The first sections of the new Pickle Line tanks have been delivered to the steelworks, where they will be stored ahead of installation as work on the project continues to gather pace.

The huge tanks will play a vital role in the new line, holding the hydrochloric acid used during the pickling process to clean the surface of steel strip.

Made from polypropylene because of its acid-resistant properties, each tank section weighs around 10 tonnes, with some parts of the material around 200mm thick. Eight sections will ultimately be assembled to create four of the main tanks, alongside a number of additional tanks required for the line.

For the project team, their arrival represents an important moment after around 18 months of planning.

Mark Jones, from the Pickle Line project team, said: 

“It’s been a long, long time coming. We’ve been on the project now for around 18 months and it’s all been about the planning stage up until now.

“It’s the first time we’ve actually seen something happening from the mechanical aspect. These tanks in particular are one of the most important bits of equipment for the Pickle Line.”

Getting equipment of this scale safely onto the Port Talbot site has required careful coordination between the project, construction and logistics teams.

The tanks travelled via the Port of Sheerness before being transported to Port Talbot, where a specially manufactured lifting beam has been developed to enable the sections to be safely offloaded.

Nathan Flynn, from Site Logistics, explained: 

“We coordinated with the logistics company how we managed to get that into Port Talbot. Our plans were all in place so we could safely get it over to the lifting team to offload for us.

“The lifting beam was specifically manufactured for this offload and we anticipate we’ll use that for the further deliveries.”

The logistics challenge does not end when equipment reaches the site. Teams are also coordinating storage and movement as increasing amounts of equipment arrive for the transformation programme.

Areas of the site are being used to provide indoor storage and assembly space, while the warehouse management system is being used to provide visibility of equipment and its movement around the steelworks.

The arrival of the tanks is the first of a growing number of major deliveries expected at Port Talbot over the coming weeks and months, as progress continues on both the new Pickle Line and Electric Arc Furnace.

With physical equipment now arriving alongside the extensive construction activity already taking place across the site, the transformation of Port Talbot is becoming increasingly visible.

 

Source: tatasteeluk.com

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