Telescopic Chutes for Pet Coke and Clinker
Petroleum coke and cement clinker are not forgiving bulk materials. One is oily and sticky; the other is hot, abrasive, and prone to bridging. A standard chute often clogs, dusts out, or leaves uneven piles that require costly trimming. That is why a Colombian customer approached GBM with a clear request: two telescopic chutes, each rated at 500 tons per hour, designed specifically to handle pet coke and clinker without constant operator attention.
We accepted the challenge. After detailed engineering and manufacturing, both chutes have now been fully tested in our facility. The customer received video evidence of the tests. The chutes are ready for shipment. This project is not about an off‑the‑shelf product. It is about solving two real‑world headaches: sticky build‑up and uneven loading.
UHMWPE Liners: Self‑Lubricating Surfaces
The first major problem with pet coke is adhesion. The fine, slightly oily particles stick to ordinary steel. Over time, a layer builds up inside the chute, reducing the effective cross‑section and eventually causing a complete blockage. Cleaning it requires stopping production and sending in a crew with hammers and scrapers—dangerous and expensive.
Why UHMWPE works?
GBM lined the entire interior of both telescopic chutes with UHMWPE (Ultra‑High Molecular Weight Polyethylene). This material has an extremely low coefficient of friction—it is one of the most self‑lubricating engineering plastics available. Pet coke and clinker simply slide down the chute walls without adhering. There is no build‑up, no bridging, and no need for hammering.
Long‑term benefits for the customer
The Colombian operator can run full shifts without worrying about blockages. The chute maintains its full 500 tph capacity from the first ton to the last. And because there is no material sticking, the telescoping sections extend and retract freely. Cleaning between product changes (pet coke one day, clinker the next) is a quick rinse or a simple wipe, not a major shutdown. The UHMWPE liners also absorb some impact, reducing noise and wear on the steel structure.
360° Rotating Spout: Trimming the Cargo
The second headache is uneven loading. A fixed discharge point dumps material into a cone. When the cone gets too high, the operator has to move the ship loader or shift the vessel—time‑consuming and inefficient. Worse, an uneven load can cause the ship to list or require a separate trimming machine.
Trimming as you load
GBM equipped each chute with a custom‑designed 360‑degree rotating spout at the bottom. The spout can be turned continuously in either direction, directing the falling stream to any point within the hatch opening. As the hold fills, the operator rotates the spout to spread the material evenly, effectively trimming the cargo during the loading process.
How it helps the Client’s Task?
When the chute is working on a vessel, the operator can keep the cargo level without stopping to reposition the loader. For pet coke and clinker, which do not flow like grain, this active trimming is a game changer. The vessel finishes with a flat, stable load, ready for its voyage. No extra trimming machine, no overtime, no safety risks from climbing on an uneven pile. The rotating spout is driven by a simple, protected mechanism that withstands dust and impacts.
Full Factory Testing: Proof Before Shipping
A telescopic chute is a complex assembly of moving sections, liners, seals, and the rotating spout. Problems that are easy to fix in the workshop become expensive headaches on site. GBM does not ship untested equipment.
What we tested for client?
Both chutes were assembled completely in our factory. We connected a test hopper, ran simulated pet coke (using a material with similar flow properties), and measured the actual throughput. We extended and retracted the telescoping sections dozens of times to confirm smooth operation. The 360° spout was rotated through its full range, forward and reverse, under load. We also checked dust sealing at every joint.
Customer visibility
We recorded video of the entire test sequence and shared it with the Colombian customer. They saw the chutes working, saw the UHMWPE liners in action, and watched the spout rotating. Any questions they had were answered before the chutes left our factory. This transparency builds trust and eliminates “surprises” at arrival.
GBM’s Strength: Custom Engineering
The two telescopic chutes for Colombia are a textbook example of what GBM does best. We listened to the customer’s specific materials (pet coke and clinker) and their operational pain points (sticking, uneven loading). Then we designed targeted solutions: UHMWPE liners for non‑stick flow, and a 360° rotating spout for active trimming. Finally, we validated everything with rigorous factory testing.
We have the design experience to size chutes from 200 tph to over 1,500 tph. We have the manufacturing capability to integrate custom liners, spouts, dust skirts, and automation. And we have the quality mindset to test before shipping.
So please kindly contact GBM for the solution.
