Bury based Roxtec has delivered a fire proof cable seal solution for one of the UK’s largest chemical manufacturing plants.
Roxtec secured the contract with BASF bio-acrylamide chemical plant, in Bradford, which produces raw materials for the water, oilfield and mining industries. Roxtec UK managing director Graham O’Hare said the firm helped design a structural frame and sealing solution for cables entering the new electrical rooms in order to protect the equipment.
BASF’s West Yorkshire site is one of the largest and most productive single site chemical plants in the UK, with an annual output of more than 250,000 tonnes, of which 84 per cent is exported.
“This project highlights our bespoke design capability,” said Mr O’Hare. “This involved a structural frame bolted into concrete, and standard Roxtec products modified to seal power and earth cables entering the cable pit and motor control centres (MCC) on site.
“It was critical that we provided BASF with a robust and reliable sealing solution to protect the new control equipment. In heavy manufacturing environments like this control equipment is sensitive to dust, humidity and EMI (electromagnetic interference). Our certified solutions provide protection against multiple hazards. The BASF system was specifically designed to deliver passive fire and ingress protection. It has a 60-minute fire integrity rating. The system is future proof with 50pc spare capacity.
“Another key feature of our cable seal module is the removable layer design. This enables engineers to manipulate the size of the seal and cater for a large volume of cables, of varying sizes.”
Mr O’Hare said during the planning phase design engineers were also able to deploy the innovative Roxtec Transit Designer computer software.
“This is our free design software and is the most innovative of its kind on the market,” he said. “It is a highly effective tool for engineers wanting to save time. It enabled the BASF team to produce detailed drawings of cable and pipe penetrations which make the installation process faster.”
For more details contact Roxtec UK at Waterfold Business Park, Bury Tel: 0161 761 5280 Email info@uk.roxtec.com or go online at: www.roxtec.com
Notes to editors
BASF bio-acrylamide chemical plant, in Bradford, West Yorkshire
The site is approximately 50 acres with 11 main production facilities and 600 employees. It has an excellent safety and environmental record and enjoys strong links with the local community.
The plant’s bio-acrylamide technology was first developed at Bradford in partnership with Huddersfield University and further progressed through BASF’s Bio Research team at its HQ in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Chemical production began on the Bradford site more than 50 years ago by Allied Colloids. In 1997, the plant was acquired by Ciba, and in 2008 by BASF.
Background
Roxtec
Roxtec was founded in Sweden in 1990. Today it is the global leader in the manufacture of innovative cable and pipe transit systems, supplying many of the world’s biggest firms. It is active in 70 markets.
Roxtec’s products are designed to seal cables and pipes and are used to protect people, buildings and equipment from multiple hazards. Its key market sectors include Marine, Oil and Gas, Telecoms, Construction, Power (generation, distribution and transmission) OEM – (e.g. trains, engines, motors, generators) and the Process Industries. Roxtec has a Triple-A credit rating and is actively expanding into new areas offering innovative and safe sealing solutions to a variety of industries.
BASF
BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of its customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. The company’s portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of more than €70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information at www.basf.com.