Tenova TAKRAF Italy has been awarded a contract by ILVA S.p.A., the leading Italian steel producer, for the design and supply of a bucket chain continuous shipunloader for handling iron ore and coal at the ILVA steel plant in Taranto, Italy.  This plant is the largest of its kind in Europe.  The 18 month turnkey contract builds on a longstanding business association between Tenova TAKRAF and ILVA of 40 plus years.

The new continuous shipunloader will have an operating capacity of 4,000 t/h for iron ore or 2,240 t/h for coal and will be able to download vessels up to 150,000 DWT (Deadweight Tonnage).  The CSU will be erected on the existing runways of the ILVA plant’s Pier II to feed the entire steel plant with coal and iron ore and pellets, together with the other machines at the plant.  The CSU will be almost entirely manufactured by Italian companies and is expected to be operational in late March 2015. 

In addition to the longstanding and much valued relationship with the client and competitive pricing, availability of this technology was a major factor in the award.  Only a few companies in the world are able to supply this type of technology and Tenova TAKRAF offers many successful references.  To date, 15 CSU’s have been supplied worldwide, with relevant references to the lLVA award being excellent performances achieved by four continuous shipunloaders recently supplied to Enel for Brindisi South and Torrevaldaliga North, in Italy. 

Tenova TAKRAF developed its bucket chain continuous shipunloader technology in the 1980’s. Subsequent years have seen ongoing enhancement to the technology, with the most sophisticated part being the digging foot, for which Tenova TAKRAF holds the patent.

Following the devastating tornado of November 2012, ILVA initiated a plan for environmental rehabilitation of the steel industry in Taranto. The new CSU was ordered as a consequence of this.  The plan involves replacement of the old grab shipunloaders (supplied in the 1970s under the Italimpianti trademark) with modern bucket chain continuous shipunloaders, which significantly reduce dust emission during the discharge cycle.  The CSU’s low environmental impact is a major feature, noting that the steel plant is close to the city area.

In this brownfields project, the CSU is replacing the existing old grab unloaders at Pier II. Tenova TAKRAF also supplied a CSU for Pier IV in 1999, and an additional large grab unloader for the same Pier in 2009.

“Tenova TAKRAF’s involvement with this important client dates back to the 1970s, at which time Tenova TAKRAF was known as Italimpianti,” says Alberto Dardano, Managing Director of Tenova TAKRAF Italy.  “This valued relationship has been sustained not only through many repeat contracts, but also, through the quality of after sales services we have provided to ILVA on an ongoing basis.”

Tenova TAKRAF is a key supplier of equipment and systems for open pit mining & underground solutions and bulk handling, having provided hundreds of complete systems, as well as individual machines to clients all over the world in all climatic conditions. Leading-edge comminution systems for milling and crushing requirements in mining and mineral processing are based on a track record in mill supply dating back to the 1920s. Globally sourced air pollution control, specialised handling equipment, and technology for the cement and fly ash industries ensure selection of optimal processing options.

Tenova Mining & Minerals is a total integrated solutions provider to the global mining, bulk materials handling and minerals beneficiation and processing sectors, offering innovative technological solutions and full process and commodity knowledge across the mining industry value chain.

Tenova is a worldwide supplier of advanced technologies, products, and engineering services for the metals and mining & minerals industries. More information is available at www.tenova.com

Technical Enquiries Chiara Burlando, chiara.burlando@tenova.com