Automation increases productivity and safety in DETEN's logistics, serving as a model for the chemical sector

A recurring challenge in the chemical industry is the shipping of liquid products in bulk, especially when loading trucks. Manual processes and outdated systems often result in inefficiency, slowness, operational risks and high costs. The need to optimize this logistical stage is crucial to increase productivity, ensure worker safety and reduce the environmental impact of operations.

Loading platform automation is emerging as a robust solution to address these challenges. By implementing modern systems with electronic presetters, flow meters, control valves and automated loading arms, companies can significantly streamline the process, minimize manual intervention, reduce the risk of accidents and product losses, and rationalize the use of resources and reduce costs with overtime and maintenance.

Optimized and safe shipping: the case of DETEN with FLUXO automation

For DETEN Química SA, a pioneering company in the production of raw materials for biodegradable detergents in Brazil, the increase in production over the years has brought with it a critical point in the logistics of shipping its essential products, such as Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (LAS) and Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB).

Previously, loading operations were a slow and labor-intensive process, requiring constant presence of operators and taking considerable time for each load – a double trailer, for example, could take up to four hours. This dynamic limited DETEN’s response capacity and required the allocation of human resources beyond regular working hours to meet demand.

In response to the growing implications for its product shipments, DETEN sought an innovative and efficient alternative for modernizing its loading platforms, selecting FLUXO as its technology partner. The initiative, aimed at updating the loading islands, was led by Ivo Nunes, responsible for DETEN's Optimization Engineering, and Alexandre Gedeon, an engineer in the same area. Together, they developed the basis for the project in a customized manner, which enabled a synergistic collaboration with FLUXO in the preparation of the executive project, aligned with the company's vision and needs.

This joint effort culminated in the installation of a fully automated system, including four loading skids equipped with cutting-edge technology, such as the Fusion4 MSC-L electronic pre-determiner capable of controlling up to 6 arms simultaneously. The results were transformative, providing increased capacity within administrative hours, drastically reducing loading time per vehicle, eliminating the need for constant operator presence, completely mitigating safety risks and eliminating overtime costs.

In short, the modernization and automation of loading platforms represent an assertive solution to optimize shipping in the chemical industry. The DETEN case demonstrates the tangible gains in operational efficiency, safety and sustainability. The adoption of automation technologies is therefore a fundamental strategic investment for the competitiveness and responsibility of companies in the sector.