Jumbo has created an innovative prototype belt sander that reduces flash rust onboard their vessels.
This in-house developed innovation is said to solve the issue of persistent flash rust caused by the removal of temporary welded securings on board its fleet of heavy lift vessels.
The prototype device was developed by Jumbo Chief Officer and part-time Master’s student Bob Heikoop. Initial results show that the device is not only faster than existing methods of removing temporary weldings, it is also cleaner for the environment, healthier for users, and improves the appearance of the ship.
While Jumbo’s nine heavy lift vessels are technically and operationally in excellent condition, their decks and hull sides have a decidedly rusty appearance. Known as flash rust, this has the potential to be detrimental to Jumbo’s reputation for the proper management of its assets.
“I wanted to combine a practical problem that Jumbo was facing with a subject that was important to society in terms of sustainability,” says Bob. “Solving the flash rust problem could achieve both of these. First: Reducing our environmental footprint by reducing the release of paint and steel particles. Second: Preventing, or at least reducing the rusty appearance,” says Bob Heikoop.
The solution was a Fein GIMS-75 belt sander, which Bob modified with the addition of a spark/molten steel particle catcher, an extraction system, and a collection container. The performance of the resultant prototype device was then verified within four separate parameters: i) Removal of paint layer, ii) Removal of top part of temporary welding, iii) Removal of bottom part of temporary welding and iv) Flattening of surrounding paint layer.
The results were overwhelmingly positive. “We were very enthusiastic about the outcome,” adds Bob. “The modifications made to the GIMS-75 means that it catches and removes the steel and paint particles. In terms of sustainability, there are no particles entering the environment. But it is also much faster than the current way of working – on average, three times as fast – which makes it very interesting commercially.”
The prototype also yielded benefits in terms of human health, as Heikoop explains: “For the person using the existing method, this meant spending the whole day working on your hands and knees with an angle grinder on the deck of the ship. Whereas users can walk behind this prototype in a standing position. It is better ergonomically and it produces far fewer vibrations.”
