23 NOV 2010
GEA Kestner is in the process of delivering the crystallization unit sold to Salins du Midi and Salines de l’Est in 2009.
Salins du Midi and Salines de l'Est, a major player in the salt industry, has production plants in Spain, France and Italy as well as in several African countries. Faced with the problem of high cost of energy, the Salins Group decided in 2008 to trade in its high pressure cogeneration for the most energy efficient of ten possible technical solutions.
The order for this new turnkey plant of 350,000 tons / year was placed with the consortium formed by SNC-Lavalin and GEA Process Engineering.
The plant is now in the delivery phase and erection is scheduled to start by November 24.
In terms of delivery, this cargo from China to Varangéville (France) is considered to be "
very exceptional" due to its size. An impressive logistics had to be put in place by GEA’s Project management team in close collaboration with other logistics subcontractors. The experts in this field consider this oversized cargo as being "
an exceptional among the exceptional"
The ship left Shanghai on October 2, arriving at the Port of Antwerp on November 3. The material was then transferred onto two barges "The Sylvana 1 & 2" for delivery up to Port Frouard in Moselle (54). Two trucks carrying the crystallizer and the evaporator left Frouard on November 15. A total of 170 km will be covered before the arrival at Varangéville on November 19.
The trucks are escorted by a lead car, the National Gendarmerie (4 bikes) as well as EDF and France Telecom since several problems need to be resolved along the way (removal of cable network and some road signs ..... .).
The local residents as well as the press are closely following this event which is quite rare in Europe!
For more information, contact our Communication Department at: +33.01.30.14.61.69.