Customized bucket elevator design: Why material testing is essential

Experience and Commitment The main business of Sinfines y Maquinaria S.A. (Sinfimasa) is to understand the customer and design and manufacture conveyors according to project requirements and the specifications of the solid material to be handled. At our facilities in Guissona (Spain), we have our own engineering department with over 35 years’ experience, where we design machines that meet our customers’ technical specifications and make our commitment to their engineering project. We offer solutions for conveying and lifting bulk solids with uncompromising quality and precision, and we ensure equipment reliability in every situation in the processing plant. Safe, Robust, Reliable In our production plant we manufacture products with all types of finishes as required: pickled and passivated, electro-polished, lacquered, sandblasted and food-grade, etc. We work with different materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel and anti-wear steel. We use high quality and universally available components such as SEW gearmotors or SKF bearings. Our suppliers are also key to our success and we make a commitment to them. We have a test bench where, based on product samples from our customers, we research the best solution for the requirements of each project. We are committed to our customers and engineering companies to offer machines with guaranteed reliability. Sinfimasa has welding procedures and welders approved according to ASME Section IX (QW-484). We use an automated welding system to ensure that the entire length of the conveyors are welded evenly and are free from voids. At Sinfimasa we are rigorous and demanding, with numerous references in several countries on all five continents as our guarantee. Please ask us for more information as you require. Consult us about your project on no obligation. We will make you a reliable technical proposal that is 100% adapted to your requirements.

Discover how bulk material analysis and flow testing are key to designing bulk solids conveyors fully tailored to the production line. An efficient conveyor system for handling bulk solids requires one crucial step before selecting the type of conveyor. The most critical—and often most underestimated—step is the thorough analysis of the material to be conveyed. Deep knowledge of the product’s characteristics ensures not only a technically accurate solution but also greater durability, lower maintenance costs, and optimized industrial productivity. Understanding the material to be conveyed Each bulk material has unique physical properties that directly impact conveyor performance. A generic or modular design for a screw conveyor, bucket elevator, or chain conveyor may lead to operational failures, blockages, premature wear, or even unexpected production line shutdowns. The design must begin with a data-driven approach based on the product these conveyors will handle. Below are the key properties to study and the methodology: Technical characterization of the material * Bulk density *

Operating temperature, granularity, and other characteristics determine what the best option is for a bulk solids elevator. This item describes different types of bucket elevators: chain or belt. Chain or Belt Bucket Elevator Typically, in the industry and handling of bulk solid products, belt-anchored bucket elevators are used for vertical material lifting due to their higher performance in terms of load capacity and lifting speed. However, a chain bucket elevator emerges as a robust and reliable solution for lifting materials under certain specific conditions. Comparing them with the former, we observe significant differences that influence the implementation decision according to the needs of each project. Heavy-Duty applications Chain bucket elevators stand out for their ability to handle bulk materials of large size, high density, abrasiveness, and under high-temperature conditions. This type of elevator uses robust chains as a means of support and traction for the buckets, which gives it superior resistance to wear and slippage. This feature makes them ideal for applications where materials such as minerals, coal, and chemicals need to be transported

To prevent abrasive wear, it is necessary to use abrasion-resistant industrial coatings with good resistance to the (hardest and sharpest) particles in the bulk material being transported. The simplest solution is to apply a hard coating or lining to the surface of the parts of the conveyor in contact with the product. This protective coating should have a greater hardness than the particles causing the wear. A second possibility is to apply reinforced coatings with a better chemical composition, giving phases greater functionality and more protection. A third possibility is to treat the base metal, making it more resistant. Wear protection for bucket elevators For a bucket elevator, the buckets should be reinforced at the edges with an anti-wear steel plate, as this is the area most affected by wear. Wear protection for screw conveyors In screw conveyors, on the other hand, the entire spiral and shaft should be made of anti-wear steel. For this purpose

Confined horizontal and vertical transport of lead oxide with a temperature of 110°C, a toxic and polluting material. Lead oxide or lead dioxide is an odorless brown powder or crystal. It is used in the electrodes of lead-acid accumulator batteries and in the paint, rubber and ceramics industries. In this success story, our client is a multinational lead-acid battery manufacturer that needed to transport and elevate lead oxide with an average temperature of 110°C for a new manufacturing line. Lead oxide is characterized by a high density and in this case, it is transported with a fine granulometry in powder form. In addition to its toxicity and polluting capacity, it requires that the machinery that transports it has an adequate sealing to avoid material leaks and an adequate dimensioning to ensure its correct operation in case of unexpected stoppages. Lead oxide bucket elevators To meet the requirements of the plant’s engineers, Sinfimasa designed and manufactured a belt bucket elevator taking into account the abrasion, temperature and tension requirements, so a top brand