Samson Eco Hoppers for Mombasa

Samson said the order was won following a lengthy and complicated tender process, and the engineering design was the result of a successful collaboration of Aumund Group of companies involving UK-based Samson and engineers from Schade Lagertechnik GmbH in Germany.

Four identical Eco Hoppers will be used for the “environmentally respectful” import of clinker, coal and gypsum, said Samson. Management of air quality and fugitive dust is considered very important for the operation, as it will be in a dusty atmosphere with high levels of humidity and temperatures ranging from 22 to 40 degC.

A variety of dust suppression measures will be employed, both at the intake area of the Eco Hopper itself, as well as on a dusting system situated between the hopper and truck.

The dust reduction measures include an automatic reverse-jet cleaning system, air compressors, inlet grill with suction capacity, a flex-flap creating a pressure differential and a dust filter unit on three sides of the hopper.

The Eco Hopper inlet grill measures 6m x 6m, and is topped by a 2m high shroud that creates an aperture of 8.2m x 8.2m for grab discharge, thus mitigating the effects of high winds. The Eco Hopper is mounted on a chassis that brings the total height of the configuration to 15.7m, allowing a truck clearance height of over 4m.

“The four Eco Hoppers for the Port of Mombasa are mobile powered travel with crabbing functionality to enable specific positioning of the hoppers alongside the vessel,” said Samson. “The throughput of each Eco Hopper is designed to operate at a peak rate of 700 tph.

“A unique development to the four Eco Hoppers that will be supplied to the Kenya Port Authority is the introduction of ATEX, which for dust filtration import hoppers is a first of its kind into the market,” the company added.