The safe and efficient offloading of materials from both rail wagons and road trucks improves efficiencies, lowers operating costs and protects product integrity during bulk handling, says materials handling company Specialised Container Agencies (SCA).

“SCA focuses on the design of containerised bulk materials handling products for high-speed, heavy-haul and intermodal functions for both road and rail infrastructure,” says SCA director Ken Mouritzen.

Locally-manufactured SCA equipment includes the newly-launched SCA Tippler for fast unloading of open-top containers, of either half or full height; the Big Tipper – a 12 m elevated container tipper frame – and the 4-Way Tipper, which is a versatile tipping frame compatible with most 6 m skeletal trailers.

Also part of the range is the company’s intermodal side tipper bins for rapid offloading of materials from rail wagons and road trucks and side-tip reception feeders that receive bulk materials directly from tipping trucks and loading shovels.

The SCA Tippler has been developed for the efficient unloading of containerised material from open-top containers. This advanced system allows for fast and efficient engagement, and unloading and repositioning of closely-spaced International Standards Organisation-sized open-top containers, from road or rail transport wagons.

Once the container is safely engaged, the control system takes over full functionality to lift, unload and reposition the empty container, without the need for operator intervention.

This bulk materials transport system, which ensures ease of loading, handling and transport by either road or rail, enables traditionally locked-in markets, including miners and producers, to deliver material batches to terminals for export.

He adds that, although the company supports the global initiative to move freight transport from road to rail, SCA believes in a combination of the benefits of rail and road transport.

“Key advantages of rail infrastructure over road transport, include less long-haul bulk traffic on national roads, which results in reduced congestion and decreased wear of road surfaces,” says Mouritzen.

Other benefits include improved safety for drivers and cargo, decreased road-related freight emissions and reduced insurance premiums throughout the logistics chain.

“SCA plans to soon launch a fully-mechanised tippler system, with automatic container position detection, engagement, unloading and re-positioning,” concludes Mouritzen.