Reducing downtime with Rockeat at Aurubis Beerse NV in Belgium

In heavy industry, the value of a machine is not measured only by specifications. It is measured by what it changes in daily operation.

At Aurubis Beerse NV in Belgium, Rockeat 1200 is proving its value in a real steel recycling application. The machine is used for cleaning under the converter during the melting process, in an area where heat, dust, limited access, and operator safety are critical factors.

Before Rockeat, this cleaning process required production stops. Modified cabin operated loaders were used to enter the area and remove material under the converter. The work had to be done, but every stop in production created downtime and every entry into the area brought risk.

Rockeat 1200 changes this setup.

Thanks to its cabinless design and remote operation, the operator can stay safely outside the danger zone while the machine performs the cleaning task directly under the converter. Its low profile helps it access the required working area, while the electric drive and simple construction support operation with minimal maintenance demands.

According to customer feedback, Aurubis has already reduced cleaning related downtimes by about 50 percent. The target is to eliminate these downtimes completely. In this application, the expected payback is therefore not based on theory, but on the direct value of keeping production running.

The customer is highly satisfied with the current results, is already considering a second unit, and has proposed this solution for other Aurubis Group plants in Europe and the United States.

This case also shows where electric remote operated machines can bring the highest value. Not only in places where zero emissions or low noise are the main requirement, but also in heavy industrial environments where safety, access, heat, dust, maintenance, and uptime decide everything.

For FIRSTGREEN Industries, this is exactly the type of feedback that matters most. A real machine, solving a real operational challenge, in a real customer application.