Rio Tinto – Germany
“Weda’s robotic solution finally gave us a way to maintain open-air basins without excavation or downtime.”
— Facilities Manager, Rio Tinto Germany
Rio Tinto’s German operations include processing facilities that generate substantial amounts of ore slurry and tailings. These facilities rely on sedimentation tanks and buffer basins to manage solids before water recirculation or discharge. Maintaining these tanks is crucial to avoid overflow, environmental violations, or operational shutdowns. Manual cleaning in these confined and abrasive environments is costly and dangerous. Robotic systems now handle the desilting work, improving safety, ensuring compliance with EU environmental laws, and maintaining consistent production throughput.
The Challenge
The open-air basins accumulated thick sediment layers over time, making manual cleaning hazardous and inefficient. The site needed a solution that wouldn’t interrupt operations or require human entry.
The Weda Solution
Weda’s YT-600 robot was selected for its ability to handle coarse particles (up to 50 mm). Its powerful suction and maneuverability enabled it to operate in uncovered reservoirs with varied floor conditions.
Need to clean open-air basins with challenging sludge buildup?
👉 Contact Us to Learn More