4-fold reduction in pump maintenance time and improved safety thanks to the Metso Outotec’s Maintenance Slide Base Frame pump

SAMIN, a subsidiary of the St Gobain group, specialises in the extraction, processing, preparation and marketing of silica sands and industrial minerals. It was created in the 1950s and has 8 production sites in France. SAMIN produces sands for glass furnaces, for the production of hollow glass bottles. The Marcheprime site, in operation since 1969, produces sand with a very high silica content (over 98%) and a very low Iron content (less than 130 ppm). This high-quality sand is used to manufacture bottles for the luxury industry, for the bottling of Cognac in particular, as its very low Iron content makes it possible to produce a glass without green reflections. Under the direction of Mr. HANON, 10 people ensure the production in 2 or 3 shifts per day, for an annual production of 350,000 tons of sand. The site has an operating permit until 2028. More information about the Marcheprime website can be find in French from this video. 

The sand treatment process

On the Marcheprime site, SAMIN operates a 45-hectare basin 28 metres deep. A floating dredger equipped with a horizontal centrifugal VASA HD 507-150 slurry pump which pumps 400 m3/h of low concentration sluffy  with a particle  size of 0 / 15 mm. Until 2015, only one pump was used to send the slurry to the treatment plant. With the programmed extension of the basin and the removal of the dredger, SAMIN opted for the series installation of a 2nd identical VASA HD 507-100 slurry pump.

As Mr. HANON says: "We received very good technical advice from Metso Outotec during our project to install a second pump, which is why we decided to invest in a second Metso Outotec pump, and we are satisfied with the result".

Both pumps are equipped with a rubber impeller and rubber lining. Today there are 700 metres of pipe between the pump on the dredger and the pump on the shore. The pump on the dredger runs at 1,100 rpm, the pump on the shore runs at 750 rpm. Both pumps run for more than 10 hours a day.

At the processing plant, the slurry passes through a 2-stage screen with 10 mm and 2 mm cut-off stages, the 0/2 mm is stored in a buffer silo, then separated by densimetry into 2 products: the 0/0.630 mm for the glass industry, and the above 0.630 mm for the public works industry. The 0/0.630 mm sand is then cycloned and dewatered.

Principle of the Metso Outotec Maintenance Slide Base Slide Frame

This maintenance slide base frame allows access to the wet end wear parts without having to disconnect the pump from the piping system and without using overhead lifting. This system facilitates the inspection and replacement of wet end wear parts, which results in a gain in efficiency and reduces maintenance time for the operator.

Improved safety and easier maintenance with the Maintenance Slide Base frame

The dredge pump is equipped with the Maintenance Slide Base, the pump on the shore is not yet equipped, but the base has been purchased and will be installed soon. The pumps are opened every fortnight, for a visual check of the state of wear of the impeller and the pump casing. Without a maintenance slide base, the operation of opening a pump requires a hoist, 2 people, 2 hours of work, and exposes the maintenance personnel to the risks of crushing, shocks and falls. Thanks to the maintenance slide base fitted to the dredge pump, this operation is carried out by a single technician in 30 minutes, with the only risk being the use of a crowbar to manipulate the opening rack of the chassis. To reduce the risks even further, Metso Outotec offers a solution with a maintenance slide base equipped with a hydraulic cylinder.

Mr. HANON describes the advantages of this equipment well: "The sliding base considerably improves safety and reduces maintenance time. It will soon be installed on our 2nd pump and with hindsight and our experience, we believe that this equipment should have been installed from the beginning". 

Security is a priority for SAMIN, the plant will soon be equipped with cameras to remotely carry out part of the daily rounds and limit the risks linked to boat movements on the basin.

The quality of the relationship with Metso Outotec

As Mr. HANON says, "We buy Metso Outotec equipment and parts because we look beyond the price. We look for the support, the expertise, the ability of the supplier to answer our questions and to support our productivity. When we bought our 2nd pump in 2015, we were given very good support and when we ask for advice we get answers, that's what matters to us. This good relationship will encourage us to consult Metso Outotec for our future projects".

Metso Outotec France SAS warmly thanks Mr. HANON for his welcome and availability.