James Walker solves Belgian plant's emissions challenge

Swift action by James Walker Benelux in concert with the engineering expertise of UK-based James Walker Townson has helped the Umicore precious metals refinery in Hoboken, Belgium, to meet a tight deadline for new low-emission environmental legislation in a challenging project based on the custom design and installation of five ductwork compensators.

Plant engineers had redesigned parts of the process to meet new low-emissions legislation and the installation had to be complete in just four weeks during an environmentally-led plant shutdown.

JW Townson rose to the challenge and produced the tailored Comflex compensators in the UK in time for the Antwerp office's site team to fit all the equipment in just over one week. Precious metal refining started again the next morning, on schedule, with the important low-emissions plant in action.

Bart Daelemans, supervisor at the plant, said: "This was possible thanks to James Walker Antwerp's service team being available seven days a week - a real benefit."

Four of the ductwork compensators were 1200mm inside diameter by 200mm length, of which three were made from 6mm fluorocarbon and the other was a rubber-proofed fabric compensator designed to resist temperatures up to 300degC. The fifth unit was 600mm inside diameter and 200mm long, made from rubber-proofed fabric. Metal inner sleeve deflectors were supplied for the compensators, together with 1mm thick counter-flanges.