In an exciting collaboration, Banelec and Britcon have come together to design and install a cutting-edge £10-million rail stocking facility for British Steel in Scunthorpe. This state-of-the-art hub is the largest of its kind in the country, with the capacity to hold approximately 25,000 tonnes of 108m finished rail.
The project kicked off with a thorough consultation involving Banelec, Britcon, and British Steel to fully grasp the specific requirements and objectives of the rail stocking facility. It was imperative to create a system that could efficiently handle the complex operations of stocking and distributing rail components while prioritising safety and productivity.
The primary focus was to engineer a custom control solution that would enable the safe and efficient loading and unloading of rolling stock at the new storage facility. Considering the vast quantity of rails slated for temporary storage, each measuring 108m in length, 11 hoist units were outfitted with electro-magnets capable of lifting 4 lengths of rail with each lift. Employing variable speed drives to minimize shock loading and facilitate soft acceleration and deceleration movements, the system operates seamlessly to maximise efficiency.
The hoist and traverse motions are meticulously monitored via absolute encoders, allowing the PLC system to continually track positions and adjust speeds as needed for proper alignment. The comprehensive installation process, which spanned several months and endured all types of weather conditions, involved the placement of hoists, master control panel, magnet panels, energy chain systems, cabling, and containment with precision to meet both the scheduled delivery date and the allocated budget. Remarkably, the meticulous planning was to such a high standard that no steelwork drilling was necessary on-site.
Throughout the installation phase, Banelec and Britcon maintained constant communication with British Steel to provide regular progress updates and promptly address any concerns that surfaced. This transparent and collaborative approach played a pivotal role in the seamless execution of the project, ultimately resulting in the satisfaction of all stakeholders involved.
The visionary partnership between Banelec and Britcon exemplifies the power of teamwork and innovation in delivering state-of-the-art solutions for the construction and civil engineering sectors. As the largest rail stocking facility in the nation, this project sets a new benchmark for excellence in infrastructure development, paving the way for future advancements in the industry.
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