In late 2009 DePuy Ireland, a Johnson & Johnson company contracted John Sisk & Son to erect a biomass energy centre to replace the aging gas fired boilers. 

This new energy centre is designed provide the manufacturing plant with the required process heat. The Sisk procurement process resulted in the appointment of Filtrex as boiler supplier and M&E contractor for the project and a key member of the design team. 

Filtrex were able to meet and exceed the design requirements by using a 2 x Herz Biomatic 500kW woodchip boilers in conjunction with a 7500l fully insulated hot water buffer tank. During the detailed design process it became clear that traditional delivery methods for woodchip would not be possible on this site and Filtrex were given the task of engineering a solution that would meet the clients “Zero Access” policy and unload a 20 tonne 100m³ trailer in less than one hour. 

Filtrex designed an unloading station using Vecoplan equipment including conveyor metering, chain conveyors and a control station that allows the driver to optimise the offloading. Interlocking panels conceal all moving parts that comply with the clients Health & Safety policy allow the driver to perform the unloading unattended.