Waste sorting in the hall: electric material handlers replace overhead crane

The newly opened and largest sorting center in Wallonia, Val'Up, is the result of intensive project planning that began four years ago. Here, 50,000 tons of PMC waste such as plastic packaging, metal packaging as well as beverage cartons from more than 2 million Belgian citizens are sorted annually. The sorting center covers an area of 10,500 m² and employs 90 people. In a maze of 170 conveyor belts with a total length of 5 km, waste is sorted into 14 different fractions, including aluminum, plastic and scrap, with the help of numerous sensors and optical sorters. Out of these, 500 cubes are pressed every day - 200 t of material that is subsequently recycled in Belgium and other neighbouring countries.

The electric material handlers work 5 days a week in three shifts and distribute the waste, which is unloaded daily by around 60 trucks at the gates of the hall, to the various bunkers. Equipped with a 3-cubic-meter orange peel grab, they are able to handle the large volumes of waste while already sorting out coarser materials such as long foils. From the bunkers, the machines fill the hopper as well as the conveyor belt. Intermediate storage thus avoids machine downtime and ensures continuous operation and filling of the hopper. A major and decisive advantage over the overhead cranes typically used is the high speed and flexibility of the machines. With their reach of 18 m combined with the customized rail undercarriages, the electric material handlers can easily reach all areas of the hall and especially the low-lying bunkers. Thanks to their compact dimensions, even the low ceiling heights pose no problem. In addition to the hoisting limiter and the secured access to the machines, built-in sensors that prevent a collision of the two material handlers also ensure a safe working environment.

By investing in the electrically powered 835 E material handlers from SENNEBOGEN, the operators of the sorting center not only work with zero emissions and low vibration, but also save enormous costs. Much longer maintenance intervals as a result of reduced wear and the elimination of fuel, oil and filter changes significantly reduce service and operating costs. In addition, the electric machines work more economically due to their higher efficiency and offer significantly higher availability for the sorting center due to the elimination of regular fuel stops.