Glass manufacturing

LESS DOWNTIME, MORE RUNTIME – THANKS TO STARCLEAN®

Challenge

An international glass manufacturer had major problems cleaning its conveyor belts. The rigid scraper strips he used wore out quickly due to the highly abrasive transported goods, particularly glass and sand particles. The strips could no longer be sufficiently pre-tensioned due to erosion, resulting in poor cleaning performance.

Consequently, aggressive particles adhered firmly to the belt, causing more wear on both the scrapers and the conveyor belts. To make matters worse, the high ambient temperatures of up to 80 °C in certain areas of the glassworks prevented the use of conventional cleaning systems. The result was frequent maintenance, short service intervals, and long downtimes. Because of this, the company was looking for a solution that offers efficient cleaning, minimal wear and tear, and lower operating costs long-term.

Solution

The modular STARCLEAN® Spillage Control System was used to optimize the cleaning process. Segmented carbide scrapers were installed on the discharge chute (type 85h) and on the lower belt (type 53Sh). For use in high-temperature environments, STARCLEAN® supplied specially hydrolysis-stabilized components that reliably withstand temperatures up to 80 °C.

The modular design enables the quick and toolless replacement of individual scraper segments, which allows for maintenance work to be carried out much faster. The integrated Twist-Swing® technology enables flexible adaptation of each segment to the belt surface. Obstacles are reliably deflected by the individual bearings, which improves both the service life of the belt and the cleaning quality.

The plant's responsible maintenance planner confirms:

“The service life of the scraper segments has significantly increased, and the lifespan of the conveyor belts has extended from one year to 3–4 years. Even with worn scrapers, the cleaning performance is superior to the previous system while keeping the maintenance costs way down. The handling is a particular highlight: It couldn't be better.”