The answer is clear: for safety and efficiency. The proper control and management of fluids in industry is fundamental to the development of any operation. For this reason, when deciding which solutions are optimal, on numerous occasions the question of why one should invest in loading arms if it is possible to continue using technical hoses, is a constant concern.
The decision to invest in these articulated pipe systems depends on many factors. Among the most important we highlight greater environmental safety; improved precise balancing thanks to the simplicity of the process and maintenance; increased operational efficiency thanks to the ease of use by a single operator; and finally safety and functionality in higher risk environments.
This is a highly variable and dynamic market, with a wide range and variety of materials, so it is very important to know the technical characteristics of the installation, as well as the use, location, type of floor, regulations, climate, fluids to be transported…
Main benefits of using a loading arm
Loading arms in industrial facilities offer multiple advantages:
- They are more balanced and much easier to move, even by a single operator.
- The system is raised off the ground, which protects the valves and couplings.
- They can be kept in the air while the operator prepares the tanker connection and can be parked easily and neatly.
- They can be equipped with manual or actuated liquid valves, as well as a purge/ventilation system.
Environment and sustainability
Another factor to bear in mind is that environmental regulations are increasingly restrictive and demanding, so fluid transfer systems must be increasingly durable and reliable. By replacing hoses with loading arms, the advantages for safety and operational efficiency are numerous. The hoses have a limited radius of curvature, can suffer catastrophic damage through incorrect handling, such as an environmental spill, and are more likely to become a serious manual handling incident.
Without a doubt, a hose is more economical, but loading arms can be better adapted to fluid transfers in higher risk environments, such as the petrochemical sector. In this type of application, greater operational safety is required for both workers and facilities, as well as easier movement, as the terrain is sometimes more complex.
Another of the main benefits of applying a loading arm in an industrial installation is the simplicity of precise balancing, which greatly facilitates the connection process, especially in large diameters.
Customised solutions for loading and unloading arms
Gassó loading arms are custom-designed to meet the client’s needs as we are manufacturers and distributors of loading arms and all their accessories, with a two-fold service that covers everything from design to maintenance. Starting from a few basic configurations, Gassó designs customised products: top/bottom loading, reach, swivel arms, balance systems, connections, vapour recovery systems, overfill prevention systems, automation systems, etc. The advantage of controlling manufacturing is that the client is present at all stages of production without intermediaries: engineering, design, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance and warranty. If you need technical advice, our experts can offer you solutions for any application. Contact us and we will help you find what best suits your needs and sector.
Experience in loading arms for different industrial sectors
In many sectors, reliability is a fundamental factor when choosing solutions, given the risk involved in certain operations. Gassó has been working for more than 25 years on the development of solutions for loading arms in such demanding sectors as fuel, chemical and food, and has more than a century of experience in fluid transfer with installations in more than 90 countries around the world.
