Nearly everyone has seen those little clay spheres often used in flower pots or landscaping. These are called expanded clay in technical jargon. The European pioneer in expanded clay production is the Italian Laterlite Group, based in Rubbiano di Solignano near Parma. They market the Leca, CentroStorico, LecaSistemi, Gras Calce and Ruregold brands of expanded clay. Production is complex because working with clay leads to a dusty environment, which is poison for any electrical installation. To protect the sockets in particular from the effects of weather and dust - even outdoors - the Italian company has installed compact plastic enclosures from Rittal’s AX range. These protect the electrical components even in very harsh environments, thanks to the high IP66 NEMA 4X protection category.
Overview
- Project
- Laterlite Group
- Location
- Rubbiano di Solignano, Italy
- Challenge
Protection of electrical components in dusty environments
Intelligent control of heating elements
- Solution
Installation of plastic AX-series enclosures
Robustness, thanks to glass-fibre-reinforced polyester (GRP)
UL F1 Outdoor Rating (UL 746C)
We chose Rittal solutions because the brand is known worldwide for its excellent price-performance ratio, the robustness of the enclosures, and its certifications, which guarantee reliability even in harsh surroundings.
The AX plastic enclosures are suitable for outdoor use largely thanks to the glass-fibre-reinforced polyester (GRP). This rugged material is seven times more resistant to UV radiation than conventional products and consequently has the UL F1 Outdoor Rating (UL 746C). Rain protection strips on the door’s upper and lower edges protect the gasket from water and dust, ensuring a long service life for the electrics. This fits in with Laterlite’s sustainability strategy, which is very much part of the company’s DNA. In addition to constantly using technical innovations, the group is replacing conventional fuels such as methane, diesel or coal with renewable alternatives in producing expanded clay.
Safety and sustainability on the bagging lines
Laterlite has also installed plastic AX enclosures in production on the bagging lines. The technology there consists mainly of pneumatics and is therefore susceptible to frost and excessive condensation in the pipes. In recent years, heating elements have been installed to maintain operations even in winter. The result has been a significant waste of energy with the heating elements permanently in operation. With a sensor installed in the compact enclosures and using corresponding control technology, it is now possible to switch the heating elements on and off as needed, counteracting the waste of energy. The enclosures thus represent an important building block in Laterlite’s sustainable corporate strategy.