Port of Antwerp is launching an innovation challenge to develop a solution that will ensure that no pellets are lost during the loading of bulk trucks and containers from silos.
According to the Port, every year, millions of tonnes of polymers or plastic pellets find their way, via the port of Antwerp, to other hubs in other parts of Europe. During the various operations carried out during the plastic chain as a whole (production, logistics, transportation and processing), small losses can occur that ultimately accumulate in greater concentrations in the environment.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
The entire port community is aware that these pellets, like other floating waste, do not belong there. That is why Port of Antwerp, together with the entire plastics industry, has made the prevention of the loss of these plastic pellets a top priority.
As informed, the plastic pellets are mainly stored in silos for further throughput. During the loading process of load bulk trucks and containers spills may occur, despite existing retention and cleaning procedures. In addition, there is also the risk of plastic pellets remaining on top of the bulk truck or on the chassis and entering the environment in that way. Various initiatives have already been implemented by producers and logistics players to limit possible losses, such as collars around the loading arms to retain any pellets that might be splashed.
However, there is still room for innovation to further optimize the process. After all, to prevent the remaining loss of pellets is often the most difficult. Given that the port of Antwerp acts as a polymer hub that is home to very many different firms within the plastic value chain, the challenge is precisely to take into account a diversity of types of silos, users, procedures, containers and polymers.
For this reason, Port of Antwerp is launching an innovation challenge. Candidates who have an innovative solution that will ensure that no pellets are lost during the loading process from silos, can submit their idea until 29 May 2022. An expert jury from the plastics industry will evaluate the submissions based on multiple criteria such as broad applicability, efficiency, usability, feasibility, innovative elements and zero loss. After a selection process, the selected concepts will be tested for feasibility. The solution with the best proven result will be rewarded with €5.000.
