Verlinde lend a hoist for Swiss decontamination project
16 September 2010French lifting equipment fabricator Verlinde is working with crane manufacturer, Stephan, to provide the plant for a large-scale decontamination project, taking place in the North-Western Swiss city of Bonfol.
The former hazardous materials landfill site, nearly 4.5 hectares in size, will be decontaminated using two overhead cranes with a 16t capacity to shift thousands of tonnes of toxic waste.
A grab with a capacity of 3 cu m will be moved along the 45m boom by Verlinde Eurobloc VCTS chain hoists, which are remotely controlled so that operators can remain safe in a secure control room outside the specially constructed excavation hall containment structure.
The waste will then be deposited into an automated car which will transport it to “receiving bunkers” for preparation. It is then transported off-site in specially designed and sealed 10 cu m containers for incineration.
The Basle Chemical Industry (BCI), a concern including the main chemical industries in Basle (including Novartis and Roche), is responsible for the clean-up, following their use of the clay pit for hazardous waste disposal for 15 years.
BCI-Betriebs was founded specifically to deal with the Bonfol site’s decontamination. The operation is due for completion by 2015.
