SOTECMA has an R&D department that enables us to develop new equipment or adapt existing systems to the specific requirements of each customer across all our areas of expertise, including bulk solids storage, conveying, dosing, weighing and mixing.

These solutions can be applied both to existing installations and to new plants designed and supplied by SOTECMA, improving their performance, safety and adaptation to new industrial processes.

Among our developments, particular emphasis should be placed on the design and adaptation of equipment to comply with the ATEX Directive, covering all categories established by the regulation.

The ATEX Directive is a European regulation that establishes the requirements for preventing the risk of explosions in potentially explosive atmospheres. Compliance requires a risk assessment to identify areas where explosive atmospheres may occur and to implement the necessary measures to prevent explosions.

How should equipment be selected for potentially explosive atmospheres?

ATEX hazardous areas are classified into the following zones:

• Zones 0, 1 and 2 for areas where explosive gas atmospheres may be present.
• Zones 20, 21 and 22 for areas where combustible dust atmospheres may be present.

Equipment is also divided into two main groups:

• Group I: equipment intended for use in mining applications, where the highest safety requirements apply.
• Group II: equipment intended for use in all other surface industries.

SOTECMA designs, manufactures and adapts a large part of its equipment to ensure compliance with the ATEX Directive, providing safe solutions tailored to each industrial application.