Jak powstaje dekanter – Fabryki w Polsce

What is a decanter? It is a type of centrifuge that allows you to separate solids from liquids. The name comes from French and means purification, draining off some liquid. This device is widely used in waste water treatment plants, food processing and mines. And how is it made? To see how it is made we go to the Alfa Laval production plant in Kraków. Ready? Here we go! The decanter consists of a frame and a bowl, which is equipped with gear boxes and motors that set the device in motion. Inside the bowl there is the a conveyor. Its purpose is to properly distribute the decanted slurry. How is it made? The most important is its core, composed of five elements welded together. First, in a turning process on machining machines, excess material is removed and holes are drilled.The spots for further welding are marked on the conveyor body. After being welded, the conveyor again goes to the CNC machines, where it is machined to the required dimension. Flame coating strengthens the flights’ edges. A special blend of powders hardens them and increases their toughness. Another way to strengthen the edges is to weld carbide protective tiles. Now, with the help of an overhead crane, the conveyor is transferred to the blasting machine. In the shot blasting machine, it is cleaned for 15 to 20 minutes. The bowl consists of a cylinder and a taper part. Both these parts are made using CNC machining and the inner ribbing is made using induction welding technology. Here we can see how the gearbox is assembled and prepared for balancing. The parts required for assembly of the entire machine are being completed in the warehouse. Parts from external suppliers are handled by an automatic rack. The system optimises the supply to the assembly line and indicates the components to the operator by means of LEDs. The entire decanter consists of about 400 parts, which are measured in detail with specialized equipment. The frame and the decanter bowl are assembled parallelly on two separate lines. While the frame is being fitted with the necessary accessories such as cabling and sensors, the conveyor is inserted into the bowl. Finally, the bowl is connected to the frame. The drives are fixed and the cabling is connected. The motors (usually two) are mounted and the drive belts are attached. At the control station the machine is tested: by reducing or adding weight the bowl is balanced. Real operating conditions with hot and could water flow are simulated. Done! But the device which is to be delivered to the customer requires regular servicing - components working under heavy load are maintained or replaced. Spare parts are also manufactured at the Alfa Laval plant in Kraków. Finally, we take a look at the separator production department. This is where the history of Alfa Laval began. Their design is based on an idea developed by Swedish designer Gustav de Laval 160 years ago. The company has a wide range of products to choose from. So the company has a lot of orders and the business is booming!