Ramming paste around cathode blocks of Hall-Heroult electrolysis cells is considered a critical step to avoid premature infiltration and maximize the useful life of cells. To optimize the uniformity of compaction and make the task easier, this operation is typically assisted by equipment commonly called Pot Ramming Machines. Lately, STAS has concluded a development project with the objective to offer the industry an alternative to the commercial systems available, with improved performances and innovative characteristics. The emphasis has been to deliver better operability, up-to-date quality control, easier mobility and maintenance, and improved capability in terms of compaction. This paper presents a summary of the development work from prototyping through the selection of operating parameters, the qualification of compaction and the design and manufacturing of a full scale Pot Ramming Machine now available to the industry.
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