Project Overview
Carver Engineering Services fabricated a bespoke hopper to enhance the Port of Tilbury’s offloading capacity.
Designed for handling abrasive materials like granite stone, the hopper needed to withstand harsh coastal conditions whilst maintaining structural strength and durability. As marine fabrication specialists, the team at Carver was more than equipped to handle this project.
Our Approach
Carver collaborated with the Spencer Group to deliver a hopper designed to offload up to 4,000 tonnes of granite stone per hour.
To ensure resilience, we lined the hopper’s interior with AR450 steel, a grade specifically chosen for its exceptional hardness, impact resistance and prolonged lifespan.
The steel’s properties allow the hopper to endure the abrasive demands of its function whilst reducing maintenance requirements. In addition to the hopper, our scope included fabricating a mezzanine walkway and AR450 liner plates.
Execution and Installation
The hopper was fully fabricated and trial-assembled at Carver’s Doncaster facility, allowing us to refine the design before on-site installation.
This approach ensured fast and efficient assembly and reduced disruption and downtime at the port. The hopper and supporting steelwork were delivered in modular sections for efficient installation. AR450 steel was utilised for its abrasion resistance, and advanced protective coatings were applied to combat corrosion.
Installation of the hopper was completed as planned in December 2023, with all structural components smoothly integrated into the port’s existing conveyor system.
The outcome
The Tilbury Hopper significantly increased the port’s offloading capacity, enabling it to handle 4,000 tonnes of granite stone per hour.
Completed in December 2023, the project reinforced Carver’s reputation as a leader in high-quality steel fabrication for the marine sector. Find out more about how our marine fabricators can support your next project here.
“I would like to extend our sincere gratitude for the exceptional work, support, and effort you & your team have consistently provided during the construction of the Pump Room steel & cladding works. Your dedication and professionalism have made a significant impact on the delivery end.”
“Carver, you did a fantastic job for us at Barmouth, the one team approach certainly paid off for this very complex install.”
“A superb fabrication company that are highly reliable and deliver work to the highest standard.
We look forward to many more successful projects with Carver.”
“I cannot recommend Carver Engineering highly enough, the whole team from start to finish were exceptional.”
“The team at Carver offered great advice and their fabrication team produce work of the very highest quality. They delivered the work on-time and on-budget.”
