LGPM has become a trusted name within the bulk materials handling sector for its in-house products, including diverters and rotary valves.
Lynchborough GPM Corp (LGPM) has been a well-established and trusted industry partner for the bulk-handling sector for over three decades, thanks to its unwavering commitment to delivering high-value projects for its clients.
To this day, LGPM maintains a focus on keeping things in-house when it comes to completing projects. The company has invested heavily in its facilities, including its own crane fleet, to ensure it has the tools to complete any bulk-handling project from screw conveyors to bulk bag systems.
“We try to keep everything in-house, from the design to engineering and manufacturing. We’re a project-based company and we’ve worked on everything from a screw conveyor to bulk bag systems, stockfeed plants and more,” LPGM business development executive Adrian Gore said.
“Over the years, I think we’ve been quite innovative. We’re one of the first companies in Australia to achieve carbon neutrality in bulk handling. We’ve put a lot of effort into that over the years.”
This forward-thinking approach to bulk handling solutions drew the attention of family-owned, Netherlands-based DMN Westinghouse (DMN). The Dutch company operates three manufacturing facilities and employs around 250 people. Its Netherlands facility specialises in rotary valves, and its German site is known for its production of diverter valves.
DMN had plans to expand across the planet. It had already broken new ground in North America, where its Memphis facility manufactures products for customers in both North and South America. The next stop was Oceania, with an eye on the lucrative Australian market.
When it comes to picking a national distributor to support this expansion, DMN’s pre-existing relationship with LGPM made it an easy choice.
“We thought it would be a perfect fit because the two companies already knew each other. This allowed us to work directly together,” DMN international account manager Robert Leighton said.
For LGPM, which had previously been a buyer of DMN equipment, the decision to partner with the Dutch-based outfit was a no-brainer.
“With DMN, from the custom-built solutions through to everything else, it is an extremely high quality. And not only is DMN’s product of high quality, but they also do it with a fast turnaround,” Gore said.
The distribution partnership has expanded the range of solutions that LGPM can offer its Australian-based customers. The most prominent of those are the DL rotary valves, also known as the dust-lock rotary valves. These are specially designed to handle operating environments that feature a high amount of dust in the air and are commonly used in conjunction with dust filters, cyclones, product separators, and dosing systems.
Gore said the DL series enable reliable airlock performance while preventing material leakage.
“The DL range is an off-the-shelf dust lock valve, which is suitable for companies looking for a dust filtration solution,” he said.
“This partnership means we can do off-the-shelf deliveries if a customer needs urgent turnarounds, but for those custom-built valves, we can offer that from Europe with quick lead times.
“The other beauty of this partnership is if you put the rotary valve in, and then you need the couplings and a diverter, we can offer that as a combined package, which just makes life easier.”
This means customers can have an extensive range of solutions to choose from when evaluating their bulk materials handling operation. LGPM also offers retrofitting solutions that address the ongoing issue of faulty seals on valves. To solve this, LGPM can retrofit a flow control device that measures the air coming out of the seals, providing a more detailed understanding of your bulk-handling operation.
“If you don’t have that device, you can’t see the performance of the seal and the damage that can happen to the valve,” Gore said.
“The valve can start leaking material onto the floor, and it is a headache. Our device provides an automated view of what’s happening with the valve immediately. In some industries that work with materials like explosive dust, this device can be a big step to making the work area safer.
“There are a lot of safety factors to look at with a valve system, and it’s not a high cost to do when you consider how important workplace safety is.”
LGPM and DMN work closely together to ensure delivery timelines align with the customer’s specifications and requirements, which ensures products are delivered within the project’s delivery constraints. DMN provides its valves fully assembled with everything required, so the turnaround times for customers are reduced.
“I think we’ve got a two-tiered approach with LPGM. We have standardised products in stock which we can offer straight away, but then we also have the capacity to make bespoke valves on order from our European facilities,” Leighton said.
Going forward, the two companies anticipate a promising future for their ongoing partnership in the Australian market.
“DMN and LGPM are two experienced companies that have been in the industry for a long time,” Leighton said.
“It is more than just supply and equipment. We know about different products and the different characteristics of how they flow.
“That means we can approach the solution comprehensively rather than just supplying a component. It is about the quality of the product, the experience and the aftersales support.
“Giving the customer peace of mind is important to us and that’s what we offer them.”