Press releases

Press release 2002-02-28

Brokk at the AFCM Symposium & Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

Kiln repairs demand extensive downtime which result in heavy losses in output. Putting Brokk demolition robots to work reduces considerably the length of the shutdown periods while improving the safety and working conditions of kiln maintenance personnel. Visitors to the Brokk booth No. 7 at the AFCM Technical Symposium April 23-25 will be able to learn how Brokk machines have increased productivity in cement industries world wide.

The Brokk demolition robot is a remote controlled, lightweight but extremely powerful machine which was introduced to the cement industry in 1982. Its highly manoeuvrable arm with hammer makes it easy to remove the brickwork or coating without damaging the shell of the kiln. The robot can start removing the old refractory after only approximately 16 hours of cooling. The low weight of the machine enables it to be put in place with a forklift and the demolition can start straight away. Brokk robots are now used by cement industries all over the world for breaking loose refractory linings and castables.

Impressive performance records

Over the last few years, many well-known cement plants in Asia have invested in Brokk robots which have had a remarkable effect on their bottom line.

Cement Industries of Malaysia Berhad were able to debrick 27 m of refractory lining in just three hours’ effective working time. It took only one hour to take down 15 m of 100-200 mm thick coating using a Brokk 110 robot with Tex breaker. With conventional methods – manpower and jackhammers - it would take three men working round the clock 3-4 days to do the same job.
At Siam Cement’s Kao Wong Plant in Thailand, a Brokk instructor operating a Brokk 250 robot completed the stripping of 20 m of refractory and 25 m of coating on a 6 m dia. kiln in three hours. The job used to take at least three days for 4-5 men. After the demonstration, the plant’s chief production engineer, Mr. Manimonchai, said: "We are very satisfied with the job, and we will certainly use the Brokk method in the future." At present, there are 19 Brokk robots in operation in Thailand.
A performance report from Gujarat Ambuja Cement, India, shows that on a 4 m dia. kiln, it took 2.3 hours to remove 28 m of coating and 6 hours to debrick 58 m of coating.

Many similar studies shows that using a Brokk robot to decrust and deline cement kilns saves considerable time. The job can be started earlier as the robot can enter the kiln sooner after flame shut-off than a crew with jackhammers. Removing the crust, brick or castables is a much quicker procedure – it may even be days ahead of the previous schedule. The time saved translates into increased productivity and an increased output of cement and clinker.