Back in 2021 ElvalHalcor, one of the global leaders in aluminium rolling and processing, further strengthened their relationship with Spooner as they responded to the increase in demand for their sustainable materials used in the packaging, building and construction sectors.
The initial order was for two Passivation Dryers, a 70-metre Lacquer Oven and associated Air Coolers. The Spooner equipment was to incorporate the latest Supa-Max Plus flotation nozzles designed to operate up to 150 mm nozzle-to-nozzle gap. This was then complemented with the request for a Spooner Regenerative Thermal Oxidiser, one of the largest supplied to date. The RTO came with a secondary and tertiary heat recovery system optimised for low energy consumption and the Spooner Lacquer Oven incorporated a unique indirect heating system which uses a combination of hot and cold fresh air, heat recirculation air and mass balance against the exhaust for solvent safety.
Once the total system had been engineered, manufactured and constructed at the Spooner site in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, the equipment was ready to head to its new home, a new purpose-built lacquering line for the production of aluminium canstock, in Greece. A new challenge for any company during Covid times.
Other challenges included the logistics – firstly due to the dimensions and weight of the equipment but also the 46 heavy goods vehicles required to deliver over a three-month timespan, not to mention the on-site installation complying with strict European working visa regulations.
A full testing regime was accomplished using both the Spooner factory and the customer’s own site to suit the nature of the equipment and the customer’s needs.
The unsung heroes of Spooner
Three dedicated and experienced Spooner engineers worked alongside ElvalHalcor’s installation team for almost four months. The customer can continue to look forward to Spooner’s customary support to ensure all the equipment is fully integrated into the remaining process line.
Installation and commissioning engineers are key to making any project successful. They are frequently required to travel to all corners of the globe with extremes in climate and can spend weeks and months away from family members, and this project was no exception. Well done to the Spooner on-site team for another great installation!
If you want to find out more about our Metal Strip Processing Equipment or Heat Recovery Systems, get in touch here or call +44 (0)1943 609 505.
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