Speeding barge loading

The Murphy’s Wharf recycling depot in Charlton run by Day Group is one of the UK’s largest recycling depots. Finlay Group recently delivered a Trackstack VL1000 13.5 m (44.3 ft) fast volume loader/unloader, the first to be operational in the UK, to the facility where it is now being used to transfer recycled glass from hopper trucks directly onto barges on the river Thames. The Trackstack VL1000 is a low-level receiving hopper featuring a radial boom conveyor fitted onto a single track mounted chassis for ease of movement and rapid set-up time.

Day Group has been supplying natural and recycled aggregate to the construction and civil engineering industry since 1974. The glass recycling business has been operational for the last 12 years and it now exports more than 30,000 tonnes of material per year.

Adam Day of Day Group, said: “The machine is working brilliantly. We previously used a long reach excavator, but it could not deliver the volumes we can now achieve. As well as speeding up the process we save on the cost of an excavator, and the fuel and labour, by operating this system. The V1000 is currently running at 600 tonnes an hour, although there is the potential to run at up to 900 tonnes an hour if required. As well as sending out recycled glass, it has also been running with recycled aggregate. The incoming material is loaded seamlessly from the truck straight to the water.”

Leon Sheehy, managing director of Finlay Plant South East, worked with Day Group to introduce the machine on the site. He said: “As part of the installation process, we worked closely with Day’s site manager to find out the company’s exact needs. Features including redesigned load-up ramps for the lorries, covers and enclosed spillage boards were all introduced. The sheer price of fuel in operating machinery to move material, and labour costs, makes a compelling case for the introduction of the Trackstack bulk handling system in this type of environment. As well as glass, the machinery can handle a broad range of material, and it is versatile, highly mobile and quick to set-up.”