The Acerinox group – a world leader of stainless steel production – has entrusted Oppent with the internal logistic optimisation of their Spanish branch Cadiz “Palmones Los Barrios”.
The system created by Oppent for the Palmones Los Barrios plant is made up by two stations that connect the production area with the laboratory to allow for smooth sample analyses. The transportation of materials between the different areas is carried out without staff intervention, ensuring employees’ complete safety. The pipes that connect the two areas are 80 mm large and in total 150 meters long, and while these former are made of iron, the armoured transit stations are made of stainless steel in order to soften the arrival of the carriers. The carriers are made of aluminium and run the entire pipeline in about 20 seconds, transporting cast iron samples taken from the casting area. Once wetted and cooled, these samples are sent from the blast furnace to the laboratory to verify compliance.
Safety is secured at both sending and receiving stations through specifically dedicated software and a number of security devices that allow the receiving station to open only when the carrier has completely stopped, thus ensuring user safety. A monitor located near the sending station enables real-time monitoring of the shipping: it lists all the samples dispatched, supervises their arrival date and time, and records their analysis typology, status, and any potential error.