The conclusion of the $25 million capital replacement program of Kalamia Mill is nearing, with the last evaporator being installed at the mill ahead of the 2024 production season.
The Kalamia Mill, owned and operated by Wilmar Sugar and Renewables, is in its final stage of a three-year program to replace the evaporators; the first evaporator was installed in 2022, and the following two installed in 2023.
Utilised at an important early step in the sugar manufacturing process, the evaporators dispel water from the sugar cane juice, which is concentrated in a syrup, before the sugar crystals are formed.
Senior Project Engineer Chris Lammas said the four new vessels replaced older ones that had reached end of life.
“This work represents an almost total renewal of the evaporator station at Wilmar’s Kalamia Mill, which should deliver improvements to rate and reliability,” Mr Lammas said.
“I’ve lived and breathed this project for four years.
“It’s the biggest and most expensive capital program I’ve worked on.
“It’s involved a lot of people with a multitude of skills from across the business, as well as external contractors.”
All four vessels were engineered, fabricated, and installed in-house, with major components fabricated at Wilmar's Burdekin Centralised Workshop, located at Brandon’s Pioneer Mill, before being transported 16km to Kalamia Mill.
Manager Projects David Innes said the capital replacement program had provided an opportunity to standardise and improve Kalamia Mill’s evaporator station.
“The existing evaporators were of different sizes and capacities. The new ones are all seven metres in diameter and have a heating capacity of 3200sqm. This creates greater efficiencies in design and construction,” he said.
“Approximately 100 tonnes of steel went into the fabrication of this evaporator and a further 33 tonnes of stainless steel tubing is installed on-site,” Mr Innes said.
The fabrication and transport of the last vessel took more than 10,000 labour-hours.
The new evaporators are part of a much larger program to replace end-of-life vessels across Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ eight mills.
More than $200 million is being invested in capital and maintenance work across Wilmar’s sugar factories and cane rail assets this year.
Senior Project Engineer Chris Lammas has worked on the evaporator replacement program for four years
The bottom cone of the new evaporator is moved through Ayr on its way to Kalamia Mill
The bottom cone of the vessel is set down at Kalamia Mill
Photos supplied
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2023 Burdekin Life Pty Ltd.
