Above: Bedeschi shuttle-type shiploading arm for loading grain and oilseeds at 2,200tph.
Founded in 1908, Bedeschi stands at the forefront of bulk material handling and transport, pioneering advanced solutions with Italian engineering excellence for over a century. Headquartered in Limena, Italy, Bedeschi merges tradition with innovation to serve a global clientèle across the cement, mining, port, and grain industries. Specializing in delivering turnkey solutions and cutting-edge equipment designed for performance, reliability, and sustainability, Bedeschi is recognized worldwide for its versatility and expertise in handling a comprehensive range of bulk materials, including minerals of all kinds, limestone, clinker, wheat, cereals, and soybean meals. This multi-faceted expertise is complemented by in-house capabilities: in fact, the company operates two own manufacturing workshops in Italy and Australia, where key mechanical components are designed and produced to the highest standards of quality and precision.
COVERING THE FULL GRAIN HANDLING CHAIN
Grain handling is a vital part of the global dry bulk market. Soybeans, wheat, meals and similar commodities are typically handled in highly dynamic logistics environments, where ports, inland terminals and processing facilities must ensure continuous flow, product integrity and strict control over dust emissions and contamination risks. Bedeschi is deeply committed to providing comprehensive systems that optimize every aspect of the entire material handling chain, from ship loading and unloading at the port to conveying to the processing plant.
TAILOR-MADE SHIPLOADING SOLUTIONS
Modern dry bulk terminals require increasingly higher capacities combined with maximum energy efficiency for optimal flow and reduced loading times. The equipment developed by Bedeschi makes it possible to achieve this goal thanks to technical research and development aimed at integrating the machinery with the terminal layout, reducing OPEX and complying with the highest quality standards.
The company ensures maximum adaptability to customer requirements by providing both mobile and stationary solutions, designed to handle a full range of grains including wheat, corn, soybeans, and barley, with capacities ranging from 100 to 10,000tph (tonnes per hour).
Each project is tailored to the client’s specific needs, considering key factors such as vessel sizes to be loaded, port layout and material properties. In addition to that, Bedeschi shiploaders feature state-of-the-art dust suppression systems, gentle product handling technology to minimize grain degradation, and advanced automation controls to ensure optimal performance and operator safety. A great example that showcases this tailor-made and sustainable approach to bulk grain handling is the shiploader installed in Westwego, US. Bedeschi engineered, manufactured, installed and commissioned a shuttle-type shiploading arm designed for loading both grain and oilseeds at a capacity rate of 2,200tph (80,000 bushels/h). The machine is equipped with dedusting filters and can load on vessels up to 120,000dwt. For the same project, Bedeschi also provided the link conveyor gallery.
MECHANICAL CSUS FOR BEST UNLOADING PERFORMANCES
Even for ship unloading operations, Bedeschi offers tailor-made mechanical chain ship-unloaders (CSUs) that combine significantly higher capacities (compared to other unloaders such as pneumatic or grab types) with minimal OPEX, thanks to reduced maintenance requirements and lower spare parts consumption. This is made possible by the crucial component that sets Bedeschi mechanical CSUs apart from other unloaders, namely the vertical elevator chain.
This type of chain mounts special shaped palettes that apply friction to the bulk commodity, creating a continuous vertical lifting motion that elevates the material up to the conveyor. And, thanks to that, no air is required during the unloading, eliminating the need for air gaskets and air filters to be regularly checked and replaced.
With the chain (and the product) moving at a very low speed of 2.4m/s — much slower than the average conveying speed of pneumatic CSU of approximately 40 m/s — the risk of breakage is significantly reduced, thereby preserving the integrity of the grains.
Mechanical CSUs are also highly versatile, since they are suitable for both free- and non-free-flowing materials. For even better unloading performances with non-free-flowing commodities, Bedeschi can design a special cutter for the unloading of meals and dried distillers grains (DDGs), which tend to clump together. The cutter is integrated into the elevator boot, increasing the machine’s flexibility and performance.
The picture below shows a Bedeschi mechanical CSU mounting precisely this type of cutter. The machine has been designed, manufactured and delivered by Bedeschi for the unloading of both free- and non-free-flowing materials at a maximum rate of 1,200tph. With this capacity, it can efficiently unload vessels up to 100,000dwt.
CUSTOMER-FOCUSED APPROACH TO DELIVER LASTING VALUE
As the grain handling industry continues to evolve, operators increasingly require partners capable of combining engineering expertise with flexibility, innovation and reliable long-term support.
For Bedeschi, this means going beyond supplying machinery to fully understanding each customer’s needs and developing solutions best suited to their requirements.
From the earliest feasibility studies and engineering to manufacturing, commission ing and after-sales support, the company manages every project as a close partnership focused on maximizing operational efficiency and return on investment throughout the entire equipment lifecycle.
Backed by more than a century of engineering excellence, in-house manufacturing capabilities and commitment to long-term customer relationships, Bedeschi supports grain terminals worldwide with high-performing, sustainable solutions aligned with each client’s operational priorities and long-term business objectives.
Bedeschi: engineering excellence since 1908.