LOADING ARMS
The first recorded
instance of a “loading
arm” was in 1938
when Bob Wheaton and John
Savage built an articulated
pipe system for loading
horse-drawn tanker barrels.
The Emco Wheaton brand
(which followed the merger of
Empire Manufacturing Co and
Wheaton Brass in 1967), is
still pioneering advancement
in technology and safety, says
Alec Keeler of Loadtec
Engineered Systems Ltd - the
UK and Ireland representative
for Emco Wheaton.
Last year Loadtec
completed an interesting
project for Honeywell
Iropharm in Ireland. The
customer has a facility that
loads solvents and wastes
into road tankers of varying
sizes and required a flexible,
integrated solution to meet
the safety and environmental
issues involved.
“Loadtec
worked with the Honeywell
engineers over a number of
months to develop a scheme
for tanker loading and fall
prevention, which would meet
those needs and future-proof
the installation,” says Keeler.
“The subject of future
proofing is becoming
increasingly important. A
number of customers are
facing overhaul of their
systems due to
environmental legislation
covering emissions and safety
legislation regarding exposure
to liquids and falls.”
The issues at Honeywell
were to design a safe loading
system providing a single
outlet for up to nine liquids
that would not crosscontaminate
the fluids. Safe
access was also a concern.
