Movequip solutions and Verlinde equipment optimise handling in Brazil's sugar industry
Founded in 1995 in the city of Ribeirão Preto in South-East Brazil, Movequip offers its customers a complete portfolio of intelligent material flow solutions using high-tech lifting and handling systems. Movequip has been Verlinde's partner since 2023. As a specialist of Big Bags loading and storage optimisation, Movequip markets lifting equipment that is extremely safe and fast to operate, thereby boosting performance while reducing operating costs. Convinced by this expertise, a major player in the sugar industry called on Movequip for a large-scale project.
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Brazil, with 25% of global production, is the world's largest sugar producer. Most of the crop is grown in the Centre-South region, and around 80% of the sugar produced is exported, mainly to international markets. Sugar has been an integral part of Brazil's social, political and economic history ever since sugar cane was first planted. The country is constantly modernising its industry with sustainable practices that minimise its carbon footprint and is initiating best practice throughout the value chain.
The challenge of storing sugar Big Bags
In this context of massive production, efficient storage and handling is becoming crucial. Concerned about this, one of Brazil's leading sugar processing companies, willing to optimise its storage operations, called on Movequip, Verlinde's partner in Brazil, for a major project. The specific need was to maximise the storage of sugar Big Bags while reducing handling time, thereby increasing productivity.
Movequip and Verlinde solutions: a tailor-made response
Movequip is renowned for its advanced industrial handling solutions, which meet the most stringent performance and safety requirements. For this project, four overhead travelling cranes were installed in a 200 metres long warehouse, with a span of 30 metres and a height of 20 metres. Each crane can lift six Big Bags simultaneously, each bag weighing 1250 kg with a diameter of 1100 mm and a height of 1200 mm.
Mr Vogas, Director of Movequip, explains: ‘To get an idea of the project, you have to imagine 15 Big Bags stacked on a base of 26 Big Bags forming a pyramid’. He adds: ‘Our equipment meets all industrial applications in accordance with national and international regulatory standards, using high-tech and high-performance components. We also offer our customers special manual devices for lifting loads, manufactured to meet the specific needs of each application. Our Big Bag technology is ahead of the latest technologies on the global market, with automated, self-contained solutions using lithium batteries.’
The use of Verlinde VT4 electric hoist, with its 3M FEM workgroup, proved to be a major asset. This hoist stands out for its robustness and its ability to withstand high work cycles, a necessity in this high-speed environment. The overhead travelling cranes, equipped with motors capable of travelling at speeds of up to 60 m/min, ensure fast, efficient handling of the Big Bags.
The trolley's reach (3100 mm) has also been customised to optimise storage at height. This specific adaptation made it possible to increase total storage capacity by 8%, in line with the customer's expectations.
Mr Vogas comments: ‘One of the key innovations in this installation was the integration of an automated Big Bag handling system. This technology, combined with Verlinde components, has improved storage movements by 90%, while significantly reducing cycle times. This automation is part of a trend towards optimising industrial processes, where safety and speed of execution are priorities’.
A technical installation with dedicated teams
The installation, carried out in a recently refurbished warehouse, required 1.6 km of rails to be laid. A team of six professionals was mobilised to erect the overhead travelling cranes using cranes and lifting platforms. Movequip's expertise in managing this type of complex project enabled the project to be completed on time and commissioned quickly.
Trust at the heart of customer relations
When Movequip was selected, the preventive maintenance contract was part of the specification to ensure that the equipment was inspected regularly to avoid unplanned downtime. In addition, strategic spare parts are stocked at the customer's premises to ensure that repairs can be carried out quickly should the need arise. In addition, Movequip provides a 24-hour service with a technical team located less than 80 km from the end customer's site, enabling rapid assistance to be provided when needed.
Mr Vogas says: ‘With Movequip Service, we offer the most comprehensive technical support, deploying top-level professionals who work to the highest quality standards, which is essential in a constantly evolving market. This service has brought us a great deal of recognition and, of course, the most important of all, that of our customers.’
Perspective
Movequip has enjoyed a relationship with this customer for over 20 years, strengthened by a maintenance contract for all the cranes it sells. Thanks to the quality of the equipment and the responsive after-sales service, the customer continues to invest in Movequip and Verlinde solutions, and now has more than 20 cranes for various sectors of its business.
The collaboration between Movequip, Verlinde and this customer is not limited to this installation. Further orders are planned, as the positive impact on the productivity and efficiency of the handling process has been highly significant.
Mr Vogas concludes: ‘This sugar Big Bag storage project represents a major step forward for the sugar cane industry in Brazil. Thanks to high-performance equipment and solid technical expertise, Movequip and Verlinde have helped to optimise the value chain, while meeting the highest standards in terms of safety and productivity’.
Excellent local development prospects for Movequip and Verlinde.
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