Superior Industries Inc. recently completed development of a new model TeleStacker Conveyor for loading dry bulk cargo ships. This multi-purpose, highly mobile conveyor incorporates truck unloading and ship loading capabilities into a single machine.
“Since expanding our TeleStacker Conveyor to marine-based applications in the early 2000s, we’ve collected hundreds of data points, design preferences and functional requirements from operators and engineers,” says Scott Gulan, sales manager at Superior. “We gathered all of their feedback and combined it with the knowledge we’ve gained to produce an impressive, multi-functional ship loading conveyor.”
Mobility, said Superior, is one of the most important functions of the new Ship Loading TeleStacker Conveyor. All-wheel travel capability means moves are easy throughout confined quays and terminals including carousel, crab, parallel, inline and radial movements. Adjusting wheel positions takes less than a minute, which means moving from hatch to hatch or from storage to operation is easier and faster than ever. Many movements can take place during active material handling to maintain consistent feeding of the ship.
Another important, groundbreaking feature is the conveyor’s integrated truck-unloading system. That means the truck’s ramps, hopper and conveyor are all connected to the tail end of the TeleStacker Conveyor. Owners and operators will eliminate costly double-handling and preserve material quality from bed of truck to hold of ship. The incorporated truck unloader is operated by the same power source, which lifts or lowers the undercarriage during transportation or adjustment of the truck target.
“Since the unloading and loading machines are one, they move and operate seamlessly and neatly,” said Gulan. “This greatly reduces all the time it takes for operators who historically managed the relocation of several pieces of gear.”
Superior said adding a Ship Loading TeleStacker Conveyor can improve your reputation as a good corporate neighbor as several environmentally friendly features are incorporated into the design. These include fugitive material reduction and collection systems like fully sealed transfer points and load zones, enclosed belting, drip pans, spray bars and dust collection systems. The mobile conveyors are quiet, compact and finished with corrosion resistant coatings and hardware.
The first TeleStacker Conveyor was manufactured in 1997 and the original unit still actively stockpiles at a quarry in the United States today. Twenty-five years later, Superior’s telescopic conveyor has earned top market share and is admired for heavy-duty engineering, high-quality manufacturing, best-in-class components and big performance. Unique standard features include a patented undercarriage for rock-solid support, largest diameter cables, mechanically designed safety components, load sharing stinger support rolls and a winch system installed away from any material drop zones.
“As a conveyor producer, one of Superior’s most significantly unique qualities is the design and manufacturing of our own idlers, pulleys and conveyor accessories,” said Gulan. “It’s the problem-solving characteristics of these conveyor parts that truly separate Superior’s material handling equipment as best-in-class.”
The Ship Loading TeleStacker Conveyor is best suited to load Panamax vessels and conveniently packages inside containers for overseas shipping. Models include units for both rear truck unloading and compact side unloading. The 170-ft.-long (52 m) conveyor’s belt is 42-in. (1,065 mm) wide for production of up to 1,500 tph (1,360 mtph).
Superior Industries Inc., www.superior-ind.com