Cleveland Cascades to supply wood pellet loading system to Longview, USA

(Posted on 05/01/24)

Working with valued customer Thor, Cleveland Cascades are currently completing the design and manufacture of a Cascade Chute System to be installed in the Port of Longview USA.

The system will be one of Cleveland Cascades’ 1900 sized, capable of loading up to 4000 m³/hr, but designed in this case to load Wood Pellets at 2,000 metric tonnes/hour.

Designed for the purpose of Ship Loading, this system will be suspended from the company’s Pivoting Head Chute interfaced with the Thor luffing Ship loader. The chute will extend to just over 22 meters and be capable of retracting to 8.2m .

The system position will be adjusted by a head chute mounted spool-type winch, along with all of the typical safety controls Cleveland Cascades’ systems are generally fitted with for safety and automation, controlled through the PLC.

The system will also include suitable wear lining and measures for static dissipation since the operation will be within a hazardous area.

Each of the company’s systems include load monitoring, downward motion and material detection sensors as well as positioning and slack rope monitoring.

The outlet of the chute will feature a 1.2m skirt consisting of a series of rubber leaf and a canvas cover for dust suppression.

Cleveland Cascades was originally a division of Cleveland Potash Ltd, who diversified in to manufacturing loading chutes when they needed a high capacity loading chute which effectively controlled dust pollution. The innovative solution they conceived was the Cascade concept, which utilised a series of inclined cones to control the velocity and flow of their Potash.

In 2004 Ian Barnard, one of the original inventors of the system, set up Cleveland Cascade Ltd to develop and market the product worldwide. He was later joined by his son Matthew Barnard, previously the Commercial Director at the company.

The company’s site in the North East of England covers area of 4,700 sq m (50,000 sq ft) and includes manufacturing & assembly workshops, secure outside storage space, offices for engineering and support functions. The factory has undergone a complete refurbishment in order to become a bespoke manufacturing unit dedicated to the design & production of a full range of bulk loading chutes.