The Wamgroup is an internationally-recognised specialist in manufacturing screw conveyors and other bulk material handling and processing equipment. Its latest product is the Sepcom, a hi-tech solids-liquid separating machine.
Emilie Marchand, WAM South Africa’s general manager, explains, “Using principles of separation through gravity and mechanical pressing, the Sepcom is designed to separate the liquids from the solids in a range of substances, including sludge, sewage and farmyard manure and effluent.”
Setting the Sepcom apart is its patented screw conveyor, manufactured from a unique non-stick, self-cleaning engineering polymer called sint. “Sint is a combination of high quality abrasion resistant materials, giving the user peace of mind that it will never get blocked or clogged,” says Emilie.
The material enters the revolutionary screw conveyor inside the separator casing. The conveyer is enclosed in a cylindrical mesh screen, and the liquid is separated through the mesh. Along its path towards the exit, the material is progressively separated until a plug of almost dry material has formed near the outlet, and is expelled through the outlet diaphragm.
New environmental demands
Emilie points out that separating solids from liquid in slurry can help reduce the amount of nitrates and phosphates that are regularly being dumped into groundwater.
In the past, waste was traditionally pumped into dams or rivers but now, with constant changes to environmental legislation, industrial and agricultural operations are looking for ways to recycle the water. Sepcom provides the ideal solution.
Emilie stresses that South African farmers must be aware of the proposed changes in environmental legislation. “As South African laws become more environmentally-friendly, local agricultural operations such as dairy farms and pig farms, in particular, can benefit from recycling the vast amounts of waste their livestock produce.
“The process will help these operations in significantly reducing their carbon footprint by recycling water, while the final dry product can be used as fertiliser or cattle bedding, or sold on for a profit. It can also be composted and in future will also be used to generate methane for biogas.”
Separating the liquid reduces the build-up of solids and organic matter in treatment lagoons, as well as potential surface and groundwater pollution when the separated liquid is used as fertiliser through an irrigation system.
Economical quality
To date, Wamgroup has sold Sepcom machines to farms in South Africa and Namibia. Emilie is confident the system will gain a significant market share, thanks to its highly competitive price-to-quality ratio. Solids-liquid separating machinery is a relatively new concept locally; but more agricultural operations are showing a keen interest in this green and cost-effective technology,” she explains.
“Wamgroup’s dedication to research and development sets the Sepcom range apart from the competition. We ensure that all local clients are provided with the best value-for-money, by offering unrivalled after-sales and technical support.”
