Helix Dumper (HD)

What Is Helix Dumper?

Helix dumpers are a type of freight wagon that includes an open-top round-shaped body. They are typically used to transport bulk ore materials that are sticky or tough-flowing, like concrete. Due to their unique design, these materials are loaded into helix dumpers from the top and unloaded through special equipment. Their round-shaped body also allows straightforward and fast unloading.

How the Helix Dumper Works

The helix dump freight wagon uses a passive, mechanical unloading method. As the train moves forward, a guide rail rotates each wagon body up to 148°, allowing gravity to release the contents. No motors, hydraulics, or additional energy sources are required—only the train’s motion.

Helix Dumpers Advantages and Disadvantages

They are super-efficient and innovative freight wagons that can be used to transport and unload ore materials that do not easily flow. However, they include some advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before using them. The most common benefits and challenges of helix dumpers are as follows:

Advantages

Bottom dumpers are the best option for transporting and unloading bulk ore materials due to their special and efficient design, but not for sticky or tough-flowing materials. They are equipped with bottom discharge doors and use gravity to unload, and they cannot be that efficient for the sticky materials. By offering a round-shaped body and a specific mechanism for side unloading, helix dumpers suit these cases best. Moreover, in cooperation with technology, helix dumpers can offer super-fast unloading mechanisms.

Disadvantages

Unlike bottom dumpers, helix dumpers are not designed with a self-unloading system and require special equipment that rolls the wagons to the side for unloading. Therefore, they should be equipped with sophisticated unloading systems to be efficient, which incurs a high cost. On the other hand, these unlouding systems are not covered, and the loaded materials are directly subjected to external factors, such as rain, ice, wind, etc. Accordingly, helix dumpers are not suitable for the ore materials that require protection.

Limitations to Consider

While highly efficient, the Helix Dumper system has a few considerations:

• Requires a dedicated unloader station

• Not suitable for materials needing protection from the weather

• Higher initial infrastructure investment compared to standard dumpers

Designed for Growth

The system is scalable—ideal for expanding mining, quarrying, or port operations. Whether moving millions of tonnes annually or operating under extreme climates, the helix dumper freight wagon remains a reliable and cost-efficient choice.

Scalability and Customization

The system is designed for easy scaling — simply add more unloaders as transport demand grows. We also offer:

• Custom wagon sizes and axle loads

• Adaptation for any gauge or line load

• Full compliance with AAR and TSI standards

• Operating range from −40 to +60°C

Performance Metrics

• Average Annual Wagon Speed: 26.1 km/h

• Unloading capacity: 25,000 tonnes/hour

• Tare weight: 22.4 tonnes

• Volume: 45 m³ per wagon

• Maximum axle load: 30 tonnes

Cost & Sustainability Benefits

In large-volume applications (10 M+ tonnes/year), the Helix Dumping system delivers:

• 15–35% lower total logistics cost compared to rotary car dumpers

• Minimal impact from transport volume fluctuations

• Better lifecycle value, even in smaller operations