Taking Material Handling to the Next Level: FMW’s Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer

25.10.2024

You are likely familiar with the challenges faced at the woodyard, including constant change, safety concerns, efficiency, and quality control of materials. These topics are crucial to keep up with industry standards. In our last blog article, we discussed the two main factors that improve efficiency at the woodyard. Today, we want to introduce the solution that sets a new standard for efficient and reliable wood chip storage: the FMW Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer.

The very first Stacker/Reclaimer: The Story behind the Product

The journey of the Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer began in Cameroon, Central Africa, where the need for a safe, automated material handling equipment was identified. Our very first Stacker/Reclaimer installation was installed in 1979 in it’s very first design.

A new State-of-the-art in storing woodchips

The general wood chip storage solution in the 1980s was clearly different, but the industry has constantly evolved. Increasing costs of mobile equipment and maintenance, safety issues and increasing demand led to a new era of wood chip storage. Since 2001, the next generation of Stacker/Reclaimer has been installed setting a new state-of-the-art solution.

Simple and effective – FMW’s Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer

The Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer works in a simple yet effective manner. It stacks, blends, and reclaims materials, through an automatic „first-in first-out“ operation that ensures efficient handling, while the remote monitoring and reclaimer control provide ease of operation.

The automated process begins with the chips being transported via an inclined conveyor to a rotating stacker. The stacker rotates 360 degrees and creates the characteristic “round” storage pile. During the reclaiming process, the reclaimer rotates 360 degrees to collect chips on a first in / first out basis. A rake sweeps the chips to create a constant and homogenized flow down to a horizontal screw conveyor supported by the reclaimer boom, transports the chips to the central hopper for metered transportation to the process.

Here is an example of one of our references and hear what our partner at Mondi in Steti has to say about the equipment.

Benefits of the FMW Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer

The benefits of using the Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer are manifold. The system improves efficiency, maintains the quality of materials, provides active storage and homogenization of the chips, and reduces total investment costs. The system’s ease of maintenance and low energy and maintenance costs further add to its appeal.

With decades of experience, know-how, and more than 70 installed systems, FMW guarantees „proven solutions“. Our commitment to safety, energy efficiency, and custom-made solutions makes the Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer a valuable addition to any material handling operation.

Are you already facing the challenges?

In a nutshell, the Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer is an efficient, modern solution to the challenges faced by the material handling industry. It offers an easy-to-maintain structure, low total investment costs, and is backed with experience in the industry with more than 70 references around the globe.

If you have any further questions or would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to contact our team. We are happy to help improve your material handling process at any stage.

Two Main Factors for Maximizing Efficiency at the Woodyard

23.10.2024

In today’s fast-paced world, the pulp and paper industry is experiencing substantial change. Woodyard managers are under pressure to improve efficiency, meet deadlines, and manage costs effectively. Operational inefficiencies can lead to reduced productivity, waste of resources, and potential loss of revenue. So, how can these challenges be addressed?

In this Blog-Article we want to share our experience from more than 100 wood chip handling references around the globe and talk about the two key factors to face those challenges straight on.

Efficiency Starts Here: Streamlining Paper Manufacturing from Material Handling

The best place to enhance process efficiency is at the start of the paper manufacturing process, specifically in the woodyard. There are numerous chances to improve efficiency and, more importantly, safety, from the receipt of materials to the digester. This article will concentrate on the two main factors that can enhance safety and efficiency.

Key Factor: Efficient and safe wood chip storage

The most effective factor for efficiency can be found in the wood chip storage. A reliable storage solution is the linchpin of the entire process. In over 70 projects worldwide, a Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer has had a significant impact.

The FMW Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer

The FMW Blended-Bed Stacker/Reclaimer (DAX/REX) system is a fully automated operational solution with very high reliability that effectively manages your wood chip storage. This system “stacks” woodchips into a large pile, while the reclaimer removes the woodchips from the pile. This enables:

• A “first-in first-out” operation and
• guarantees a 100% active storage and reclaim volume, while providing
• gentle treatment and perfect homogenization of incoming different chips qualities.

This combination of benefits offers the highest internal rate of return possible in a chip handling system. For more technical details to the system, please click here.

Listen to one of our partners from Mondi in Steti, CZ.

The first Blended-Bed Stacker Reclaimer got installed in 2001 at their woodyard and is still running reliably. To be able to keep up with the rest of the mill, they added two further Stacker/Reclaimer systems over the years. The last and biggest one in 2017. Click here to watch the video:

Significant higher yields with the wood chip screening system

To enhance production efficiency, quality, and productivity, the wood chip screening system plays a vital role. This system removes oversized chips and fines, ensuring only acceptable material is retained. Our FMW Screening System consists of a primary and secondary screening. The primary screen separates oversized material and lumps from the chip flow, directing them to the Re-Chipper. The secondary screen separates overs and fines from the acceptable rate. Acceptable material is transferred directly to the downstream process, while fines are collected in a fines bunker.

Oversized chips pass through a metal detector and Stone Trap to remove impurities (s.a. stones, ferro and non-ferro particles) before being cut to the desired length by the Re-Chipper for re-screening. This efficient process boosts yield and minimizes losses in subsequent production stages.

Those are the two main factors that influences your efficiency and yield at the woodyard the most.

If you have any further questions or would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to contact our team. We are happy to help improve your safety, efficiency, and reliability. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to learn about the benefits of a Stacker/Reclaimer storage solution.