Heavy Duty Hanger for Caustic Material
Searles Valley Minerals processes brine solutions from Searles Lake to produce boric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, borax, sulfate of potash and salt. Unlike open pit mining, they use a unique, ecologically friendly process that starts with solution mining.
Bulk materials from Searles Valley Minerals help manufacturers create products that make our lives better. Automobiles contain many products made with soda ash and borates such as window glass and windshields. Industrial water softening systems use salt and detergent makers use sodium sulfate in their products. Borates are also used to make flat screen monitors, electronic parts, and special coatings. Specialty borates end up in everything from fire retardants to fiberglass insulation and even wood treatments.
Challenge
Searles Valley Minerals uses screw conveyors throughout the process of making borax-based products. The use of CEMA standard hangers produced failures and major downtime, causing loss of production and profitability.
KWS Advantage
After getting a better understanding of failure modes, KWS designed a unique hanger for the application that excelled in difficult conditions and lasts 15 times longer than any previous design. Using FEA, KWS redesigned the hanger to withstand extreme loads. Also, since the borax-based bulk materials are corrosive, KWS manufactured the new hanger from 316 stainless steel to resist corrosion.
Testimonial
"Thank you to KWS for solving a lasting problem at our plant. We have wasted countless hours over the last several years replacing failed hangers. The KWS solution will more than pay for itself within 60 days."
Art Rivera, Maintenance Supervisor – Searles Valley Minerals