A high performance, ADR compliant Whale chassis mounted tipping tanker is the new driving force behind BASF Performance Products' vessel and sump cleaning process at its plant in Bradford, West Yorkshire - one of the largest and most productive single site chemical facilities of its kind in the UK.
Having elected to bring the service in-house for the first time, BASF Performance Products specified Whale following a detailed evaluation of vacuum tanker equipment available here in the UK. In addition to helping deliver greater operating efficiencies, by being onsite full time at Bradford, BASF is confident that the 3800-gallon, 316 stainless steel tanker will pay for itself within 18 months.
As Paul Spiers, BASF's Site Services Plant Manager comments: "Following a detailed and comprehensive tender process, we were delighted that Whale came out on top. In addition to having witnessed a number of sub-contractors who operate Whale units on our site, we knew the equipment must be good and up to the job. Not only were we extremely impressed with the quality of build and its performance capabilities, we were equally impressed with the team effort in specifying the right pumping equipment for the tanker."
BASF will also benefit from Whale's Preventative Maintenance Service and Testing programme: a service that provides on site scheduled servicing and testing to suit BASF's work patterns.
Whilst the operation involving the cleaning of onsite vessels and sumps will take place on a daily basis and be delivered by a fully trained, three man BASF operational crew, the new vehicle will also form part of BASF's Incident Support Unit fleet.
Manufactured to meet full ADR class 3 regulations, the tanker has been supplied on a Volvo FM 410 8 x 2 32 tonne GVW chassis, itself converted to comply with the ADR requirements of Chapter 9.2. With Whale's proven background in ADR, the company ensured that BASF received TC1 and TC2 approval certificates upon delivery of the new unit. Whale will also provide BASF with TC3 certification throughout the life of the vehicle.
Specified with a requirement to provide powerful air loading and vacuum performance, the tanker- manufactured from grade 316 stainless steel and equipped with a 3 stage tipping ram to aid discharge - features a Kaiser 3000i liquid ring pump giving 1800 cfm suction only. A secondary rotary vane Mistral exhauster giving 245 cfm provides additional suction and pressure discharge facility. The Kaiser KWP is not only compact in design and constructed from lightweight, high strength aluminium alloy - providing a 60% weight saving when compared to cast iron equivalents - the pump has a Teflon coated interior to reduce abrasion and corrosion, thereby extending the service life.
Acquired by BASF, the world's leading chemical company in 2008, annual output from the Bradford site is over 250,000 tonnes, 84% of which is exported. The site primarily manufactures products used to enhance industrial processes, and ingredients that are used in home and personal care products. Occupying an area of some 50 acres, the Bradford plant has 11 main production facilities.