In 2020, WIMA, the German manufacturer of screening machines and other equipment for processing stone materials, has made more than 120 screening machines. 8 of them go to Norway.
Already in mid-January, German WIMA has a solid order backlog that fills up the capacity for half the year. The orders come from partners across Europe.
– Although we are represented in many countries, up to 10% of our orders go to Norway. “Nordic Bulk is our biggest partner, apart from what we sell here in Germany,” says Stephan Rössler, sales representative at WIMA.
Customization in focus
Olav Gilje, technical support at Nordic Bulk, believes that the flexibility of WIMA is a great strength, and refers to several sieves that they have produced for Forsand Sandkompani.
We run about 2,000 hours a year on that screen, and this is the first time we’ve replaced a canvas in the top deck.
Ole Anton Bertinussen, Head of Department at Gunnar Holth Dept. Sortland
Of a total of five WIMA sieves delivered to Forsand Sandkompani, three are custom-made. In cases where there is no room to fit a larger sieve, Gilje has measured the fasteners on the sieve to be replaced and sent the details to WIMA, so they have the same dimensions without compromising capacity.
– “In many cases, it is possible to adapt the screen to old fasteners, but only if production allows it,” says Gilje, pointing out that the screen surface must be up to 30% larger to achieve the same capacity when switching from traditional steel screens to modular PU screens.
Gilje says that some customers who have upgraded to modern screens from WIMA have gone from changing traditional steel screens every two months to changing their screens once every two years with modular PU screens.
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Ole Anton Bertiniussen, general manager of Gunnar Holth in Sortland, is one of them. When I call and ask about the sieve we delivered, he answers:
– You know what, we’ve actually punched a hole in one of the sieve covers there. It took 8,000 hours.
On the sieve itself, he is most pleased that the sieve runs quietly. He points out that there is little vibration generated to the rest of the plant.
– There are no railings and walkways that shake and vibrate. not something that clacks and bangs. There is no doubt about what we will have next time we need a sieve: WIMA it is.
As we talk, he clicks into the history he has available on his computer and says:
– It’s been 4 years since we set up that sieve. We drive about 2,000 hours a year on that screen, and this is the first time we’ve replaced a canvas in the top deck.
He also says that the old screening machine had to be stopped about every three weeks. Then the screen cloths had to be changed.
– I can see the steel sheets lasting 160-170 hours. The polyurethane modular covers last for 8000 hours. I think we’re happy with that difference,” he concludes.
