecting conveyor has also been installed by Canning, which is designed to accept all the reject materials from the three belts. 

This conveyor runs horizontally beneath the picking station floor and out through the back of the building before discharging onto an elevated conveyor. Canning has supplied both the elevator conveyor and a new overhead conveyor. The 20m long troughed belt elevator conveyor is designed to elevate up at approximately 20°, running parallel to the building before discharging onto a new overhead conveyor. The overhead conveyor, 75 metres in length, is constructed in a heavy duty lattice framework and runs horizontally 5 metres above the yard before discharging via a 2-way chute, either directly into an existing storage bay or onto a new feed conveyor also supplied by Canning.

This new feed conveyor approximately 10 metres in length runs elevates above the building roof before discharging via a 2-way chute into an existing baler.

All the new conveyors are powered by Canning SuperDrive™ motorised drums.

Since the introduction of the Canning SuperDrive™ in 2005 the motorised pulley has proved it self throughout the Waste Industry.

The recycling of general household waste, building waste and refuse incineration waste provide challenges to seal arrangements of all components utilized within the conveyors and sorting systems within the industry.

Some of the main culprits of system failure are VHS/cassette tape, glass, plastic threads and steel or copper wires which can become trapped and wind themselves around critical areas such as shafts and seals.

On the SuperDrive motorised pulleys, Canning recommended the fitment of extra external non-regreasable steel labyrinth seals at these areas, to provide the protection required against these particular problems. This will enable the pulley to operate without constant attention and therefore fulfil its life potential.

John Viviani, Managing Director, commented "The new systems will provide Viridor Waste Management with a fully integrated conveyor system across its 10 acre site to further improve the processing of recyclables at Europe's largest MRF. This is the latest in a series of substantial investments by Viridor Waste Management that will enhance operational and cost efficiencies on the site."