BULK HANDLING

NEWS
BRUKS SIWERTELL CUSTOMER MAGAZINE #1/2024

50 years of innovation,
4
set for a new era

18 Securing the path to

sustainable aviation
CONTENTS

4 10

18 23

CONTENTS
4 50 years of innovation, set for a new era 23 100,000 hours of biomass unloading expertise

10 Next-generation service agreements, tailored to 28 Roll away fire risks with air-cushion conveying
meet your needs
32 More road-mobile unloaders set to work in
15 News in brief the US

18 Waste takes flight: securing the path to 35 Our People: Boge Sisevski
sustainable aviation

2 BULK HANDLING NEWS


ABOUT BRUKS SIWERTELL
Bruks Siwertell is a market-leading supplier of
dry bulk handling and wood processing systems.
With thousands of installations worldwide, our
machines handle raw materials from forests,
fields, quarries and mines, maintaining critical
supply lines for manufacturers, mills, power
plants and ports.
We design, produce and deliver systems for ship
loading, ship unloading, conveying, storing, and
stacking and reclaiming dry bulk materials, along-
side equipment for baling, chipping, composting,
screening, milling, recycling, and processing wood
and agricultural waste for the biofuel, bioenergy,
panelboard, sawmill, pulp and paper industries.
An extensive global service team offers support
to Bruks Siwertell customers whenever and
wherever it is needed.
bruks-siwertell.com
Follow us on social media
Bulk Handling News is a customer magazine
for the dry bulk handling industry. The opinions
expressed by the authors or individuals inter-
viewed do not necessarily represent the views
of Bruks Siwertell.
Publisher:
Bruks Siwertell AB
P.O. Box 566 Gunnarstorp
SE-26725 Bjuv, Sweden
Editors:
Emily Brækhus Cueva
emily.cueva@bruks-siwertell.com
Malin Pekberg
malin.pekberg@bruks-siwertell.com
Lindsay Gilliland
lindsay.gilliland@bruks-siwertell.com
Editorial assistant:
Anette Andersson
anette.andersson@bruks-siwertell.com
Layout and production:
Metamorf Design Group AB
Image sources:
Bruks Siwertell, Shutterstock and Studio e
Printed by:
@graphiken, Malmö 2023
EDITORIAL
Trusted to
underpin critical
supply lines
Dear reader,
More than 80 percent of global trade in grains happens at sea, making the
international maritime industry critical in the process of moving it from
regions of production to consumers, and ensuring that areas of abundance
feed those with shortages.
We all need food. Grain is the third largest cargo that Bruks Siwertell
machines handle, amounting to around 600 million metric tons every year.
Our work in this sector has given us a unique understanding into its impor-
tance and the challenges that operators face, including some of the tightest
port schedules in the world, along with managing huge surges in demand.
Aside from these, we are also mindful about material degradation with
sensitive cargoes and waste. Our first Siwertell ship unloaders were
developed for grain, offering the industry market-leading through-ship
capacities, eliminating waste from spillage, and minimizing dust emissions
and material degradation; a sustainable solution for dry bulk handling.
This year, Siwertell technology, and the brand, is celebrating its 50th anni-
versary, something that we are incredibly proud of, especially as it still
sets the standard. As for the future, our sustainability work is continuing
at a pace. At the end of 2023, we won the International Bulk Journal
(IBJ) Environment Protection Award (cargo handling) in recognition of our
efforts, and this year we will publish our second full sustainability report.
We have also acquired the Oregon-based engineering and manufac-
turing company, West Salem Machinery (WSM), which will significantly
strengthen our wood-processing capabilities, particularly in agricultural
and wood waste residue handling and processing. This puts us in a very
good position to better serve the bioenergy and biomass markets, and
new sectors such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
You can read more about this, and our ship unloading equipment for
the biomass industry, along with other industry news, such as next-
generation service agreements, and the development of technological
advances to improve efficiencies and mitigate risks, throughout this
issue of Bulk Handling News.
Peter Jonsson, Group CEO
BULK HANDLING NEWS 3
50 YEARS OF INNOVATION,
SET FOR A NEW ERA
Siwertell technology has revolutionized the dry bulk handling
industry, with unmatched capacity, environmental credentials
and through-ship performance; Jonas Fack, President of
Bruks Siwertell AB, explains how it is keeping
its market-setting pace

TEXT Jonas Fack

PHOTOS Bruks Siwertell, Studio e

4 BULK HANDLING NEWS

 5 0 -Y E A R A N N I V E R S A RY

FOR FIFTY YEARS the Siwertell brand has been synonymous

with the dry bulk handling market. Established in 1974
to develop continuous, efficient, enclosed ship unloading
equipment, the Siwertell brand is now part of the Bruks
Siwertell Group.

Since merging in 2018, two world-leading brands, Bruks

and Siwertell, have combined their complementary
strengths. Both brands have their roots in Sweden and
have successfully grown through the development of pio-
neering industry solutions.

Bruks technology is central to a renowned product portfolio

of wood-processing, conveying, storage, and stacking and
reclaiming systems, and is a mainstay of the American and
European timber industry. Siwertell technology, comprising
screw-type ship unloading systems, versatile road-mobile
and port-mobile unloaders, loaders, and bulk terminal
solutions, leads the global dry bulk handling industry.

Unmatched on the market

With the Group now celebrating the 50th anniversary of
its Siwertell ship unloaders, it also celebrates its incre-
dible industry success. No other continuous mechanical
ship unloading system can discharge dry bulk materials
from a vessel faster, and with less environmental impact
than a Siwertell ship unloader. It is also the only enclosed
ship unloading system that can safely handle biomass and
sulfur at very high capacities.

For some operators, compared with switching from tradi-

tional dry bulk handling equipment, such as a grab crane,
the high-capacity capabilities of a Siwertell ship unloader
have meant a reduction in unloading days of 50 percent,
translating into a 50 percent reduction in berth occupancy
and the possibility of higher annual intakes; with return
on investment achieved in less than two years. These are
familiar stories within Bruks Siwertell.

A year after its market introduction, Siwertell technology

made one of its biggest industry impacts; it began to trans-
form global cement handling installations. The first screw-
type Siwertell ship unloader was supplied to the cement
industry in 1975. In 1980, a new standard for the industry
was set by introducing the 800t/h Siwertell unloader to the
market and since then, it has continuously set the highest
bar. Today, Siwertell cement unloaders offer continuous
rated capacities in excess of 2,000t/h.

BULK HANDLING NEWS 5

5 0 -Y E A R A N N I V E R S A RY
Inlet feeders ensure efficient cargo pick up and a high filling rate of
the vertical screw conveyor
The main reason for their high overall efficiency is that
Siwertell screw-type unloaders maintain continuous
unloading at a steady discharge rate, regardless of the
level of cargo in the hold, right up to the hold clean
up stage. Further adding to its efficiency, is hold reach,
right into the corners. This results in quicker vessel turn-
around and reduced berth occupancy. Siwertell screw-
type ship unloaders deliver efficiencies of 70 percent or
more, while most alternative unloading systems offer
efficiencies of between 50 and 60 percent.
Inlet feeder advances
From an outsider’s glance, Siwertell unloaders look much
the same as they did 50 years ago, with key operating
principles remaining unchanged. The single most signi-
ficant innovation on a Siwertell ship unloader is still the
originally patented, counter-rotating inlet feeder. It was
designed and developed by the two Swedish inventors,
Olle Siwersson and Gunnar Tell, who combined their
surnames to give the brand its name.
6 BULK HANDLING NEWS
Inlet feeders ensure efficient cargo pick-up and a high
filling rate of the vertical screw conveyor, and can with-
stand significant digging forces, break up compacted
material and reach high unloading efficiencies. They pick
up material under the cargo’s surface, minimizing dust
emissions, unloading layer-by-layer and avoiding cargo
avalanches, therefore providing a safe operation with
limited dust emissions in the cargo hold.
Bruks Siwertell is always looking to improve its tech-
nology to deliver the most commercial benefits to its
customers. As part of this, the company has recently
introduced a new inlet feeder for its large-scale Siwertell
ship unloaders.
The new inlet feeder was a customer-driven develop-
ment, designed to deliver very high through-ship capa-
cities and the overall efficiency of unloading operations,
particularly as material gets lower in the hold. Developed
using advanced simulation techniques, and tested in
real-world conditions, through-ship capacity test results
exceed expectations.
Importance of R&D
In terms of other mechanical advances, following a series
of research and development (R&D) programs, which
started in the 1990s, Bruks Siwertell has continually
increased the lifetime of screw conveyors through the
use of new materials. Most recently, from a new program
that started in 2021 focused on the agri-bulk sector,
significant improvements in the lifetime of the vertical
screw conveyor, and its wear parts, were realized.
“
No other continuous
mechanical ship
unloading system
can discharge dry
bulk materials from
a vessel faster
JONAS FACK, PRESIDENT, BRUKS
SIWERTELL AB

The developments are applicable to Bruks Siwertell’s
entire portfolio of screw-type equipment including
Siwertell ship unloaders, loaders and conveyors.
The Siwertell Sulfur Safety System (4S) was also a signifi-
cant development, which has continually been refined.
All Siwertell unloaders, delivered to handle sulfur, are
fitted with the 4S. It detects and extinguishes fires
early, shutting down the system to stop their spread,
and safely containing them. An automatic system lubri-
cates and cools the end and intermediate bearings to
reduce the risk of ignition, and explosion-proofing is also
included, with vents and reinforced casings.
Although, originally intended for safe sulfur handling, the
4S has now been adapted to accommodate the enclosed
conveying of other hazardous, and potentially self-igni-
ting dry bulk materials, such as biomass wood pellets.
Its presence on a Siwertell unloader enables operators
to make sustainable energy switches from coal to
renewable biomass.
Road-mobile units offer benefits common to all Siwertell screw-type unloaders, low power consumption,
very efficient through-ship profiles, and an enclosed conveying line from the ship to shore
5 0 -Y E A R A N N I V E R S A RY
Volumes continue to grow
In terms of the dry bulk market, a lot has happened
over the past five decades. Volumes have increased
and with that, so have vessel sizes. Fifty years ago,
a Handymax-sized vessel was large, at around
50,000 dwt, twenty-five years ago Panamax vessels,
up to 80,000 dwt were standard, and we now have
new Panamax at 120,000 dwt. Today, we see a lot of
dry bulk materials shipped in Capsize vessels, up to
around 170,000 dwt.
With these increases in vessel size, higher unloading
and loading capacities were and are required, together
with demands for higher efficiency, increased reliabi-
lity and improved availability. Today, Siwertell ship
unloaders can be delivered with rated capacities of up
to 3,000t/h, and new high-capacity Siwertell loaders
can deliver rates of up to 12,000t/h, serving the world’s
largest ore carriers of up to 400,000 dwt and 230,000 dwt
coal carriers.
BULK HANDLING NEWS 7
 “
5 0 -Y E A R A N N I V E R S A RY
Investing in a Siwertell ship unloader is the most cost-efficient and environmentally responsible choice that a dry bulk operator can make
A digital future
As for the future, digitalization will probably provide the
most opportunity and present the greatest challenge.
Data collection, data analysis, with machine learning
and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions are not a
distant dream any longer. The industry is very likely to
move towards autonomous operation, troubleshooting
and maintenance, with the automatic replenishment of
spare parts, for example.
Bruks Siwertell is already working on launching remotely
operated unloaders and loaders. This will be followed
by autonomously operated machines and ultimately a
synchronized autonomous operation with a combina-
tion of Siwertell technology and payloaders, absolutely
minimizing environmental impact and providing highly
efficient, safe, and healthy operations.
8 BULK HANDLING NEWS
S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y A G E N D A
The industry landscape
is rapidly changing and
Siwertell technology
will not just keep pace,
but will continue to set
the standard
JONAS FACK, PRESIDENT, BRUKS SIWERTELL AB
Just in the last few years, numerous digital develop-
ments, including Siwertell Smartview in 2022, have been
introduced. Siwertell Smartview is a cloud-based in-
dustrial Internet of things (IIoT) system, which will be
initially integrated into new Siwertell technology. It is
designed to offer a better understanding of operational
and component performance through enhanced data
visualization and analysis.
Siwertell Smartview collects data during unloading and
loading operations, which provides detailed analysis of
equipment performance, availability and reliability. The
tool can monitor real-time operational parameters such
as tons of material handled, average capacity, tons of
material remaining in the vessel’s holds during unload-
ing, and the overall duration of operations.
 5 0 -Y E A R A N N I V E R S A RY

A significant element of Siwertell Smartview is report-
generation, and the ability to identify areas that can be
improved, leading to widely achievable enhances in effi-
ciency and therefore a terminal’s potential profitability.
Enhanced service capabilities
The use of IIoT-enabled equipment delivers benefits
to customers in terms of service as well, with many
new Siwertell road-mobile dry bulk handling unloaders
featuring advanced digital technology for diagnostics
and troubleshooting.
The use of digital technology in service is also evidenced
with the recent introduction of new Siwertell Care plan-
ned service agreements for Siwertell road-mobile ship
unloaders, with augmented reality (STC-AR).
STC-ARs are next-level planned service agreements
and involve AR glasses, which can be purchased so that
customers can wear them and remotely connect with
experts, enabling surveyors to see what maintenance
personnel can see. Technical issues can be addressed
even more quickly, along with streamlining communica-
tions. They can also mean that more complex mainte-
nance tasks can potentially be carried out in-house, and
that the cost and frequency of engineer call-outs can
be reduced.
Our sustainability work builds on the environmental
credentials of our technology. Investing in a Siwertell
ship unloader is the most cost-efficient and environmen-
tally responsible choice that an operator can make for its
dry bulk handling needs. Long lifetimes, low operational
costs and equipment weights, high nominal unloading
capacity, and unparalleled unloading efficiency, along
with low noise levels, minimal dust and no spillage, make
our machines outstanding from an operational, environ-
mental and health and safety perspective.
The industry landscape is rapidly changing and Siwertell
technology will not just keep pace, but will continue
to set the standard, just as it has done in the cement
handling market; a position that is still held. Over fifty
years, Siwertell technology has revolutionized dry bulk
unloading operations worldwide, and with eyes to the
future, will continue to do so.

Tomorrow, not just today

The past twenty years have also seen much closer envi-
ronmental scrutiny within the dry bulk material industry,
and in more recent years, this has been accelerating.
In line with this, Bruks Siwertell has developed its own
sustainability targets, publishing progress through an
annual sustainability report.

The sustainability targets that Bruks Siwertell Group has

set are of course extremely important, not only for the
company, but also for the world, and for generations
to come. In relative terms, the easiest targets are the
ones that the company can directly control, such as:
zero waste; 100 percent renewable energy; 100 percent
compliance with Codes of Conduct; and 100 percent
updated work processes. Good progress is already
being made with these. Siwertell ship unloaders can offer rated capacities of up to 3,000t/h

BULK HANDLING NEWS 9

NEXT-GENERATION
SERVICE AGREEMENTS,
TAILORED TO MEET
YOUR NEEDS
A new type of planned service agreement has been launched for use across
the entire range of Siwertell ship unloaders and loaders; it makes use of digital
technologies and offers customers a bespoke, stackable approach to meet
desired levels of support
TEXT Daniel Frostberg PHOTOS Bruks Siwertell, Studio e

10 BULK HANDLING NEWS

 S E R V I C E S U P P O RT

SERVICE IS PIVOTAL TO BRUKS SIWERTELL , with support

offered through on demand, emergency, and effective,
planned maintenance, tailored to suit. This ensures that
customers and operators have access to original equip-
ment manufacturer (OEM) expertise, for the lifetime of
their equipment.

Like technological developments within the company,

service provision is continually being developed as
well. In line with this approach, a new type of service
agreement has recently been launched for use across
the entire range of Siwertell ship unloaders and loaders
operating in all dry bulk industry segments.

However well dry bulk handling equipment is designed,

manufactured, installed, and commissioned, it inevitably
faces a long and demanding operational life. The cost of
maintenance represents a fraction of the overall invest-
ment and operating costs, and unexpected downtime
and emergency support is almost always more expensive
than a planned strategy.

It is widely accepted that good maintenance practices

positively support business operations, and part of
Bruks Siwertell’s job is helping operators with their
maintenance strategies. “Our service agreements for
bulk handling equipment allow an operator to focus on
their core business, while benefiting from maintenance
budget predictability, effective planning and scheduling,
lower service costs and peace of mind, resting in the
knowledge that an OEM expert will be on hand if needed,”
says Daniel Frostberg, Service Director, Bruks Siwertell.
Tailored to suit
“Our newly introduced next-generation service agree-
ments allow customers and partners to tailor and
customize their desired levels of service support. With
Daniel Frostberg, Service Director, Bruks Siwertell: “Our service
agreements allow an operator to focus on their core business”
this stackable approach, we can offer tailored solutions
that allow operators to choose exactly what they need,”
Frostberg continues.
“We all know that economizing on maintenance-related
activities, buying non-OEM parts, or deferring work
does not represent value, because it invariably costs an
operator more in the long run, and has the potential
to cause reputational damage. Furthermore, operators
are not able to benefit from the financial gains of
equipment availability and optimized performance.

“ With the stackable approach, we can offer

tailored solutions that allow operators to
choose exactly what they need
DANIEL FROSTBERG, SERVICE DIRECTOR, BRUKS SIWERTELL

BULK HANDLING NEWS 11

S E R V I C E S U P P O RT
“This is why we strongly recommend a planned main-
tenance approach through our service agreements,
allowing customers to know, in advance, the schedule
and costs of maintaining their dry bulk handling equip-
ment for a three-year period,” he explains.
Customers know their dry bulk handling equipment,
and can see, and often hear and assess how it is per-
forming. With fifty years of leading the market in dry
bulk handling, Bruks Siwertell can add to this expertise.
OEMs are able to rapidly assess equipment and deter-
mine its condition, which ensures that parts are not
replaced unnecessarily. They can also devise the most
cost-effective strategy for repair and renewal. OEM
surveyors can make relatively small adjustments to
operational parameters that deliver significant per-
formance benefits.
The closer the better
Close customer relations are a critically important part
of service support. “Our service teams are the interface
between the customer and our company, and continu-
ously work for it to remain so, often for decades after
equipment has been delivered,” says Frostberg. “The
closer this relationship is, the better. Customers put
their trust in us, and we need to honour this. Our com-
mitment to continuous development work, including the
addition of new services, like our next-generation service
agreements, which are designed to respond and match
customers’ needs, act as a platform for this.”
SERVICE OFFERING
Inspections Maintenance Remote
Assistance
New planned service agreements offers customers a bespoke, stackable approach to meet desired levels of support
12 BULK HANDLING NEWS
Planned service contracts comprise a number of dif-
ferent areas of support and many of these can now be
customized, tailored and combined for optimal opera-
tional and maintenance strategies. Agreements include,
for example, different types of inspections that cover
mechanical, electrical and structural components of
the equipment.
Importance of inspections
During a mechanical inspection on a ship unloader, for
example, all essential unloader functions and move-
ments are tested, along with sequences for the conveyor
system. A review of any maintenance undertaken by the
operator and the alarm history is also carried out, as
well as an analysis of recurring alarms and trends.
When inspecting dry bulk handling equipment’s electri-
cal system and instrumentation, everything is checked
including motors, electrical power and signal supply,
the radio system, cables, and sensors. A test run during
operations is also conducted to assess limit switches
and carry out a visual and sound condition check of the
main drives.
For structural inspections, a surveyor will carry out a
visual assessment of the steel structure, with a detailed
focus on stress-exposed areas. Any sections that have
suspected damage can be checked using a dye pene-
trant. If further non-destructive testing is required, such
as ultrasonic techniques and magnetic particle tests,
Bruks Siwertell will arrange for additional specialist
Siwertell Spare Parts Training & Operational
Smartview Management Education Management
 “
S E R V I C E S U P P O RT

When we are
needed on site, we
are there, and we
are able to help
operators capitalize
on the advantages
of digitalization and
remote diagnostics
and support
DANIEL FROSTBERG, SERVICE
DIRECTOR, BRUKS SIWERTELL

OEMs are able to more rapidly assess equipment condition and devise the most cost-effective strategy for repair and renewal

involvement. This might include testing weld joints, outer
and inner hinge shafts, and the luffing and pendulum
hydraulic cylinder attachments.
All inspections include dialogue between the surveyor
and the customer, machine performance evaluation of
unloading capacity, availability, downtime, and previous
maintenance work from logged historical data.
After each inspection, a report is issued, including any up-
coming work recommendations and areas that need fur-
ther investigation. Inspections are a crucial element of the
maintenance toolbox. They are always carried out on site
and can be before, during or after other maintenance work.
The main purpose of an inspection is condition moni-
toring, identifying any irregularities and problem areas,
and potential improvements of asset operation. They can
also include wear part lifetime estimates and a spare
parts inventory check and recommendation. Potential
training opportunities can also come to light.
Digital connectivity
In addition to physical on-site support, Bruks Siwertell
also offers remote support, giving customers access to
a global network of dry bulk handling experts and spe-
cialists, who provide problem-solving suggestions and
guidance.
Experts are available via a number of methods from
phone to video calls; communication preferences are
selected by the customer, so that the right approach is
chosen for the operation. Planned for launch next year,
Bruks Siwertell is also able to directly connect with the
equipment’s programmable logic controller (PLC), for
easy troubleshooting. This approach requires the dry
bulk handling equipment to be connected via ethernet.
“When we are needed on site, we are there, but with the
rapid and growing introduction of new technologies, we
are able to help operators capitalize on the advantages
of digitalization and remote diagnostics and support,”
Frostberg says.

BULK HANDLING NEWS 13

S E R V I C E S U P P O RT
Inspections identify any problem areas and potential
for improvements
Included in this approach is Siwertell Smartview, also
scheduled for launch in 2024. It is a cloud-based indus-
trial Internet of things (IIoT) system, planned for phased
integration into Siwertell dry bulk handling technology.
The tool can monitor real-time operational parameters
such as tons of material handled, average capacity,
tons of material remaining in the vessel’s holds during
unloading, and the overall duration of operations. This
information is accessed through a personal computer
(PC), tablet or smartphone, available in your hands any
time of day, everywhere.
To enhance operational awareness, Siwertell Smart-
view can generate numerous different reports, so
that operators are able to make the most of any
information gathered, including operational performance
data, individual vessel reports, and details about equip-
ment availability, highlighting any downtime. Compo-
nent-level data collection and historical performance
are also possible with equipment IIoT-enabled with
Siwertell Smartview.
Whole terminals to nuts-and-bolts
It is also important not to forget the basics. As well
as terminal-wide performance overviews, other features
14 BULK HANDLING NEWS
of planned service contracts include inven-
tory and spare parts management. Bruks
Siwertell can take full responsibility for the
entire process of managing and maintaining
an organization’s spare parts inventory,
ensuring that the right parts are available
at the right time and in the right quantities.
This also ensures that operators are relieved
of the responsibility of having capital tied up
in spare parts and warehousing.
In addition, planning and scheduling of
essential service work and preventative main-
tenance strategies can also be carried out as
part of a planned service agreement, along
with training opportunities.
“We have many references for planned
service agreements and examples of very
carefully scheduled work that is precision-
timed to suit an operator’s demanding dry bulk
schedule. For example, in the grain handling industry,
where maintenance windows are only available once a
year,” he highlights.
“Customers are at the heart of our business and we
work hard to ensure that we deliver on our promises,
and if possible, exceed them,” says Frostberg. “A key
part of this is ensuring that we offer global through-life
customer support, so when we are needed, we respond.
This responsiveness is now enhanced through our latest
planned service agreements; ensuring that customers
continue to benefit from our expertise.”
“
Customers put their
trust in us, and we
need to honour this
DANIEL FROSTBERG, SERVICE
DIRECTOR, BRUKS SIWERTELL
NEWS IN BRIEF
Bruks Siwertell Group and maximizing the value in waste wood will deliver
exceptional capabilities to the global wood industry. This

welcomes in West is already in progress, with both our and Bruks Siwertell
Group’s teams working intensively together, enabling a

Salem Machinery smooth and rapid integration process.

“WSM customers will continue to benefit from our usual,

Following the acquisition of North American engineering
company, West Salem Machinery (WSM), in 2023, Bruks
Siwertell Group has continued its planned integration,
welcoming the Oregon-based engineering and manufac-
turing company under the Bruks Siwertell Group umbrella.
WSM will continue to operate under its current name as a
separate internal division within the Group.
“Wood is the foremost globally available, renewable con-
struction material able to capture carbon, and it covers a
third of the world’s surface. In the face of an urgent need to
address climate change, our relationship with this incredi-
bly versatile and sustainable resource has never been more
important,” says Peter Jonsson, CEO, Bruks Siwertell Group.
“With WSM now on board, Bruks Siwertell Group is better
able to offer industrial applications an even greater oppor-
tunity to meet sustainability goals, by maximizing the use
of natural resources and the efficiency
of installations and wood-processing
plants,” Jonsson continues. “This is a
growth market, and we are ready to meet
the needs of operators and industries as
they develop and look to achieve those
carbon neutral or negative ambitions
through the use of wood.
dedicated approach, with the same priorities given to
equipment lead times and service. So, business as usual,
but we are now able to offer our customers an even wider
portfolio,” notes Lyman.
WSM equipment includes grinders, shredders, hogs, ham-
mermills and screens and for the past seven decades it
has served multiple wood-processing industries, such as
power generation, construction and demolition, recycling,
pulp and paper, packaging, and sawmills.
“Combined with our existing range of products, operators
are now able to select machinery from one of the broadest
dry bulk handling and wood-processing technology port-
folios that the market can offer. As a larger, stronger
company, we can also better leverage the advantages of
new digital technologies that provide real-term benefits for
customers,” Jonsson concludes.

“Bruks Siwertell Group is dedicated to

innovation and quality; characteristics of
all its technology brands, and WSM equip-
ment is no exception,” he adds.

“We are delighted to officially be part

of Bruks Siwertell Group,” says Mark
Lyman, CEO, West Salem Machinery. “The
combined strength of our wood-process- To an exciting new partnership: Bruks Siwertell Group CEO, Peter Jonsson (left)
ing technologies and expertise in handling and WSM CEO, Mark Lyman (right)

BULK HANDLING NEWS 15

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bruks Siwertell wins environment protection award

Bruks Siwertell Group’s ability to offer dry bulk
handling equipment that protects the environ-
ment, and its ambitious sustainability efforts,
have been recognized, winning the 2023 prestig-
ious International Bulk Journal (IBJ) Environment
Protection Award (cargo handling).

“Bruks Siwertell already delivers ship unloaders,

loaders and conveyors that possess the key
elements for environmental protection, and the
Group has now developed a robust, measurable,
and accountable sustainability strategy, road-
mapping its goals and ambitions,” IBJ highlights as
its reasons for nominating Bruks Siwertell.

In part, the IBJ award was won because of Bruks

Siwertell Group’s company-wide sustainability
efforts in 2023. “Last year’s sustainability work was
particularly intense and focused on climate calcu-
lations throughout our entire value chain, including
direct and indirect emissions,” says Anna Halling,
Chief Strategy Officer, Bruks Siwertell Group.
Initially, Bruks Siwertell Group’s carbon footprint was re-
ported according to the guidelines in Greenhouse Gas
Protocol scopes 1 and 2. “Our focus in 2023 was to set the
base level of the Group’s carbon emissions using scope 3
calculations as well. This has involved extensive work with
suppliers to collect and collate climate data. Through-
out this year, scope 1 and 2 calculations have also been
reviewed and updated,” explains Halling.
The IBJ awards ceremony was held on 20th November,
2023, at City Central at the Honourable Artillery Company
(HAC) in London, UK. A team of Bruks Siwertell personnel
were in attendance, receiving the award on behalf of the
company from President and Chief Executive Officer CSL
Group, Louis Martel.
Bruks Siwertell Group’s second full sustainability report will
be published on the Bruks Siwertell website in the first
quarter of 2024.

Road-mobile unloaders This customer already knows that Siwertell technology will
deliver the necessary environmental and operational perfor-

step up to meet US mance, and one is now finding out. We are also one of the
few companies able to supply a ship unloading solution that
cement demands can discharge cement from vessels directly to trucks.”

For one operator, these deliveries represent its third and

Deliveries of a run of new Siwertell road-mobile ship un-
loaders is complete; all now secure efficient, spillage-
free cement handing operations at installations in Mexico
and North America.
“The US is seeing a huge rise in demand for cement, and our
technology is helping operators meet these volume increa-
ses in the most sustainable way possible,” explains Pedro
Alfaro, Project Development Engineer, Bruks Siwertell.
“Many Bruks Siwertell orders come from repeat customers,
such as one of the operators in this latest delivery run.
fourth 10 000 S Siwertell road-mobile unloader units, while
the second operator also opted for a 10 000 S model,
representing its first Siwertell road-mobile ship unloader.
Siwertell 10 000 S road-mobile unloaders offer a continuous
rated cement handling capacity of 300t/h and can dis-
charge vessels up to 10,000 dwt. They have totally en-
closed conveying lines and are fitted with dust filters and a
double-bellows discharge arrangement with an automatic
shifting function. This enables fast, efficient and dust-free
vessel discharges direct to waiting trucks.

16 BULK HANDLING NEWS

 NEWS IN BRIEF

Augmented reality
adopted in advanced
service provision
The use of augmented reality (AR) has been introduced
into planned service agreements for Siwertell road-
mobile ship unloaders. The AR glasses allow operators to
remotely connect with expert service support, enabling
surveyors to have a direct visual link to equipment. This
ensures that technical issues can be addressed even
more quickly, along with streamlining communications.

“This latest advance is part of Bruks Siwertell’s ongoing

commitment to improving customer service, and mini-
mizing environmental impact through the use of digital
technology,” says Jörgen Ojeda, Sales Director Mobile
Unloaders, Bruks Siwertell.
“Planned service is always better than reactive,” con-
tinues Ojeda. “Siwertell Care agreements (STC) offer
significant customer benefits, including substantial cost
savings and budgeting advantages. With the addition
of AR, if both parties can see exactly the same in real-
time, issues can be resolved much faster and equipment
downtime minimized. The number and cost of engineer
call-outs can also be reduced.”
AR glasses allow operators to remotely connect with expert
service support
When customers opt for an STC-AR agreement, AR
glasses can be used to remotely supervise any work being
carried out, which can speed up tasks and ensure that
they are correctly performed. The use of AR glasses can
also mean that more complex maintenance tasks can be
undertaken in-house and the operational performance
of equipment can be evaluated and discussed in real-
time. You can read more about next-generation planned
service agreements on page 10.

Indonesia expands
Siwertell technology
range
An order for two Siwertell 10 000 S next-generation road-
mobile ship unloaders will support environment-friendly
cement handling operations in Sumatra, Indonesia. The two
road-mobile models add to a range of Siwertell screw-type
dry bulk handling systems already delivered to the region
including four large-scale Siwertell ship unloaders and one
ship loader.
Siwertell 10 000 S road-mobile unloaders offer a continuous rated
State-of-the-art Siwertell mechanical screw-conveyor cement handling capacity of 300t/h
technology has earned a global reputation for perfor-
mance, reliability, and environment-friendly handling of a
wide variety of dry bulk materials. large cargoes is lacking. Able to deploy, repack and move
within the space of an hour, road-mobile unloaders flexibly
Cement markets can be particularly complex, with de- meet this need by providing immediate, highly efficient
mand arising in places where infrastructure for importing through-ship capacity wherever it is required.

BULK HANDLING NEWS 17

WASTE TAKES FLIGHT:
SECURING THE PATH TO
SUSTAINABLE AVIATION
To meet demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF),
new types of manufacturing plant and very high-
capacity wood-processing technology will be
needed for the task; fortunately,
Bruks Siwertell is on hand with
the expertise already

TEXT Ken Upchurch

PHOTOS Bruks Siwertell, Shutterstock

18 BULK HANDLING NEWS


WITHIN THE BROAD SCOPE OF CHANGES
to be implemented to achieve
decarbonization targets, there are
a number of so-called ‘hard-to-de-
carbonize’ sectors. Prominent can-
didates, among others, are cement
and steel production, and aviation.
Aviation contributes to greenhouse
gas emissions at a higher rate, com-
pared to its output, than other forms
of transportation, accounting for
approximately three to four percent
of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emis-
sions, according to United Nations
(UN) figures. This is roughly equiva-
lent to the collective emissions of all
cargo ships. Some studies, such as
those conducted by the Netherlands’
Technical University Delft, even
suggest that aircraft’s contribution
to climate change might reach as
high as five percent, owing to the
intricate interactions of aircraft fuels
in the atmosphere.
The importance of decarbonizing
aircraft cannot be ignored. But this
is also extremely challenging. While
battery-electric planes are proving
“
Wood is the material that
Bruks Siwertell handles
the most of. The biomass,
bioenergy and biofuel
sectors can directly benefit
from our technology
KEN UPCHURCH, SVP SALES AND MARKETING,
BRUKS SIWERTELL
feasible on short-hop intercity routes,
there is little prospect of recharging
them in midair, ruling them out for
long-haul flights. Aircraft will need
to use jets, not propellers, if the
industry is to avoid a backward step
in technology. This means using large
amounts of pure, light, compact,
high-octane liquid fuel, with vast
chemical energy content.
These demanding requirements have
been challenging to meet even by
refiners of conventional fossil fuels.
Although the aviation industry has
demonstrated a willingness to radi-
cally alter aircraft designs to suit diffe-
rent types of fuel – notable among
them, various design proposals for
hydrogen aircraft by Airbus and Honey-
well – challenges related to storage
and payload capacity have tempered
expectations. The large tanks required
for hydrogen would leave room for
only a few passengers or limited
cargo. A number of e-fuel alternatives
such as methanol and ammonia are
also under consideration, but ulti-
mately will be unlikely to make the
grade, for the same reasons.
B I O F U E L A D VA N C E S
This leaves fuels which are close to
like-for-like replacements for fossil
fuels. In fact, such fuels do exist;
they are high-purity, dense com-
pounds, liquid at room temperature,
and refined from existing waste
products. They are similar enough to
existing fuels that they can be
‘dropped-in’ to replace existing air-
craft fuel with a minimum of fuss,
ensuring a smooth transition, and
are known as sustainable aviation
fuel (SAFs). Derived from waste and
residue streams, supply of these
fuels is developed with a focus on
ecological sustainability and minimal
GHG impact.
Green sky thinking
In September 2023, the European
Union (EU) Council passed a law
mandating that SAF should make
up 34 percent of all aircraft fuel
supplied at EU airports by 2040, and
70 percent by 2050. Included within
the ‘ReFuelEU aviation’ package was
a further provision banning aircraft
from ‘tankering’ – carrying extra fuel
into European airspace to avoid having
to refuel with SAF at an EU airport.
The measure underscores the in-
creasing recognition of SAF’s poten-
tial to drive decarbonization within
the aviation sector, and the limited
viable alternatives. Even airlines
seem relieved with the decision to
favor SAF. “Ryanair believes using
SAF is the most realistic and effective
method for aviation to reduce emis-
sions in the coming decades,” the
Irish low-cost airline said in a state-
ment. “We welcome the European
Parliament’s decision to adopt SAF
mandates under the ReFuelEU regu-
lation, which will apply to all flights
departing a Union airport and follow
the ‘polluter pays’ principle.”
BULK HANDLING NEWS 19
B I O F U E L A D VA N C E S
SAF is not one fuel but an umbrella
of new ones, based on different
grades of biomass. The feedstocks
of SAF are various, but one of the
most important criteria for long
term success in decarbonization is
that they should not be reliant on
virgin cropland, thanks to the risk
of competition with global grain
supplies, as well as concerns over
the carbon cost of agricultural cul-
tivation and deforestation. Instead,
feedstocks for SAF should be made
from waste products like corn stalks,
used cooking oil, algae, and sewage.
Potentially adding to this are forestry
residues, sawmills and wood mill
waste from managed forests.
Hardest sector targets
ReFuelEU legislation states that
existing supplies of biomass feed-
stock should be targeted at the avia-
tion industry, one of the hardest-
to-decarbonize sectors, for maximum
climate effectiveness. The EU even
explicitly endorses discouraging bio-
fuel uptake in road and sea transpor-
tation, in order to prioritize air.
“
By 2050, 70 percent
of all aircraft fuel
supplied at EU airports
has to be sustainable
aviation fuel (SAF)
LAW PASSED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) COUNCIL
20 BULK HANDLING NEWS
According to the US Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
some 3.8 billion liters of biomass
could be collected domestically
each year, providing 227 billion liters
of low-carbon biofuels, which is
enough to completely replace fossil
fuels in US aircraft.
Another projection by Dutch SAF
specialists, SkyNRG, in its SAF Mar-
ket Outlook May 2023, estimates
that there could be as many as
454 billion liters of SAF production
up and running by 2050. “SAF is
increasingly accepted as the most
effective measure to significantly
reduce aviation emissions,” note the
report’s authors. “With key policies
in place or underway, the industry
now needs solid partnerships to
deliver on the momentum we see
today and realize the dramatic
increase in production capacity
needed to reach net-zero.”
But aviation is not the only con-
tender in the biomass race, with
stakeholders vying for raw materials
for heat and energy generation and
fiber-based packaging, for example.
Maintaining high capacity demands
and keeping any material losses to a
minimum are therefore vital.
Bruks Siwertell’s capability in this
sector is well-known, which is why the
company has received a figurative
‘tap on the shoulder’ from the
fledgling SAF industry, during its
participation at the first ever North
American SAF Conference & Expo
2023. Here, Ken Upchurch, Bruks
Siwertell SVP Sales and Marketing,
answered questions about handling
and processing SAF feedstocks. “We
are very excited to be part of the
SAF movement as we continue to
see increased interest in our solu-
tions as it relates to handling and
processing organic materials that
will ultimately become the source
for advanced SAF.”
Much of the biomass produced in
the US consists of corn stalks and
husks, or the small branches that are
shaved off in the process of cutting
timber; in Asia, palm kernel shells
are also a key source. Sawdust and
wood chips, once little more than the
waste of wood production, are now
valuable resources.
We know about wood
“Wood is the material that Bruks
Siwertell handles the most of,” ex-
plained Upchurch. “Every part of a
tree has value potential, and waste
wood residues such as wood chips,
bark, hard-to-handle forestry by-
products and end-of-life timber, are
no exception. These capabilities ex-
tend to agricultural waste as well.
“The biomass, bioenergy and biofuel
sectors can directly benefit from
Bruks Siwertell technology, and our

capabilities have been extended even
further in this sector with the recent
acquisition of the North American
engineering and manufacturing com-
pany, West Salem Machinery (WSM),”
he continued. “WSM’s waste-pro-
cessing capabilities, which includes
high-capacity shredders, hammer-
mills and green and food recycling
systems, strengthens our portfolio of
specialized waste wood residue and
wood-processing equipment. This puts
Bruks Siwertell Group in a great
position to ensure that SAF stake-
holders can get the highest yields
from this sustainable energy source.”
Charting the course
Bruks Siwertell’s wood-processing
range also includes some of the
market’s most powerful wood chip-
ping machines, providing a basic
feedstock for SAF. Transforming
wood chips into SAF involves com-
bining them alongside other solid
elements like bark, corn husks, and
pine kernels with oily substances
like waste cooking oil and sewage
sludge. Together, these fibrous
materials are broken down in a bio-
reactor, using microbes to digest
them into liquid; a process which
also generates usable heat on-site.
B I O F U E L A D VA N C E S
Once these processes are performed,
the resulting crude biofuel can then
be refined, cracked or blended into
different grades, in much the same
way as fossil fuels are today. SkyNRG
estimates that some 150 such facili-
ties are needed in Europe, and 250
in the US, to generate enough SAF
to meet with aviation fuel demand in
these countries. But not only this; an
extraordinary formalization of what is
currently an informal and decentral-
ized market – that of waste collection
and recycling – will be necessary, to
allow humanity to make better use
of its waste.
BULK HANDLING NEWS 21
B I O F U E L A D VA N C E S

Woodyards supplied by Bruks Siwertell are seen as the industry model for high-volume wood processing

Bruks Siwertell has helped various
operators to make better use of their
resources. Throughout North Ame-
rica and the world, Bruks Siwertell’s
machinery is already directly involved
co-firing, and for complete transitions sing and handling bio-mass remain
to biomass only fuel. So, whether this the same; minimizing waste, dust
is destined for aircraft engines or emissions, and material degradation,
power plants, the principles of proces- and maximizing yields.”

“
in the handling and processing of
wood and agricultural waste for
the biofuel, bioenergy and biomass
pellet sectors; and within ports, ship
loaders, unloaders and conveying
systems securing the environment- Bruks Siwertell Group is in a
friendly transfer of this material for great position to ensure that
onward use.
SAF stakeholders can get
“The SAF industry, fortunately, does the highest yields from this
not have to start from scratch,” said
Upchurch. “Bruks Siwertell has been sustainable energy source
assisting the power-generation sector KEN UPCHURCH, SVP SALES AND MARKETING,
in ramping up its use of biomass for BRUKS SIWERTELL

22 BULK HANDLING NEWS


IT MAY COME AS NO SURPRISE that fossil fuels continue
their energy market dominance, accounting for around
80 percent of total primary energy supply, according
to the World Bioenergy Association report, Global
Bioenergy Statistics 2022. However, little by little,
around 0.9 percent in fact over the previous year,
renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydro,
and biomass are encroaching on this domination.
100,000
HOURS OF
BIOMASS
UNLOADING
EXPERTISE
In the face of climate change and
energy security, all eyes are turning
to sustainable power generation,
with operators looking to plug the
fossil fuel gap with biomass; a raw,
renewable resource with great
potential, if sourced, handled
and combusted correctly
TEXT Jonas Andersson PHOTOS Bruks Siwertell
Looking at these figures in more detail, the World Bio-
energy Association report separates electricity and heat
production, which is helpful in understanding where
different renewables are making their largest impact.
In 2020, 26,833 TWh of electricity was generated glo-
bally, 35 percent of electricity production was from coal-
based sources, with renewables having a share of 29
BULK HANDLING NEWS 23
BIOMASS HANDLING
percent, mainly driven by the increasing use of solar and
wind, as well as significant contribution from hydropower
and biomass.
In 2020, 15.7 EJ of heat was produced globally via heat only
and combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Coal and
natural gas have a combined share of more than 85 percent
in the global heat production. However, World Bioenergy
Association notes that renewable energy technologies,
including biomass, geothermal and solar thermal have
doubled their share in the global heat production over
the past 20 years. Currently, 96 percent of all renewable
heat produced was from biomass with minor contribution
from geothermal and solar thermal technologies.
Uniformity enhances combustion
Bruks Siwertell is interested and investing in renewa-
ble technologies as part of meeting its sustainability
targets, which include reducing the carbon emissions
from its operations by 50 percent in comparison to levels
recorded in 2019, and switching to 100 percent renew-
able electricity by 2030. However, the company’s major
contribution to changing the face of the global energy
market is biomass handling.
Siwertell ship unloaders are located around the world, helping power stations make the switch from fossil fuels to renewable sources
24 BULK HANDLING NEWS
In all its forms, wood is the largest material that Bruks
Siwertell handles across its technologies. Systems
accommodate biomass in raw states, such as wood chips
and agricultural waste, including husks and palm kernel
shells, to its refined, familiar pelletized profile.
Pellets are produced by pressing and squeezing wood
fibers through a die, and make good use of very
small wood and agricultural waste fractions, such as
sawdust. Typically, they are about 6mm in diameter, but
can be larger and formed as briquettes. The extreme
pressure placed on the wood-based material as it is
forced through the die, increases its temperature. This
forms a natural glue and holds the pellet together as
it cools, however, some pellets make use of binders
and additives.
The final product is a dense, low-moisture content
pellet, typically below 10 percent, which then allows
them to be burned with a very high combustion effi-
ciency. Biomass pellets also have an advantage over
wood chips in that their combustion profile and burning
consistency are more similar to coal, and wood chips
require about two to three times more storage space
than pellets.

Not without challenges
All biomass, pellets, wood chips or otherwise, have three
significantly challenging characteristics that arise during
transportation, handling and storage. They are oxygen-
depleting, delicate and can self-ignite. As biomass
handing is a growth industry, these factors need care-
ful consideration.
The safety of the maritime industry comes under the
umbrella of the International Maritime Organization’s
(IMO) International Convention for the Safety of Life at
Sea, 1974 (SOLAS Convention), which also includes the
International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC
Code). The shipment of biomass wood pellets is noted
in the IMSBC Code, which distinguishes between wood
pellets that use binders and/or additives or not. Those
that use them can develop flammable gases when wet,
but both are classified as Group B commodities.
The main hazards relating to wood pellets being confined
in a ship’s hold in bulk form are oxygen depletion and
carbon monoxide development. With any organic mate-
rial, the risk of microbial action has to be considered.
This is particularly problematic when moisture content
rises over 15 percent.
As pellets are usually shipped at lower moisture levels,
and gas concentrations resulting from fermentation tend
not to reach flammable levels, according to the Code,
there is no requirement for any documentation certifying
moisture content to be provided to the vessel.
Keeping cool in the holds
However, wood pellets can also generate heat by oxida-
tion of their fibrous material. This is a natural result of
their manufacturing process, which exposes wood fibers
to the air, slowly facilitating the oxidation process. It is
this process that depletes oxygen from the hold. Fines,
generated from pellet degradation during handling, are
also more prone to oxidation.
Furthermore, the oxidation of wood pellets or fines
releases heat. If heat is generated relatively slowly, the
cargo temperature rises a little, but will stabilize. It is,
however, possible for wood pellet heating to become
self-accelerating to the point of fire.
BIOMASS HANDLING
Bruks Siwertell offers
the market continuous,
high-capacity ship
unloading systems
that can safely enclose
volatile dry bulks
Wood pellets are generally shipped without any venti-
lation in the hold, which means that any self-heating
tendencies, and its consequences, including carbon
monoxide production and oxygen depletion, is usually
self-limiting, as the amount of oxygen in the hold is
limited. The IMSBC Code notes that extreme caution
should be taken when opening and entering the hold.
Mitigating enclosed risks
When the holds are open, it is Bruks Siwertell’s turn to
add its expertise and safely complete the ship to shore
link, transferring the biomass, with minimal material
degradation, for the next leg of its journey. To put this
knowledge in perspective, Siwertell ship unloaders have
now clocked up almost 100,000 operational hours of
discharging biomass in ports.
Central to this capability is the Siwertell ship unloader,
ranging from road-mobile models, up to large-scale
unloading systems.
All have been designed to handle biomass safely and
are equipped with a sophisticated, in-house-designed
safety system, which has the capacity to suppress and
withstand dust explosions and mitigate the risk when
handling biomass in an enclosed space.
BULK HANDLING NEWS 25
 “
BIOMASS HANDLING
Renewable energy technologies, including
biomass, geothermal and solar thermal
have doubled their share in the global
heat production over the past 20 years
WORLD BIOENERGY ASSOCIATION
Bruks Siwertell has a lot of experience handling self-
igniting dry bulk materials, developing the Siwertell
Sulfur Safety System (4S) many years ago in response
to ensuring the safe, enclosed handling of sulfur. The
capabilities of both the biomass and sulfur safety
systems mean that Bruks Siwertell offers the market
a continuous, high-capacity ship unloading system that
can enclose volatile dry bulks safely.
Siwertell systems also protect the delicate pellets
from degradation through steady conveying velocities
and careful handling, and they minimize environmen-
tal impact by enclosing fugitive dust and eliminating
cargo spillage.
Biomass handling Siwertell ship unloaders are located
around the world, supporting the phase-out of coal and
helping power stations make the switch from fossil fuels
to renewable sources.
A final farewell
Last year, global renewable energy company, Drax, an-
nounced that almost 50 years of power generation from
coal at its North Yorkshire power station in the UK has
come to an end. Drax Power Station was once Western
Europe’s largest coal-fired power station but, over the
years, has been transformed into the UK’s single-largest
generator of renewable electricity; its four biomass units
generated 12.7 TWh of electricity in 2022.
It is now in discussions with the UK government, where
biomass accounted for 8.6 percent of energy supply in
2022, to employ bioenergy with carbon capture and
storage (BECCS) to permanently remove millions of
metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
26 BULK HANDLING NEWS
The lion’s share of wood pellet supply for Drax’s boilers
are US imports, which are processed and handled using
Bruks wood-processing equipment, truck receiving and
ship loading systems.
Once their transatlantic journey is complete, Drax
receives biomass unloaded at several UK locations
including the Immingham Renewable Fuels Terminal
(IRFT), operated by Associated British Ports, where the
US wood pellets arrive on dedicated self-trimming bulk
vessels of between 25,000 and 50,000 dwt. Since 2014,
these cargoes have been discharged by two rail-mounted
ST 790-D Siwertell ship unloaders and prior to that they
handled coal.
In 2016, the Ligna Biomass terminal in Liverpool, UK,
came online. Operated by Peel Ports, the material
terminal can store up to 110,000 metric tons of biomass.
Like IRFT, Ligna is equipped with two ST 790-D high-
capacity unloaders, which supply the power station with
up to ten train loads of pellets per day and account for
up to 40 percent of the total biomass consumed by Drax
each year.
Also in the UK, following an agreement with the Spanish-
Korean consortium, TR-Samsung, a Siwertell ship unloader
was ordered to support a new 299MW biomass-fueled
power plant in Teesside, Middlesbrough, UK. Delivered
in 2018, the tailor-made, rail-mounted ST 790-type D
Siwertell unloader is located close to the plant.
It is designed to discharge wood pellets and wood chips
to a matched Siwertell jetty conveyor with a movable
transfer trolley, supplied as part of the contract, and
has a rated average capacity of 1,200t/h and a maxi-
mum rate of 1,320t/h, which are designed to meet the
 BIOMASS HANDLING

plant’s requirements of 16,000 metric

ton/day. It is equipped with a dual
truck loading system for continuous
direct truck loading at a rate of 300t/h.
This is a redundancy feature that
allows operations to continue if shore
conveying is interrupted.

Combining heat
and power
Other notable references include
securing fuel for Denmark’s Avedøre
combined heat and power (CHP)
station. It is one of the most efficient
in the world, able to burn coal with
as much as 94 percent efficiency by
converting 49 percent of its potential
energy into electricity and distributing
the other 45 percent as residential
and industrial district heating.

Avedøre’s operator, Ørsted, formally

Denmark Oil and Gas (Dong Energy),
has reduced its coal use by 73 percent
since 2006, replacing it at its various
power plants with biomass, as part of
its target to ultimately phase out coal
power completely by 2023.

For this installation, a rail-mounted

high-capacity Siwertell ST 790-D
unloader has operated in the Avedøre
harbor since 2013. Again, originally
ordered for unloading both coal and
biomass cargoes interchangeably. It
now handles 100 percent biomass, after Ørsted con-
verted the plant for full-biomass operation in 2016.
In Asia, biomass often takes the form not only of wood
pellets, but also palm kernel shells from Indonesia and
Malaysia. In southeast Asia, at the Tembusu Multi-Utili-
ties Complex (TMUC) on Jurong Island in Singapore, a
combination of energy production, desalination, and
wastewater treatment is powered using coal and palm
kernel shells. Two ST 640-M rail-mounted Siwertell
unloaders, TUAS and TUAS II, have served TMUC since
2012, seamlessly alternating between unloading coal and
palm kernel shells.
Siwertell systems protect delicate biomass pellets from degradation
Biomass continues to boom
According to Research and Markets, the global biomass
power generation market is estimated to grow from
USD 91.3 billion in 2023 to USD 105.7 billion by 2028,
with much of the demand being driven by the industrial
sector. Most analysts are predicting similar demand
increases, which leaves the sector needing to meet
huge rises in demand. Siwertell ship unloading systems
are ready, tailored for the task and will meet capacity
demands in a sustainable way, further enhancing
biomass’ renewable credentials.

BULK HANDLING NEWS 27

ROLL AWAY FIRE RISKS
WITH AIR-CUSHION
CONVEYING
Operators understand the importance of maintenance, but the responsibility
for thousands of rollers beneath the conveyor belt is quite a task; eliminating
them can reduce maintenance burdens and the risk of friction fires, explains
Zack Hood, Manager Conveyor Projects, Bruks Siwertell

TEXT Zack Hood PHOTOS Bruks Siwertell, Shutterstock

VAST VOLUMES OF DRY BULK MATERIALS are conveyed on tra-
ditional roller or idler-can belt conveyors. They are robust,
extremely efficient, offer high capacities and are generally
very reliable, quickly transferring dense and abrasive
bulks, across long distances in demanding conditions.
Bruks Siwertell offers many types of these conveyors.
However, they have one major requirement, that of main-
tenance. The belt itself requires regular inspection, and
then all the idlers beneath it have to be properly greased
and serviced to ensure that they do not seize up, or the
phenomenon known as a friction fire is a real possibility.
relatively quickly, incidents like these, and there are
many, some with devastating consequences, are cause
for significant concern.
While there are situations like jetty conveying systems in
ports that serve large-scale ship unloaders and loaders,
where traditional belt conveyors are often the main
choice, there are now many opportunities for operators
to switch to alternative conveying technology, particu-
larly well-suited for the transfer of dry bulk materials
within facilities.

“
Prioritizing fire prevention
With large facilities having tens to hundreds of thou-
sands of idlers in action, and vast lengths of rubberized There are many
belts, the task and cost of maintaining these systems
becomes evident. Add to this, the volatile and innately opportunities
combustible nature of some dry bulk materials, for
example, grain, sulfur and biomass, including the rub-
where air-cushion
berized belt, and the enormity of the fire risk is revealed. conveying could
For example, in the UK, a fire in a biomass-handling
transform fire risk
power station in 2012 was found to have been started on Z ACK HOOD, MANAGER CONVEYOR
a conveyor belt operating within a pellet storage dome. PROJECTS, BRUKS SIWERTELL
Although fairly contained and power-generation resumed

28 BULK HANDLING NEWS


Bruks Siwertell offers these conveying systems as well,
which pose a much lower fire risk, and offer far reduced
maintenance costs. These include highly efficient, low-
friction air-cushion conveying systems that eliminate
roller and idlers all together, namely the Tubulator™ and
The Belt Conveyor™.
As neither of these air-supported systems use idlers
along their conveyor lengths, the risk of friction fires from
rollers jamming whilst in operation has been eliminated,
along with the need for maintenance walkways and the
huge associated costs of idler maintenance.
Perfect for biomass
Other advantages are that they are enclosed, so prevent
fugitive dust emissions from impacting the environment,
as well as keeping the product dry, which is important
for many dry bulk materials, such as biomass pellets.
Air-supported conveyors also ensure the quality of the
material in terms of degradation. The belts on traditional
conveyors are supported by the rollers beneath them,
but, as they are spaced at around 1.2m apart, the belt
sags a little in the middle, causing a series of fractional
The Belt Conveyor uses a formed pan to support the belt and a fully flanged cover makes it dust tight, protecting the environment
A I R - C U S H I O N A D VA N TA G E S
bumps to the cargo as it travels along. The interference
is minor, but over long distances, cargo, which is particu-
larly sensitive, such as biomass pellets, can break down
and degrade.
There is no such degradation on air-supported con-
veyors. The current climate emergency demands that
no raw material should be wasted, and given the rise
in demand for biomass, it is imperative that industries
have access to conveying systems that not only address
the risk of fire, but also that of degradation. In fact,
the higher the levels of material degradation, the
higher the chance of fire, so overcoming both of these
is a win-win.
Air under the belt
In terms of their designs, the Tubulator and The Belt
Conveyor offer something different. The Tubulator is an
air-supported belt conveyor, built as a closed system of
steel tubes. Inside the tube, a rubber belt runs at high
speed on top of an air cushion created by a series of
in-line fans. With less inertia and friction to overcome,
the Tubulator can reach angles that would not be
possible using traditional idler conveyors.
BULK HANDLING NEWS 29
A I R - C U S H I O N A D VA N TA G E S

Innovative conveyor options

The Tubulator is often specified for niche applica-
tions, and in 2018 Bruks Siwertell introduced The Belt
Conveyor into its portfolio, to offer customers a new type
of air-cushion conveyor that could carry a wider variety
of materials and incorporate features of both the Tubu-
lator and conventional conveyor design.

Instead of using a pipe enclosure, like the Tubulator,

The Belt Conveyor uses a formed pan to support the
belt. A fully flanged cover makes it dust tight, protec-
ting the environment and eliminating any material losses
through spillage.

The shape of the pan has the same geometry of a

35-degree idler conveyor, but without the rollers, there-
fore it still meets the industry-standard calculations for
the USA’s Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Associa-
tion (CEMA). Third-party components, like weigh-scales,
metal detectors, magnets and material sensor areas,
can all be incorporated into the design.

Like the Tubulator, The Belt Conveyor benefits from a

With air-supported systems, the risk of friction fires from rollers modular design that can easily be shipped and con-
jamming whilst in operation has been eliminated
structed. Each 3m section of the belt has access to a
common header of pressurized air, and under the carry-
It can very effectively handle almost any low-density side pan is a 3m pressurized air enclosure system,
material, such as cement, shredded waste, grain, and
sugar. Because it uses a cushion of air instead of idlers,
there is no product degradation. Fragile materials are

“
transported more easily and gently, creating less dust in
the process. If any dust is generated, Tubulator convey-
ors are totally enclosed so emissions do not become an
environmental or safety hazard; a key benefit for ports
handling potentially explosive dusts. Given the rise in
demand for biomass,
Tubulator systems are sectioned into 12m-long pipes,
designed to fit into a 40ft standard shipping container. industries must have
Because of their structural integrity and low weight, they access to conveying
can be installed over existing equipment. Conveyors are
self-supporting up to 25m, and have a free-span of up systems that address
to 80m when using cable towers, or up to 30m between the risk of fire
standard supports.
Z ACK HOOD, MANAGER CONVEYOR
PROJECTS, BRUKS SIWERTELL
Bruks Siwertell has hundreds of Tubulator installations
worldwide, particularly serving the processed wood
sector such as wood-processing plants, sawmills, paper
mills and pellet production.

30 BULK HANDLING NEWS


Because of their structural integrity and low weight, Tubulator systems can be installed over existing equipment
otherwise known as a plenum. Air pressure sensors and
flow meters along the length of the belt ensure the
optimum amount of air is delivered for the weight of the
given cargo, reducing running costs.
Delivering a commercial advantage
A notable example of a facility that uses both of these
technologies is Canada’s Barrette-Chapais, at its
210,000 metric tons/year wood pellet production plant,
Granule 777, in Quebec. The facility uses offcuts and
wood waste residuals from sawmills in the production
of biomass pellets.
Within Granule 777 is an air-supported conveyor system
with a rated capacity of 800t/h for carrying wood
pellets. It comprises a 100m-long The Belt Conveyor
and a 250m-long Tubulator. The Belt Conveyor carries
material from the facility’s two pellet storage domes,
before transferring it to the Tubulator system which
feeds it to the dock where the pellets are loaded onto
bulk carriers bound for Europe.
A I R - C U S H I O N A D VA N TA G E S
The Tubulator employs Bruks Siwertell’s innovative sus-
pension cable tower technology, reducing foundation
requirements and minimizing construction costs. For
this application, Bruks Siwertell was able to span 250m
down to the dock over very difficult terrain. These long
spans, up to 75m, are easily managed with the Tubulator
and meant that only three cable tower supports over the
entire length were used. This is also a downhill conveyor,
so it is regenerative in nature, requiring a new braking
system on the drive unit.
Fire risk is a serious concern in the dry bulk and wood-
processing industries, and especially so when handling
materials that are ultimately destined as fuel. But
these materials have to be transferred and trans-
ported, and sometimes high-capacity traditional belt
conveyors are the only practical option, but there are
many opportunities, like Granule 777 notably demon-
strates, where an alternative option could be consi-
dered, transforming fire risk, and offering much lower
maintenance costs, without compromising on efficiency
and performance.
BULK HANDLING NEWS 31
MORE ROAD-MOBILE
UNLOADERS SET TO
WORK IN THE US
Building-back America continues to place significant
capacity demands on US cement importers, and with
new carbon tariffs on the horizon, selecting a ship
unloading system that protects the environment,
and offers flexibility, is a wise choice
TEXT Ken Upchurch PHOTOS Studio e
BETWEEN 2013 AND 2022, cement imports in the United States
(US) increased almost fourfold, reaching 24 million metric
tons, according to US Geological Survey, and remained
close to this elevated level well into 2023. According to
the US publication Global Cement, at the beginning of
2023, overland cement imports to the US, such as from
Mexico, were falling, to be replaced by increased
imports from Turkey. Vietnam, another exporter to the
US, increased its cement production by 9.1 percent.
Delayed construction projects restarted post-
pandemic, and the US Bipartisan Infrastructure
Bill, dedicated to rebuilding America’s infrastructure,
are continuing their ripple effect, with US operators
still having to meet significant cement demands. Several
US operators have turned to Bruks Siwertell to help meet
their increased capacity requirements.
32 BULK HANDLING NEWS
Showcasing capabilities
In 2020, one such company placed an
order for a Siwertell 5 000 S road-
mobile ship unloader to serve cement
handling operations at its site in Mokena,
Illinois, close to the Great Lakes. Since
its delivery in the same year, the unloader
has been used to transfer cement cargoes
directly from vessels into trucks, delivering
a continuous rated unloading capacity of 300t/h
for vessels up to 5,000 dwt.
The Siwertell road-mobile unloader does not re-
quire a permanent installation on the quayside, a fact
which gives it a considerable competitive advantage.
On top of being able to deploy and repack in under an
hour, the ship unloader can handle large shipments of
Portland cement relative to its size.
 MOBILE PORT TECHNOLOGY

Road-mobile units also offer benefits common to all

Siwertell screw-type unloaders, low power consump-
tion, very efficient through-ship profiles, an enclosed
conveying line from the ship to shore, containing dust
emissions, eliminating spillage, and ensuring a safe
working environment with minimal to no clean-up.

These attributes make the Siwertell road-mobile

ship unloader not only the best-in-class for this
operator’s purposes, but a huge efficiency improve-
ment compared with the strategy of importing and
handling cement in bags, which dominated in the
US until recently.

Best in class
“Before ordering this unit, the operator invested
time in researching various types of unloading equip-
ment and concluded that the Siwertell road-mobile
unloader was the best solution for its application.
They are also one of the only systems that can dis-

“
charge cement direct to trucks,” says Ken Upchurch,
SVP Sales and Marketing, Bruks Siwertell.

It is probably little surprise, then, that when

The operator another road-mobile unloader was needed, the

concluded that company knew who to call. “The choice of un-

loader is a very important one, as it is a piece
the Siwertell road- of equipment with a lifespan of many years,”

mobile unloader was continues Upchurch. “This makes it a really

big deal when a customer decides to
the best solution for invest with us, and a great privilege

its application when, as in this case, it endorses our

product by doing it a second time.”
KEN UPCHURCH, SVP SALES AND
MARKETING, BRUKS SIWERTELL

BULK HANDLING NEWS 33

M O B I L E P O RT T E C H N O L O G Y

cement from other econo-

mies. The European Union
(EU) has also recently intro-
duced its own CBAM, effec-
tively levelling the price on
the production of cement
entering the EU, and encoura-
ging cleaner industrial pro-
duction in non-EU countries.

This means that the waste

reduction afforded by
Siwertell dry bulk handling
equipment will be all the
more important. “These new
polices demonstrate that
environmental credentials
and scrutiny are under the
spotlight. Technology that
protects the environment
is not a nice-to-have, but
Road-mobile units ensure a safe working environment with minimal to no clean-up essential,” says Upchurch.
“Many importers across the
US and elsewhere still have
Second system up and running yet to invest in the best-in-
The new Siwertell 5 000 S road mobile unloader was class equipment for the job. But if you are importing
delivered in May 2023 and is used to handle cement cement, you cannot do better than a Siwertell ship
imports at a facility across the country in Harvey, Loui- unloader for ensuring your environmental, efficiency
siana, unloading cement shipments from barges up to and capacity requirements are met; exactly what this
5,000 dwt, also at a continuous rated capacity of 300t/h. operator opted for.”

There are various reasons why the growing US cement

import market is looking to Bruks Siwertell’s mechanical

“
screw-type unloaders, over bagged cement, grabs, and
pneumatics. With efficiencies and low power demands
aside, Siwertell unloaders can also withstand digging
forces if cargoes have become crusted in the hold, and
their market-leading through-ship capacities. This is Technology that
achieved through the pendulum motion of the vertical protects the
arm, which can move +/- 30 degrees to reach all areas of
the cargo hold, even under coamings. This also reduces environment is
the need for payloader assistance. not a nice-to-have,
but essential
Cleaning up cement
KEN UPCHURCH, SVP SALES AND
Environmental considerations are only going to increase,
MARKETING, BRUKS SIWERTELL
with several economies including the US considering a
variant of carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM)
to tackle ‘carbon-leakage’ associated with imports of

34 BULK HANDLING NEWS


OUR
PEOPLE
Boge Sisevski
TECHNICAL TENDER ENGINEER, BRUKS SIWERTELL
The role of a tender engineer is to interpret
customers’ needs and requests, and initiate
the first steps on the road to transforming
these into a reality; Boge Sisevski has worked
in this role for a decade, offering engineering
support to the team in Bjuv, Sweden
I AM PART OF A TEAM which produces technical docu-
mentation, layout drawings and specifications for Bruks
Siwertell customers, as part of the tendering process.
Interacting with salespeople and colleagues who work
with technology is a daily norm.
What keeps me motivated is the constant influx of new
requests and challenges. I work closely with custom-
ers to understand their needs and translate them into
clear, comprehensive documentation. It is a thrill to
work with new requests and solve the various problems
each new case presents. It is like solving a puzzle that
evolves each day, adapting to industry standards and
customized solutions.
A daily puzzle
I am also interested in longevity. It is not enough to
design a system for today, because it will need to be
in place for decades, hopefully. This means that part of
my job is to envision what will be required in the future
as well.
OUR PEOPLE
Bruks Siwertell has such a wide variety of products that
there is a solution waiting to be found for every appli-
cation in dry bulk handling, that is my job. The diversity
of products and global installations is a key appeal of
working here.
You can see this variation by looking at the systems
we have installed around the world. Even though our
loaders and unloaders are instantly recognizable in the
field, you will find each one is slightly different, engaging
and working in concert with the accompanying equip-
ment in slightly different ways. I love to see our equip-
ment in action.
Growing prospects
There are all types of jobs available at Bruks Siwertell,
and never have there been more options in terms of
location as well. We have a number of engineers who
have spent their whole careers with us, though not
necessarily staying in one place or even geographic
location. We are involved in projects worldwide, from
unloaders and loaders to full-scale terminals, shaping
efficient cargo flows on an international scale.
In a nutshell, my journey at Bruks Siwertell is exciting.
I work with a diverse team, face daily challenges, and
contribute to global dry bulk material trades. The envi-
ronment at the company is excellent, and the possibil-
ities are many. The variety of products, global reach,
and career opportunities make this a place to thrive
and have a lasting impact.
BULK HANDLING NEWS 35
 ABOUT BRUKS SIWERTELL
Bruks Siwertell is a market-leading supplier of dry bulk
handling and wood processing systems. With thousands
of installations worldwide, our machines handle your raw
materials from forests, fields, quarries and mines, main-
taining critical supply lines for manufacturers, mills, power
plants and ports.

We design, produce and deliver systems for ship loading,

ship unloading, conveying, storing, and stacking and re-
claiming dry bulk materials, alongside equipment for baling,
chipping, composting, screening, milling, recycling, and
processing wood and agricultural waste for the biofuel,
bioenergy, panelboard, sawmill, pulp and paper industries.

We are global and local. You will find our main offices in
the USA, Sweden, Germany, China, the Philippines and
Taiwan, supported by a dedicated network of hundreds
of representatives and dealers worldwide.

An extensive global service team offers support to all Bruks

Siwertell customers whenever and wherever it is needed.

SHIP UNLOADING · SHIP LOADING · TRUCK UNLOADING

STORAGE & RECLAIMING · CHIPPING · GRINDING & MILLING
CONVEYING · SCREENING · RECYCLING WOOD WASTE
BALING · COMPOSTING · WOOD RESIDUE PROCESSING

bruks-siwertell.com
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